By Stentsen Ellenburg
Promotions in the fire service don’t always happen as fast as we’d like. Many firefighters have felt the frustration of waiting their turn while watching others move up the ladder. But there’s a reason the process often takes time: Experience matters.
The ability to make the right call on the fireground — or the right call for the department — is rarely learned in a classroom alone. It’s shaped by years of watching seasoned officers lead, listening to mentors, and learning hard lessons in the heat of the moment.
| SPECIAL REPORT: What Firefighters Want in 2025
Lesson 1: Be cool, stay in school
While experience counts for a lot, that doesn’t mean formal education isn’t important. Quite the opposite — conferences, podcasts, YouTube “university” and specialized training programs are invaluable. They expand our perspective, expose us to new ideas and sharpen our technical knowledge. The key is balance. A new officer who relies only on experience risks getting stuck in “the way we’ve always done it,” while an officer who relies only on books and classes risks being disconnected from the realities of the job. Growth happens when both come together.
Lesson 2: Remain open to different perspectives
For newly promoted officers, one of the biggest pitfalls is thinking you need to have all the answers. Leadership doesn’t require that. What it does require is humility and a willingness to listen. Your team’s knowledge — whether it comes from the rookie who just finished recruit school or the 25-year veteran riding backwards — is an asset. Overlooking that perspective not only stunts your growth but also erodes trust within your crew.
Lesson 3: Maintain a connection to the rank and file
Another critical mistake is isolation. It’s easy for new officers to unintentionally create distance between them and their firefighters — staying in the office, closing the door or limiting conversations to orders and task assignments. But isolating yourself or failing to communicate openly draws a line between you and your crew that can be hard to erase. Firefighters can tell when their input isn’t valued, and once trust is broken, repairing it is a long road. The best officers are present and approachable. They communicate clearly and invite conversation, whether it’s about a call, a training drill or just life around the kitchen table.
Lesson 4: Encourage debate, but command fireground unity
Leadership isn’t about everyone agreeing all the time, either. In fact, healthy disagreement is a sign of a strong team. If every officer and firefighter in the room always agrees, there’s probably not much leadership happening — just compliance. When handled with respect, differences of opinion lead to better decisions and better outcomes. The key is to facilitate an open-minded discussion that concludes with unity. You can debate tactics in the kitchen, but when you’re on the fireground, you execute as one.
Lesson 5: Respect the chain of command
Open communication doesn’t mean bypassing the chain of command. Great officers talk with everyone, seek input from all ranks and keep their crews informed — but they also know when and how to elevate ideas through proper channels. Respect for the chain of command keeps the organization running smoothly and preserves trust with senior leadership. Even if your idea isn’t adopted, treat it as a chance to learn. If you were wrong, adjust; if you were right, let the result speak for itself and wait for your turn to lead.
Become a leader who firefighters want to follow
The difference between managing and leading is obvious to firefighters young and old. Management assigns tasks; leadership earns buy-in. A true leader takes the time to earn the trust of their crew and displays a willingness to grow alongside them.
If you’re a new officer, remember leadership is a journey. It takes humility, patience and constant learning — from classes, from calls and from the people you serve alongside. Blend education with experience. Communicate openly with everyone but always respect the chain of command. Do those things consistently and you’ll become the kind of leader who firefighters want to follow, not because they have to but because they believe in you.
| WATCH: 16 rules for a new company officer
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stentsen Ellenburg began his fire service career in 2001 with Birmingham (Alabama) Fire and Rescue, serving on suppression units and with the hazmat and technical rescue teams. He retired as a lieutenant in 2021. In addition to his fire service career, Ellenburg served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps and 16 years in the Air Force Air National Guard as a crash fire and rescue firefighter, completing multiple deployments to the Middle East. He has also taught at the Center for Domestic Preparedness, instructing Weapons of Mass Destruction HazMat Technician courses. Ellenburg currently serves as a training specialist at the Alabama Fire College. Ellenburg has an associate degree in emergency medical services from Jefferson State Community College, an associate degree in fire science from Columbia Southern University, a bachelor’s degree in fire science from Columbia Southern University, and a master’s degree in emergency services management from Columbia Southern University.
