By: Brian Brush
2011 was a rough year for firefighters. In the last month the number of LODDs and Maydays has forced me to consider the harsh reality that someday my number may be called. With that consideration certain questions are raised, the first and foremost; will my family be taken care of? In this somewhat dark state of contemplation I began to think of life insurance and the means I have established to ensure that my family is taken care of. I hate the cost and thought of insurance right up to the point I need it. It is at that point when you quickly learn that you get what you pay for. I have been through situations where cheap insurance yielded cheap coverage and poor service. I have also seen the value of high premiums and big name insurance policies which more than paid for themselves by handling a bad situation for me with attention to detail and thoroughness.
The Brotherhood that is the American Fire Service is one more life insurance policy. Once you get through the questions of family and you start to ask; will the service be what I believe it should? Will I be remembered? Will my work carry on? You need to understand that the answers are written in your personal Brotherhood policy with all premiums set on a pay it forward basis.
- 15 minutes to save 15% or more Policy – Wear a t-shirt and fill a seat on the rig with limited commitment (minimal coverage), questionable practices (high deductibles) and you will get to ride that rig to your final resting place. No more, no less.
- Day Off Policy – Give some of your personal time to the profession. Put something off in your personal life to attend the funeral of a complete stranger because you honor what he stood for and you may be respected in the same manner.
- The Family Policy- Contribute to burn units, The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation or a fund set up in the name of a fallen brother with your time or money and it will ensure that these resources will be there for you and yours.
- The National Policy – Step outside the walls of your department or borders of your state and begin to give back to the American Fire Service through training, education and networking to help others and some day you may be honored beyond your walls or see one of these brothers who are influenced by your work travel to pay their respects.
- The Legacy Policy – Follow the model of an Andy Fredericks or Ray Downey and make it your life’s work to follow and share what you believe and the cultural shift that you start will carry on long after you are gone.
It is very simple, what you give is what you will get. My family comes first and it is where my primary focus lies however the fire service is my life’s work. For years that seemed to be an embarrassing statement and some might think it is self serving that I seek out an audience. I assure you, those who know me or the work I am involved in that none of this fills my pockets, ego or belly; it is a means to give back and pay it forward.
I know which policy I have chosen, what will you pick as your Brotherhood Policy? Will you crank down the deductible, increase your coverage and dig deep to meet a higher premium in 2012? In these tough times we are being tested in battle, city halls and in the station. We need to make our commitment to the Brotherhood very clear because our number could be up next and that policy could be called in.
In case you need an extra shot of motivation here is the song which prompted this post at full volume on a run over a snow covered trail this afternoon. Funny thing is that when it comes to insurance we should be wise with every penny especially when it comes to Brotherhood Policies.
On November 29, 1990, the United States Congress established the Public Safety Officer Disability Benefit law. This is a benefit that is awarded to an Police Officer, Firefighter, Volunteer Fighter, or EMT with a total and permanent disability received in the line of duty. There is a problem with this law, it does not include any public safety officer’s injured before the date this law was created. This is why the Public Safety Officer Fairness Act of 2011 was created, and has been submitted into the 112th Congress by Congressman Ed Towns of Brooklyn, NY and Congressman Tom Reed of the 29th Congressional District in New York.
Please contact your own Congressional Representative and ask them to be a co-sponsor to H.R.-3367. They can contact Emily Sheety who is Congressman Towns Legislative Director in Washington, DC at 1-202-225-5936. I’d like to get some discussion and support from the Fire Service at the next FDIC Convention…!
Solid write up Brian. First I forgot all about this song from my early adolesent punk rock days. Second, it seems I have been having more and more talks of this nature with brothers around me and reminding them its not about me myself and I but it’s about us, as one family. Firemen are iconic for the fact that we are self sacrificing and for our brotherhood, let us not forget this.
you know where I stand….quote Pennywise…”brotherhood’s a rule we can not bend!”
Good write Brian. It’s easy to just wear the blue shirt, play Xbox, ect. Too bad so many are fine with just that. The looks and moans that people give on their so called “rest day” on the Engine or Truck is often enough to make me sick. As for numbers, mines “785″, and it’s the only one I ever plan to have associated to me in my career. How will I do it- by working out, trying to learn something everyday, and helping create an atmosphere that will encourage others to do the same.
Excellent post brother!
“Fight till you die!” -PW
-huston
The only significant difference that I personally see, is that life insurance is something that you buy because you HAVE to…whereas the investments that we make into the profession (brotherhood insurance) should be because we WANT to. You see the benefits that you’ve received from those who have gone before you and who serve with you, and you choose to do your best to contribute to that positive environment. The “benefits” that come along with it are just a bonus to the satisfaction you can get from knowing that you’re sharing your love of and passion for what you do.
Nice, I’ve bookmarked the page in Digg under “Brotherhood Insurance: A Pay for What You Get Policy”. So hopefully our friends can give you a visit. Cheers!