The Professional Brotherhood™

In today’s mutual aid episode, Brian takes a deeper dive into our agencies membership and their opinions. Happy Memorial Day!! About our host:   Chief Brian Soller has been a volunteer firefighter for 30 years.  Brian is currently Chief of the Rock Hill Fire Department (100% Volunteer / Sullivan County, NY) and a Past Chief of the Monticello Fire Department (Combination / Sullivan County, NY). Bri...

In today’s episode, Chief Soller and Co-Host Chief John Sahatjian are joined by guest Jeremy Sanders, host of the Crew 1st Culture podcast to discuss "Respect" and "Not Pushing a Loyal Person".  This conversation was inspired by a quote that Frank Viscuso recently shared on Facebook. Jeremy can be found on Instagram @crew1stculture and his podcast is available on all podcast pl...

In today’s mutual aid episode, Chief Soller discusses how we can "learn from our mistakes".  We all make them, but do we do our best to learn from them?  About our host:   Chief Brian Soller has been a volunteer firefighter for 30 years.  Brian is currently Chief of the Rock Hill Fire Department (100% Volunteer / Sullivan County, NY) and a Past Chief of the Monticello Fire Department (Co...

In today’s episode, Chief Soller and Co-Host Chief John Sahatjian are joined by guest Gene Dellipaoli to take a deeper dive into “Entitlement”.  Definition:  The fact of having a right to something. The belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment. About our guest: Gene is a volunteer Lieutenant with the Roscoe/Rockland Fire Department (Sullivan County, NY) and a care...

In today’s mutual aid episode, Chief Soller discusses, “The Art of Not Giving a F____”.  Not to be confused with the book by Mark Manson.  Today's topic focuses on why it's important that you do not allow uneducated opinions to influence your decisions.  About our host:   Chief Brian Soller has been a volunteer firefighter for 30 years.  Brian is currently Chief of the Rock Hill Fire Dep...

On today's episode Chief Soller welcomes Nick Higgins from "The Firehouse Tribune" for an open discussion regarding social media and its effects on the fire service and fire service organizations. About our guest: NICHOLAS J. HIGGINS is a firefighter with 17 years in the fire service in Piscataway, NJ, a NJ State certified level 2 fire instructor, a State of New Jersey Advocate for...

** Listener Request** In today’s mutual aid episode, Chief Soller discusses, “Entitlement”.  Definition:  The fact of having a right to something. The belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment. About our host:   Chief Brian Soller has been a volunteer firefighter for 30 years.  Brian is currently Chief of the Rock Hill Fire Department (100% Volunteer / Sullivan Cou...

On today's episode, Chief Soller is honored to welcome back Chief John Sahatjian of "Jersey Shore Emergency Training" and newcomer to the podcast, Abi Rogers of "Confessions of a Firefighter Wife" to discuss mental health in the fire service.  We also discuss the importance of communication within the family and communication among the members of the emergency services org...

Whether it's the Chief micro-managing the officers or the AHJ micro-managing the Chief, micro-management can be extremely frustrating. In today's mutual aid episode we discuss this common problem in the volunteer fire service and things you can do to avoid it. About our host:   Chief Brian Soller has been a volunteer firefighter for 30 years.  Brian is currently Chief of the Rock Hill Fi...

In today's episode we are discussing fitness in the fire service with Chris Torres from @nyc_igy6fitness and @coney_island_fitness. Chris is a firefighter with the FDNY and the head coach at IGY6FITNESS and a coach and co-owner of Coney Island Fitness. NYC I Got Your 6 is a fitness program, based out of Crossfit STEED, centered around getting those who aspire to be, or are currently in the pr...

Welcome to our "Mutual Aid" series.  These episodes will be shorter than our traditional episodes and more than likely recorded on the fly by Chief Soller or a guest.  Today's episode discusses the use of emergency services radios and just a few of the "do's and don'ts" regarding this often untrained skill. About our host:   Chief Brian Soller has been a voluntee...

In this episode Chief Soller discusses his health journey, the importance of taking care of yourself and why we must remain fit to fight. About our host:   Chief Brian Soller has been a volunteer firefighter for 30 years.  Brian is currently Chief of the Rock Hill Fire Department (100% Volunteer / Sullivan County, NY) and a Past Chief of the Monticello Fire Department (Combination / Sullivan Count...

In this episode Chief Soller welcomes special guest Ali Rothrock of "On the Job and Off".  Ali's journey in the volunteer fire service started when she was just sixteen after visiting her local department's open house.  Ali shares the up's and down's of that journey and how it shaped her into the incredibly gifted and caring person that she is today.  Put those headph...

In today's episode Chief Soller welcomes Lieutenant Nick Hilton, host of the Brotherhood Academy Radio Podcast.  Brian and Nick discuss recruitment and retention, stipends, combination departments and a training pathway for potential officers. About our guest: Leiutenant Nick Hilton is the founder and a host of the Brotherhood Academy Radio Podcast.  Nick grew up around the fire department al...

In this episode Chief Soller and Lieutenant Garrett Lewis discuss the challenges faced by firefighters that serve as both career and volunteer firefighters as well as common difficulties faced by combination departments. They also touch on the challenges faced by the volunteers that serve alongside off-duty career firefighters in a 100% volunteer department. About our guest:   Garrett Lewis is a f...

In this special bonus episode Chief Soller discusses the COVID-19 pandemic and suggestions for volunteer firefighters and their agencies to help keep them healthy and safe during these difficult times. COVID-19 Resources Available: CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 International Assoc...

Like many of us, Captain Nate Routledge (Roscoe Rockland Fire Department, Sullivan County, NY) dreamed of becoming a firefighter when he was a young boy.  However, growing up in England, that wasn't a possibility.   In this episode, Captain Routledge shares his journey from the UK to the USA.  His experiences as a probationary firefighter.  His current role as Captain in a small rural NY volu...

Listener Request! In this episode we discuss common obstacles for volunteer firefighters when they make the transition from firefighter to fire officer.  Follow us on social @professionalvolunteer  On the web at www.professionalvolunteerfirefighter.com Send future episode suggestions or comments on past episodes to professionalvff@gmail.com. Interested in being a guest on the show?  Please reach o...

In this special Friday bonus episode, Chief Soller talks alcohol, social media and the perception of volunteers with Chief John Sahatjian (ret.) from Jersey Shore Emergency Training.  Follow us on social @professionalvolunteer @jerseyshoreemergencytraining On the web at www.professionalvolunteerfirefighter.com Send future episode suggestions or comments on past episodes to professionalvff@gmail.co...

Chief Soller talks professionalism, recruitment / retention, engaging younger firefighters and training with Chief John Sahatjian (ret.) from Jersey Shore Emergency Training.  Follow us on social @professionalvolunteer @jerseyshoreemergencytraining On the web at www.professionalvolunteerfirefighter.com Send future episode suggestions or comments on past episodes to professionalvff@gmail.com. We ar...

In Episode 002 Chief Soller discusses Recruitment and Retention in the Volunteer Fire Service. How do we attract new members while keeping existing members engaged.  Do we need to change our company requirements?  Are training requirements "killing" the volunteer fire service? Please send your feedback and episode ideas to professionalvff@gmail.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram...

A brief introduction to the "Professional Volunteer" podcast and host Chief Brian Soller.  Please send your future episode ideas to professionalvff@gmail.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @professionalvolunteer.