10 Commandments of an Effective Company Officer

Let me start out by saying that there is no such thing as a perfect company officer. I was fortunate enough to serve as a company officer for almost six years, and have been a chief officer for more than nine years. As a company officer, I was far from perfect. While I think I was a competent company officer during my tenure, I look back and realize that I could have been a much better company officer in so many ways. As the saying goes, "If I had only known then what I know now." To be clear, when I say company officer, I mean the person at any type of fire department (career, volunteer, combination department, military, industrial, etc.) who is serving as the "designated adult" on a daily basis and supervising a company (engine, truck, rescue, etc.). Whether you are a current or future company officer, I'd like to share my 10 Commandments for being the best company officer you can be, now or in the future.

10 Commandments of an Effective Company Officer

Fire Line

Kolbs Home    To NYS Fire Departments    To Teaching and Training Courses    To Fire Reports    Email
To Kolb