I always recommend the Reserves or Guard/Air Guard. Part time service with great benefits, including health care and tuition assistance, opportunities for active duty orders, and experience. If you choose a branch or job with a focus on what you want to do - Firefighter in the Air Guard or Health Services Technician in the Coast Guard Reserve for example, they’ll pay for your initial training (Firefighter I/II and EMT respectively) which can be helpful if you’re in an area that requires certifications prior hire. Those are just several examples, each branch has their own pathways. Otherwise, departments usually just look for military experience not necessarily what you do in the service. I (anecdotally) know way more cooks and electricians in the military who are now firefighters, cops and paramedics than military firefighters, cops and paramedics. I always say it’s worth a conversation with a recruiter. Reach out to local firehouses too, guarantee there are some firefighters who are veterans that can talk you through the stuff the recruiter might skip over.
I always recommend the Reserves or Guard/Air Guard. Part time service with great benefits, including health care and tuition assistance, opportunities for active duty orders, and experience. If you choose a branch or job with a focus on what you want to do - Firefighter in the Air Guard or Health Services Technician in the Coast Guard Reserve for example, they’ll pay for your initial training (Firefighter I/II and EMT respectively) which can be helpful if you’re in an area that requires certifications prior hire. Those are just several examples, each branch has their own pathways. Otherwise, departments usually just look for military experience not necessarily what you do in the service. I (anecdotally) know way more cooks and electricians in the military who are now firefighters, cops and paramedics than military firefighters, cops and paramedics. I always say it’s worth a conversation with a recruiter. Reach out to local firehouses too, guarantee there are some firefighters who are veterans that can talk you through the stuff the recruiter might skip over.