Interview_What have I done to Prepare

Question 1

What have you done to prepare / why should we pick you?

Answer 1

1. Three Characteristics
2. Experience
3. Four Priorities
4. Stable and well rounded

Question 2

1. Three Characteristics

Answer 2

1. Perseverance
2. Humility
3. Disciplined

Question 3

2. Experience

Answer 3

1. Rangers in particular
2. Military in general
3. Medical and Fire Experience

Question 4

3. Four Priorities

Answer 4

1. Team Work
2. Training and the Desire for Expertise
3. Fitness
4. Integrity

Question 5

• Stable and well rounded

Answer 5

o I have the support of my family in pursing SWAT
o Very stable family life and excellent support network
o I have completed a bachelors and am 75% of the way done with a masters degree
o I have been part of Gilbert’s Peer support group and I have been selected again to be a member as they revamp the program

Question 6

o Perseverance

Answer 6

 a relentless effort to achieve goals, despite difficulties, failures, or opposition. Perseverance is required to perfect just about any skill or achieve any goal
 Example
• Ranger school: Only well qualified soldiers are selected for Ranger school. Even then still has a high failure rate. Encouraged to quit.
• Throughout Ranger school we are encouraged to quite by the Ranger instructors, but the harder they made it the harder my resolve became. It didn’t matter how many people quite, I was determined to finish.

Question 7

o Disciplined

Answer 7

 Doing what is needed regardless of desire
 I have found that discipline is best developed through intentional developments of habits
 I recognize the immense commitment
 I am willing to make the commitment to make SWAT a top priority;
 I am committed to attending all the training available
 And doing my part in the call-outs

Question 8

o Humility

Answer 8

 While I think that perseverance is my greatest strength, I believe that humility is one of my most prominent characteristics.
 I see Humility as not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less often.
 This trait enables me to be a team player, seeking the betterment of the whole instead of the advancement of my own part.

Question 9

o Rangers in particular

Answer 9

 Give a snap shot of my military career
• Ranger school is considered one of the hardest military schools on the planet. It was the hardest 3 months of my life. While it is primarily a leadership school, we are evaluated in an atmosphere meant to be as similar to combat as possible. We faced sleep deprivation, starvation, extreme physical exertion, and profound mental stress.
 Work as a firefighter and a medic is very different than what is experienced in the tactical environment;
 my training in the military to conduct high value target raids and other types of operations has prepared me to perform well has a SWAT medic
 RANGER OPS SPEED, SURPRISE, AND VIOLENCE OF ACTION
 I was held up to the highest standard as a Ranger and I will hold myself to that same standard

Question 10

o Military in general

Answer 10

 I understand SWAT to be very paramilitary and my exp in the military has prepared me to thrive in this environment
 chain of command not a democracy
 The tactical environment is very dynamic and variable; the military has helped to train for this dynamic (no routine calls as SWAT medic)
 Situational awareness: important for SWAT making entry. For Standbys.
 Hurry up and Wait
 stressful environments
 Training and equipment

Question 11

o Medical and Fire Experience

Answer 11

 Ranger First Responder 2001
 EMT Intermediate 2003
 Medic since 2007
 Fire Since 2010

Question 12

o Team work

Answer 12

 A team is only as effective as its individual parts;
 Everything that we do is done in teams
 I will endeavor to be an asset to this team if I am chosen

Question 13

o Training and the Desire for Expertise

Answer 13

 the more you sweat in training the less you will bleed in combat
 don’t do it until you get it right, do it until you cant get it wrong
 On game day our performance drops to our lowest level of training
 Rangers Big 4
• marksmanship
• physical training
• medical training
• small unit tactics

Question 14

o Fitness

Answer 14

 This is the foundation that all training and calls are built upon
 At Ak-Chin Fire I completed a personal trainer certification through ACE

Question 15

o Integrity

Answer 15

 I understand integrity as doing what’s right: legally and morally. Whether anybody is watching or not.
 First Responders have one of the greatest levels of public trust out of all the professions. It is imperative that we maintain that same level of trust.
 I like to follow the headline test. If what I am doing can’t pass the headline news then don’t do it.
 I know that I represent the Town and fire department 24/7.
 If I become a SWAT medic I would be representing PD as well
 You can be assured that I will continue to hold myself to a high level of integrity and professionalism