Which branch is best for getting firefighting training?
As a DC in the Navy, you will receive very little training that will be beneficial to a civilian fire department. If you want fire training in the Navy, you need to check out the ABH rate. These guys are aircraft handlers on carriers, but when they get to shore duty, they can be land based firefighters, and go to the DoD Fire Academy at San Angelo, Tx. I taught there for 4 years and never saw a DC. Every Navy that came through was an ABH. Also, Navy personnel are not allowed to attend the fire academy until they attain the rank of E-4. All branches of service at the DoD Fire Academy are trained in the same manner. It’s what happens after you graduate that counts. Air Force firefighters do everything related to firefighting. Structural, ARFF, HazMat, Technical Rescue, EMS, etc. The Marines only do ARFF, the Army only does the job while deployed, and the Navy only does it while on shore duty. Obviously, I’m biased towards the AF.
