Ha! Bonus points for being a retainer? You have to be kidding. If anything it should exclude you permanently - based on the times I've worked with retained chaps...
PYRO, you're an idiot. I think its great that an accountant of 25 years decided to get a real job, struggled with the learning process and ended up succeeding, becoming competent and passing his recruit course. A far better outcome than the know it all retained firie who thinks that he is gods gift to firefighting passing recruit course.
I love, as Katrina pointed out, people who whine about getting bent over by SAMFS when it is clear that they haven't met at least one of the very well published selection criteria. As for the people who were put on the waiting list, that is a pain in the filtered. The problem lies with planning for more courses than they have the budget for, and then having to cut courses. It sucks, but thats the way life is.
Best of luck to those who grin and bear it, and keep pushing on. To the others, maybe if you still keep getting knocked back, as good as you think you are, you're not the right stuff for SAMFS.
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Do you have a negative outlook on everyone other than yourself?
How often have you worked with retained firies?