How firefighter candidates can overcome a DUI
A DUI or other blemish is far from ideal; it is also far from fatal to your firefighting aspiration if you play it right
"I got a DUI on my record. Can I still get a job in the fire service"? This is one of the most frequently asked questions I receive.
The short answer is, "It certainly won't help, but it can be overcome."
To understand how you can overcome this blemish in your past and achieve your career goal, you must first put yourself in the fire chief's or hiring personnel's position.
The most important trait any department is looking for in an employee is their ability to uphold the law and the standards of their organization and not bring any harm to the department or it's reputation. Second, is their ability to perform the job and do so effectively over the course of 20 to 30 years.