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I would like to start a discussion regarding Reg Force members who are volunteer firefighters within their communities.
Now, just to be clear, I believe these members are doing a great service to their communities. Not all areas can have permanent paid fire services, and without volunteer ones, we would leave communities at risk.
However.... There is a bit of ethical dilemma ( in my mind anyway.... others may vary) with volunteers responding during regular working hours and receiving honourariums. I totally agree with these members having full support from their CoC to respond to fire emergencies. But, I do know that volunteer firefighters are given a ( small ) honourarium when they respond to a call. ( in my area, the honorarium is $50) The honourarium, is not to pay a volunteer for work, it stands more to ( I believe) reimburse personal expenses such as gas, lost wages etc. Dilemma ensues when a volunteer accepts said honorarium when , at the same time, on the military dime.
Now, to avoid any conversations about " we are paid 24/7 and a guy delivering pizza on Friday night is in the same boat" I would like to discuss responding to calls during "regular working hours " while in military uniform and collecting an honourarium while doing so.
Should members accept the honourarium during regular working hours ? Or, would this create a scenario where members would not respond to emergencies? Are there volunteer firefighters who are strictly volunteer, or are some doing it as a supplement to income ?
I know that in some areas, volunteers are called upon 3-5 times a week.
***** disclaimer********
This is not a bash at those serving members who also provide a much needed service by volunteering as firefighters in their communities.
Now, just to be clear, I believe these members are doing a great service to their communities. Not all areas can have permanent paid fire services, and without volunteer ones, we would leave communities at risk.
However.... There is a bit of ethical dilemma ( in my mind anyway.... others may vary) with volunteers responding during regular working hours and receiving honourariums. I totally agree with these members having full support from their CoC to respond to fire emergencies. But, I do know that volunteer firefighters are given a ( small ) honourarium when they respond to a call. ( in my area, the honorarium is $50) The honourarium, is not to pay a volunteer for work, it stands more to ( I believe) reimburse personal expenses such as gas, lost wages etc. Dilemma ensues when a volunteer accepts said honorarium when , at the same time, on the military dime.
Now, to avoid any conversations about " we are paid 24/7 and a guy delivering pizza on Friday night is in the same boat" I would like to discuss responding to calls during "regular working hours " while in military uniform and collecting an honourarium while doing so.
Should members accept the honourarium during regular working hours ? Or, would this create a scenario where members would not respond to emergencies? Are there volunteer firefighters who are strictly volunteer, or are some doing it as a supplement to income ?
I know that in some areas, volunteers are called upon 3-5 times a week.
***** disclaimer********
This is not a bash at those serving members who also provide a much needed service by volunteering as firefighters in their communities.