Punishment for Skipping Training

johnnyreb132

johnnyreb132

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Being that I'm 1st Lt. for a junior squad, age 21 and under, which is a subgroup for our volunteer rescue squad, I'm in charge of training. I held a training session on immobilization, my first training session, and surprise, surprise there was no attendance. Now I'm going to make the sessions mandatory. However, being that it is a volunteer service, how would I punish those who do not attend?
 
Suspension until they have completed a certain number of courses. And that's on the first absence. Subsequent absences in expulsion from squad.
 
That could backfire though because I don't have the authority for expulsions, they have to be voted on. Then they could all conspire to remove me from office so they don't have to attend the training sessions.
 
johnnyreb132 said:
Being that I'm 1st Lt. for a junior squad, age 21 and under, which is a subgroup for our volunteer rescue squad, I'm in charge of training. I held a training session on immobilization, my first training session, and surprise, surprise there was no attendance. Now I'm going to make the sessions mandatory. However, being that it is a volunteer service, how would I punish those who do not attend?
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There should be regular training scenarios to keep everyone 'refreshed'.

However, being that it is volunteer 'minors', I'm not sure how much authority you truly have. You stated that it is <21y/o, and that it is a "subgroup" for the volunteer squads.

These are 'kids' you are speaking about. Your authority may not be absolute. Since they are a 'subgroup' for volunteers, they may not understand their responsibility. Sounds like you need to meet with your superiors and try to hash out a policy that if they are to volunteer then they need to make a commitment to continue their training and make XX amount of meetings per year
 
Make sure to have in place a system to distinguish between the "I just don't want to" and "I have a legitimate reason for not coming" groups.
 
I also want to make one more point.....but I'm not entirely sure how to phrase it.

You are asking us for methods of punishment (punishment was your chosen word). That sounds kind of rough. You stated they were kids (21 and younger) so they may have issues with prioritizing responsibilities, but the way that you asked your question made you sound as if your primary goal was to punish them since they failed to attend your class/meeting.

I'm not trying to incite any rage or hostility, but it sounds you might want to take a few steps back and realize these are 'kids' you are talking about that may think it is "cool" to simply say they are on a volunteer squad then simply not follow through when it comes to meetings and training.

Should they be punished? Perhaps, in a sense... They need to realize that if they are going to commit to an organization, then they need to follow the rules and regulations of that organization.

Now, should you punish everyone that defies you? No...You need to step back and properly manage those that you are in charge of. Leader's are there to lead



Mods: If I have crossed a line, I am sorry. I meant no ill-will. Simply pointing out the fact that those who manage aren't there simply to 'punish' but to manage and lead
 
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absolutesteve81 said:
I also want to make one more point.....but I'm not entirely sure how to phrase it.

You are asking us for methods of punishment (punishment was your chosen word). That sounds kind of rough. You stated they were kids (21 and younger) so they may have issues with prioritizing responsibilities, but the way that you asked your question made you sound as if your primary goal was to punish them since they failed to attend your class/meeting.

I'm not trying to incite any rage or hostility, but it sounds you might want to take a few steps back and realize these are 'kids' you are talking about that may think it is "cool" to simply say they are on a volunteer squad then simply not follow through when it comes to meetings and training.

Should they be punished? Perhaps, in a sense... They need to realize that if they are going to commit to an organization, then they need to follow the rules and regulations of that organization.

Now, should you punish everyone that defies you? No...You need to step back and properly manage those that you are in charge of. Leader's are there to lead



Mods: If I have crossed a line, I am sorry. I meant no ill-will. Simply pointing out the fact that those who manage aren't there simply to 'punish' but to manage and lead
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Maybe a better word would be discipline. They do have the option to simply email me about whether or not they will be able to attend the training. However, when they don't do something that simple and don't attend then there are issues. I'm only 17 myself and take time out of my schedule to come up with lessons and teach. My main goal is to prevent empty or nearly empty training sessions for every single training session, unless it is something "cool" like extrication.
 
If you miss more than so many training sessions you are off the squad. The people they claim to want to help are suffering because training is not occurring.
 
johnnyreb132 said:
Maybe a better word would be discipline. They do have the option to simply email me about whether or not they will be able to attend the training. However, when they don't do something that simple and don't attend then there are issues. I'm only 17 myself and take time out of my schedule to come up with lessons and teach. My main goal is to prevent empty or nearly empty training sessions for every single training session, unless it is something "cool" like extrication.
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Ok. That might be the problem. You might need to gain their respect first. While I'm sure that there are some people who are just ditzy and forget, but a lot of people are going to have trouble respecting someone with the same or less experience and training than they have trying to teach them something. To be honest, with something as mundane as immbolization, there really has to be something there (something mind shatteringly new or really difficult scenario) I'd have a hard time getting there myself simply because it's so relatively basic. As the training officer, you might need to set up two tracks. One track for the new members and a seperate track for the experienced members.

Coming from experience with an organziation I volunteered with outside of EMS, no one wants to feel like their time is wasted and will resent it greatly when they do.
 
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JPINFV said:
Ok. That might be the problem. You might need to gain their respect first. While I'm sure that there are some people who are just ditzy and forget, but a lot of people are going to have trouble respecting someone with the same or less experience and training than they have trying to teach them something. To be honest, with something as mundane as immbolization, there really has to be something there (something mind shatteringly new or really difficult scenario) I'd have a hard time getting there myself simply because it's so relatively basic. As the training officer, you might need to set up two tracks. One track for the new members and a seperate track for the experienced members.

Coming from experience with an organziation I volunteered with outside of EMS, no one wants to feel like their time is wasted and will resent it greatly when they do.
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Good point. The reason for my choosing immobilization was because of the ease with which it can be set up. It was also meant to be for the new members, so like probies and those who haven't gotten there EMTs yet, I already knew the older members were experienced enough to do it without difficulty so I didn't care whether or not they attended, I just wasn't expecting no one :rolleyes:. In the future, I will give the experienced members something compatible with that experience and that which will peak their interest. Is there anyway though besides expulsion to discipline those members, who I know need the experience, if they still do not attend?
 
johnnyreb132 said:
That could backfire though because I don't have the authority for expulsions, they have to be voted on. Then they could all conspire to remove me from office so they don't have to attend the training sessions.
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Are there no written policies?
 
Go through the proper channels, probably meeting with the officers board of the main rescue squad to get a policy written about mandatory training and consequences of not attending.

I still work as a POC first responder when I'm off duty. I too am responsible for our training and have done exactly that. Due to the fact that people have full time jobs and most of them have a life outside of the squad I have it set to 50% of training must be attended and certain topics are mandatory. If they miss a mandatory training I give them 1 month to schedule a time with me to go through the training, if they don't complete it within 1 month they are not allowed to respond until it is completed. It has been working well so far.

One thing I have noticed in my time training is the more you put into it the better the turnout will be. Find specific areas that they have shown a lack of understanding and put together a presentation that is in depth and well prepared and they will appreciate it.

I typically spend 10 or more hours each month putting together a 1 hour training session. I will research the subject in depth from many sources (helps me as a provider too) until I feel comfortable answering any off the wall question they might have. Then I put together a quick powerpoint presentation and secure any equipment needed to let them practice. Usually after I have it all together I go through it with my girlfriend who has no EMS training and my goal is that she understands what she's doing at the end. Also talk to your local hospital, ambulance service, flight teams, police, anyone you work with and see if they have an outside educator. I have had people from each of those services out to do training on special subjects that they have a better understanding of than me. Bringing in new faces to do training will also help in breaking the monotony of the same thing every month. PD offers great training in crime scenes and evidence preservation. NICU/PICU flight nurses have come in to do training on Peds.
 
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