Local 975

1. Austin Fire Department & Travis County ESD Merger Training Model Local 975

2. Training Program Recommendation • These recommendations are based on 975 Member Survey • These recommendations reflect current AFD Training standards • These recommendations mirror current AFD Training Program Models

3. Training Survey Question 1 If AFD were to merge with a Travis County ESD, do you feel those ESD firefighters should pass the AFD Initial and Probationary skills?

4. Result / 92 % yes

5. Cadet / PFF Skills • Cadet • 29 Fire skills • Medical skills are the skills required for the National Registry EMT and would not be applicable to “Laterals” • PFF • 14 Fire skills • 6 Medical skills

6. Training Survey Question 2 The Local 975 ESD Merger Training Committee is looking at the following: The ESD firefighters would attend a modified "lateral" academy. This would include a time-frame of three to four months of prep work involving SOGs; wildland certs and skills prep at their ESD . They would then attend an AFD academy (approximately 10 weeks) and be required to meet AFD academic and performance requirements (skills must be passed at mastery level; performance-based evaluations). All AFD Initial and Probationary skills must be passed in the Academy.

7. Result / 85 % agree

8. Recommendation • Travis County firefighters merging into AFD will be required to attend a “Modified Academy” tailored for firefighters who possess Austin/Travis County OMD system credentialing and 130/190 certification upon entry • Merging firefighters of Travis County will be required to attain the minimum passing scores outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement

9. AFD/ESD Merger Academy • Minimum hours of instruction for each discipline listed shall be: • SCBA 16 • PPE 2 • Communications 2 • Apparatus Familiarization 4 • Ropes/Knots 4 • Ladders 24 • Water Rescue 24

10. Continued • Hose/Water Supply 24 • Fire Streams 8 • Salvage/Overhaul 12 • Ventilation 12 • Forcible Entry 16 • Search 24 • RIC/SOO (FGS) 32 • Vehicle Rescue 16 • Live Fire 40

11. Continued • EMT Training 40 • Time allotted for skills practice 28 • Time allotted for skills testing 24 • Time allotted for written exams 8 • There will be very little lecture in the “Modified Academy” written exams administered to satisfy the cognitive component will be derived from reading assignments

12. Not Listed/Not Omitted • Disciplines not listed included but are not limited to: Fire Science HazMat Fire Cause Building Construction IMS Portable Extinguisher Fire Protection Systems • These disciplines are included in the cognitive evaluations

13. Minimum “Modified Academy” term for Merging ESD’s • The minimum 360 hours of instruction, practice and evaluation; plus forty hours of City of Austin HR in processing (10) weeks • This term is considered the minimum to evaluate a candidates work ethic and the nature of organizational citizenship they will bring to AFD • Ten weeks is considered a minimum to determine, address and document a pattern of poor preformed should one exist

14. Training Survey Question 3 If the ESD firefighters meet all AFD academic and performance requirements, they will have passed all Initial and Probationary skills in the Academy. The 975 ESD Merger Training Committee is proposing that the ESD firefighters' Probationary period encompass maps; resources (station locations/units, etc); target hazards; and relief driver.

15. Result / 82 % agree

16. I feel the merging ESD firefighters should pass the Initial and Probationary skills while in the Academy. Then practice a certain number of selected Probationary skills while on Probation but not test these skills at the end of Probation.

17. The accomplishment of the skills, including how the probie performed, would be placed in RMS by the Officers and could be utilized for final evaluation of the probie. • There would not be, however, testing of the skills at the end of probation.

18. Conclusion • The Training Subcommittee recommends a “Modified Academy” such as described above • The Subcommittee recommends a modified PFF program such as described above.