I am a volunteer of 9 years and take my duties very seriously. I bring the marine corps style of attitude with me every day. I try to do my best to help others, and treat every patient with respect and professionalism, and to teach others what I know. I come home and never wear firefighter shirts out and about. I don’t tell anyone I’m a firefighter unless I meet a fellow responder.

I am absolutely aware of every volunteer trope there is. Wearing 4 radios, dressing like you’re going to a fire when eating at Cracker Barrel, never stopping to let anyone know you’re a firefighter and drive a big fire truck. The list can go on for a long time.

I do high angle rope rescue for my job. Most people who work there are professionals in big departments, It seems nearly everyone I talk to doesn’t want to engage with me once they learn I am a small town volunteer. I am very confident that there is no other reason. I mean, some treat me equally, some seem to think we are a bunch of dumb people.

I know the answer will be, there are good volunteers and bad ones. But really, as a whole, what do you paid guys think? And vice versa, what do the volunteers here think of professionals?