I work for a very rough and busy city so it takes a toll on the body, but my city pays significantly more money then nicer cities for that reason. I have always enjoyed working out and now I am paid to do it. The downside is I am always one knee or back injury away from being medically retired. Although the pension and medical retirement is significant and if I was to say blow out my knee I would make a significant portion of my salary tax free and I would be free to work another job to supplement my income. Our retirement age is 50 due to the physical nature of the job but at that age I am fully invested in my pension and can start drawing on it. The job I agree is not easy and mentally and physically demanding but it fits me and fulfills me. The key to a career in this is a marathon not a sprint and you must train as such.

On top of the pension I also max out my deferred comp because after working for the airlines I am well aware of what can happen with pensions. The city also puts 10% in to my deferred comp starting this year on top of my pension obligations to help offset the early retirement.

Our schedule does include working 10 days a month. Although that means ten days a month away from home, it is much different then an airline schedule. The family can easy come and visit and during holidays all the families come for big meals together. Like any career there are positives and negatives but if someone looks thoroughly they can find a career that fits them.

I miss flying the jet but with all the free time I have now I still fly and flight instruct a few times a week. I went through the lost decade and I know how stressful times like these are for pilots. I am just trying to add some positive for you guys. You are not pidgin holed as only pilots. The skills you learn and utilize as a pilot transfer to many professions. It was a huge positive in the highly competitive firefighter interviews to draw on my flying experience. It gave me a big leg up.

as if sitting sedentary for duty period after duty period, eating Panda Express, irregular sleep schedules, and drinking yourself to sleep on layovers isn’t hard on the body.

I was going to point out the same thing. I am more sore and physically tired now, but I feel 100% better then I did when I was flying for airlines.

if I had a nickel for every airline pilot with back problems that could probably have been prevented by actual exercise...

Preach. Seems counterintuitive, but after a back injury you need to train more, not less. Intelligently, of course.

And a strong back and core is the best way to prevent one in the first place. Sitting all day and being a generally fat, lazy piece of **** is how people end up with a ‘bad back’ from picking up a grocery bag or spitting out toothpaste.

—BREAK—

Firefighting is pretty brutal on the body, especially if you work in a busy shop. You need to be in good shape in order to be effective (I’ve seen fat guys suck through a ‘45 minute’ bottle in well under 10 minutes...no bueno). Strength helps prevent injury, especially if you have to drag 300lbs of brother out. Even so, things still happen. Just last year I lost my footing deep in a commercial structure fire manning a 2-1/2” attack line (big water) with a ****ty backup man. Got blown backwards, tried to catch myself, torqued my foot 90* in a direction it wasn’t meant to go, felt a big snap, and completely ruptured a couple ligaments. Crawling out was not a good time (nor a good look), and neither was the recovery.

But it’s part of the job, and one must get back on the horse.

I’m a fat lazy piece of ****. But I do work out, stretch, and try to be aware of my posture. So far so good.

Good! I’ve been through the spine surgery thing (from flying, oddly enough), and I wouldn’t wish that upon my worst enemy.

wow you sound like an action/movie star

I must sound like the worst one in Hollywood, because I break myself a lot and never get to make a grab.

Just trying to highlight that firefighting, while rewarding, isn’t how the movies and TV shows portray it. You’re one misstep (literally) from a potentially career ending injury. Once you’re established in the 121 world, I wouldn’t even think about doing it.

I never said I wasn't happy flying. I wasn't happy making crap FO wages in an environment that had zero mobility. From your comment it doesn't seem like you've flown in the regional world. It's night and day between left seat and right seat. The pay goes up by 70 percent. U get to manage the cockpit however you want. No dealing with 30 year crusty captains complain for 4 days about politics and complaining how they didn't get hired at mainline because of this or that. 4 day trips with a good crew doesn't seem like work when you're constantly laughing and enjoying the flying. But 4 days can feel like an eternity when u run into the crusty captain.

"Just be happy with what you have" thanks Dr. Phil that's some great advice.

Not everyone on this forum has worked in an office environment. Forums like this is a great place to get information from people who have different experiences from yourself. Just because you know what it's like to work in an office environment doesn't mean everyone else does. I was just providing an update to my post so other people might be able to get some helpful information.

Unlike people giving alternatives like being a firefighter, under water welder in the Middle East, and making adult type movies Your post has literally done nothing to advance the conversation or make anyone laugh.