It is a simple fact that people like to be appreciated for what they do. This means even more for volunteer firefighters who put in hundreds of hours every year responding to calls, training and maintaining equipment.
By recognizing years of service, firefighters who may be run down and tired will at least have something to show for it, and this feeling of appreciation can help increase enthusiasm around the company.
Volunteer firefighter's service can be recognized using a combination of public congratulation and presentation of physical awards.
A simple way to recognize service without spending money is at your company or department's monthly business meeting. During the meeting a chief level officer can acknowledge firefighters whose department joining anniversary is this month. In addition, the monthly meeting is a good time to recognize those individuals who have put in the work to complete firefighter 1 and their year of probation by presenting them with their full-member helmet badge.
The physical awards for different lengths of service can be presented at different milestone years depending on your department or company's bylaws and needs. However to give firefighters the biggest feeling of appreciation for their milestone awards I would suggest presenting them at your annual installation dinner.
Bellow is a list of example physical milestone length of service awards.
5 years of service - challenge coin
10 years of service - parchment paper award of appreciation with frame
This award should include the signatures of the chief, administrative president, and local elected officials like the mayor and council president.
20 years of service - life member card
$18 per card.
25 years of service - gold watch
$1,000 minimum.
35 years of service - acrylic award
$155 per award.
40 years of service - bronze ax
$410 per ax.
50 years of service - bronze helmet
$625 per helmet.
See you at the big one.
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