Thank you for your interest in the Germantown Volunteer Fire Department. The following information has been compiled to assist you with the application process.
Applications are processed on a revolving schedule. We strive to bring new members
in during the months of January, March, May, July, September and November. The
process can take up to 2 months and membership is not guaranteed.
The Application Process consists of the following
• Receipt of Application and Application Fee
• Application review and reference check
• Panel interview
• Review by the Board of Directors
• Presentation of the applicant to the Membership and Election into Membership
• Criminal Background Investigation
• Physical Exam (depending upon membership category requested)
Each
step in this process occurs on a specific date; therefore, requests to expedite
applications cannot be considered except for Montgomery County High School Cadets
AND at the discretion of the President of the Corporation. You will not be called
at every step in the process. We will contact each applicant should there be
a need for additional information or to set up an interview date. Although we
do encourage you to contact us with any questions you may have, please note
that this committee is staffed by volunteers and messages by phone may take
up to a week to return. The most effective way to communicate any questions
is through the GVFD website, www.gvfd29.org.
The application fee is $20.00. Be sure to include a check or money order payable to Germantown Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. APPLICATIONS WITHOUT A FEE WILL BE RETURNED. This fee is not refundable.
You must provide valid phone numbers and addresses for all employment
and personal references. Applications will be returned if any information
is omitted or undocumented and if references cannot be contacted. Also, please
note that the entire application process can be terminated if you have deliberately
withheld information or provide erroneous information in an attempt to obscure
the truth. Letters of recommendation will be accepted as a reference; however,
valid contact information is still required.
If you have prior fire and rescue experience you MUST provide
the following:
• Documentation of prior fire and rescue training if applicable.
• A letter of recommendation from the chief or president of your organization
and/or a valid and reliable means of contacting them.
Panel Interview dates will be provided to the applicant after
the application is reviewed and favorable reference check completed. Failure
to provide valid personal contact information will result in your application
process being delayed or terminated. Due to the complexity the panel interviews
and the time constraints of this process, interview dates are assigned and in
most cases cannot be changed. You must confirm your interview date. You may
postpone your application process to the next session; however, failure to show
up to the interview or late arrivals will most likely result in termination
of the application process. 
Pending favorable Board of Directors’ review, the applicant will be provided
the date and location of the next Monthly Membership Meeting. The membership
will then vote to elect the applicant into membership as a probationary member.
This is a provisional membership pending completion of the application process.
The applicant must be present at this meeting and spouses, parents or guardians
are welcome to attend.
Membership is contingent upon a favorable background check. The investigation
can take weeks; although, it will not delay your application process. You will
be provided the necessary information for obtaining your fingerprints and background
investigation documents after being voted into membership. Any delay in obtaining
your fingerprints will delay your ability begin probationary training and your
membership is NOT guaranteed until the investigation is completed
and the results have been received by the Corporation.
All Fire/Rescue and EMS applicants will be required to complete a physical (depending on membership category requested). The physical is by appointment only and the results may take weeks. Although, it will not delay your application process, the category of membership will be contingent upon successful completion of the physical. Information on how to obtain your physical will be provided after being voted into membership. Please note the physical will be conducted by the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Occupational Medical Services (FROMS) and will not be used to determine your eligibility for membership but will determine the category of membership for which the applicant is eligible.
Categories of Membership
Any person eighteen (18) years of age or older, will be eligible
for membership in this Department, provided they meet all requirements set by
The Membership.
Any person between sixteen (16) and eighteen (18) years of age, living in Montgomery County, Maryland, will be eligible for junior membership in the
Department provided they have written consent from their parents or legal guardians
and meet all requirements set by the Membership. Junior Membership is restricted
to positions available.
No person shall be denied membership by reason of race, creed, sex, age, religion,
national origin, or political affiliation.
Fire / Rescue
This category is available for applicants, who wish to serve in all aspects of the Germantown Volunteer Fire Department, including: Firefighter, Emergency Medical Technician, and Paramedic.
This
category includes manual and technical work in fire suppression, fire prevention,
rescue, and emergency medical services involving duties and responsibilities
of an emergency and hazardous nature, which may require the highest level of
sustained exertion and agility. Work involves exposure to extreme heat, dirt,
low visibility and confined spaces, extreme heights, swift and standing water,
disease, dismemberment and other unpleasant conditions.
Fire and Rescue members will be required to respond to fire alarms and other
emergency or service calls and lift, carry, drag, lay and connect hose lines
and appliances, hold nozzles and direct fog or water streams, extinguishers,
bars, hooks, rope lines, ladders and other emergency equipment as necessary.
Additionally, Fire/Rescue members will be assigned to Emergency Medical Services
duties and will be required to lift, carry and transport persons in ambulances
and otherwise provide efficient and immediate care to the ill or injured at
the scene of an incident and during transport.
ALL FIRE/RESCUE MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO BE CERTIFIED
AS EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS WITH IN THE FIRST YEAR OF MEMEBRSHIP.
EMS
This category is available for applicants who only wish to serve as Emergency Medical Services Personnel including: Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedic.
Members will be assigned to Emergency Medical Services duties and will be required
to lift, carry and transport persons in ambulances and otherwise provide efficient
and immediate care to the ill or injured at the scene of an incident and during
transport. EMS members work closely with Fire/ Rescue units and may be exposed
to many of the same conditions as listed above but will not be permitted to
engage in fire suppression or other technical rescue activities.
Administrative Member
This category is available for applicants who do not wish or
may not be able to participate in Fire/Rescue or EMS operations, but still desire
to serve their local volunteer fire department. Membership in this category
is reserved for persons whose special abilities or skills may be considered
beneficial to the Department and/or those who have a desire to participate in
fundraising, departmental events, public service events, work details, administrative
support and other non-emergency related functions. Administrative members will
not be permitted to participate in fire and rescue operations.
Junior Membership
This category is available for prospective applicants between the ages of 16 and 18, has limited availability and is very competitive. Junior members may pursue Fire/Rescue or EMS training and may be eligible to participate in the various fire/rescue and emergency services duties listed above at the discretion of the Fire and Rescue Chief. Parental permission is required to pursue this category of membership and certain restrictions apply to participation while school is in session including curfews and grade point average requirements. Letters of recommendations are strongly encouraged for applicants to this category.
Fire and Rescue Cadet Program Applicants
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Cadet Program participants
will be required to follow the same guidelines as Junior Member. Additional
requirements may be requested at the discretion of the Fire and Rescue Chief.
Thank you again for you interest in Germantown Volunteer Fire Department.
THIS SITE IS NOT SET UP FOR ELECTRONIC APPLICATIONS. Please print out an application from the site or email the committee your request to have an application mailed to you. All applications must include the application fee and be mailed to: 20001 Crystal Rock Drive, Germantown, Maryland 20874.
