First off I don't think there's anything wrong with the promotional. If someone has put in there 2 years, why not? Like most of us have waited about 2 years to get through this tedious Pre-hire process. So its like a 4 yr investment. Not to mention you'd have to get through the Fire Academy, so this "backdoor" aint cake. I don't plan on using this as some stepping stone to become a firefighter, however I do like having it as an option. Options are dope.
Additionally someone posted at least twice that his Investigator said 2 academies in April which would make sense. They're pouring ALOT of money into EMS right now so 1 academy would be underwhelming. And if there's going to be 1 academy in April the number would at least be another 120 like the last one.
I would ask my Investigator but hes the only one that asks questions in this relationship.