Build New Firefighters, Don’t Break Them.

By Doug Rinderknecht, MTI Athlete Team

In the fire service, tradition runs deep. Many of us were raised in a culture where toughness was non-negotiable. Mistakes were met with sharp words, not gentle corrections. Respect was earned through grit, resilience, and thick skin. It was a rite of passage — and for many of us, it forged lasting bonds and built careers.

But recently, I had an experience that made me step back and think about how that same approach might not always serve today’s recruits.

A few months ago, a new junior firefighter joined our department. Eager, full of energy, and green as can be. I saw myself in him — wide-eyed, ready to take on the world, but in need of a lot of polish. Naturally, I treated him the way I had been treated: firmly, sometimes harshly, always with the goal of pushing him to be better. When he made mistakes, I pointed them out bluntly. When he hesitated, I made it clear that hesitation could cost lives.

At first, I thought it was working. But slowly, I started noticing the cracks. He became quieter. Less confident. He second-guessed himself even more than before. It got so bad that he quit showing up to classes and training nights. Other firefighters pulled me aside and mentioned that he seemed discouraged, unsure if he even belonged in the fire service.

That hit me harder than I expected.

Was I teaching him toughness, or was I teaching him fear? Was I building him up, or tearing him down without realizing it?

Learning From Our Own Experiences

When I reflected honestly, I realized that the harshness I endured early in my career wasn’t what made me a good firefighter. It was the mentors who believed in me, who pushed me but also pulled me back up when I stumbled. They challenged me because they wanted me to succeed, not because they needed to remind me where I stood in the pecking order.

Times have changed. The world our new firefighters are growing up in looks very different from the one we stepped into years ago. It’s not about being “soft.” It’s about being smart enough to know that leadership and mentorship must evolve if we want to keep our teams strong and resilient.

New Approaches to Mentorship

If we want to truly lead and build the next generation of firefighters, we must adjust how we teach and mentor. Here are a few things I’ve learned — a few of them being the hard way — that I think we can all keep in mind:

1. Understand Individual Motivations
Today’s young firefighters might be driven by different motivations than we were. Some are fueled by a sense of community, others by a desire to master a craft, and others by wanting to be part of something bigger than themselves. Taking the time to understand why they’re here gives you the keys to how best to push them.

2. Correct With Purpose, Not Pride
Criticism should never be about proving a point or asserting dominance. When someone makes a mistake, focus on what went wrong, why it matters, and how they can fix it — all without making it personal. Correction delivered with respect can be just as powerful, if not more so, than a barked reprimand.

3. Praise Effort and Progress, Not Just Results
Recognition goes a long way. When a junior firefighter shows improvement, even if they’re still far from perfect, call it out. Let them know you see the hard work they’re putting in. Progress breeds confidence, and confidence under pressure saves lives.

4. Share Your Own Mistakes
Being vulnerable is not a weakness. When you share the times you failed, fell short, or got chewed out, you show young firefighters that mistakes are a part of growth, not a death sentence. It humanizes you and builds trust.

5. Teach the Why, Not Just the What
It’s not enough anymore to tell someone to do something “because I said so.” Explaining the why behind our actions builds deeper understanding, better decision-making, and a more adaptable firefighter who can think on their feet when the situation demands it.

6. Set the Example
At the end of the day, people learn the most from what we do, not what we say. Hold yourself to the highest standard. Show up prepared. Show respect up and down the chain. Handle stress with grace. The best way to teach professionalism is to live it every day.

A Final Thought

The fire service isn’t losing its backbone. We’re evolving. We’re becoming smarter about what it takes to build strong firefighters who are both tough and thoughtful, disciplined yet adaptable.

I still believe in holding people accountable. I still believe in pushing our young firefighters to be the best they can be. But I now know that how we push matters just as much as why.

Let’s not break our young firefighters in the name of tradition. Let’s build them — stronger, better, and ready to lead the generations after them.

Because at the end of the day, the true legacy we leave behind isn’t the stories of how hard we had it. It’s the strength, skill, and heart of the people we trained to take our place.

Doug is a tactical paramedic in North Carolina.