Ex-military member ignites new career in firefighting

May 3, 2024

To honour International Firefighters’ Day on May 4, Jessie Pustai, a 2023 graduate of Georgian’s Pre-service Firefighter Education and Training Ontario College Certificate program shares how the program has helped him to develop the skills and practical experience needed to further pursue a career in the field, as well as the opportunities he’s had post-graduation to transfer the program skills and training into the real world.

What inspired you to take Georgian’s Pre-service Firefighter Education and Training program?

As I was nearing the end of my career with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), I wanted to move into a career that would be physically and mentally demanding and foster a close, family-like relationship with the people I’d be working with.

Everything I had heard and experienced about being a firefighter, through military connections and experiences, hit all those points. In a way, it seemed like the most relatable career to transition into. I left the CAF to be closer to family and spoke with a friend who is a current firefighter and suggested the Georgian Pre-service Firefighter program.

What made you choose Georgian for your program?

I researched which colleges in Ontario offered the best Pre-service Firefighter Education and Training program. Out of the top five, I contacted each of the programs to inquire about what they had to offer that made them stand out.

In addition to the program, I also looked for a college that offered a strong rugby program and reached out to the head coaches of those teams. I was looking for a rugby program that would help fill the camaraderie void that I would be leaving behind in the CAF. Georgian stood out to me not only because of their successful rugby program, coach and team but also because their program offered more for me.

I knew I would be walking away from college with some more certifications and unique experiences and that I would be better set up for a successful career as a firefighter.

Jessie Pustai

Any memorable moments from your experience at Georgian?

One memory that stands out is our semester three at our live fire training. Throughout the year I was my platoon’s captain and responsible for four other members of my class and their voice through the chain of command. Whenever I was able to, I would mentor those students on what we were learning in class or discipline in general as much of firefighting is a para-military profession.

I was amazed to watch my platoon grow from being individual students to becoming key members of our small team over the year. I was ecstatic when our platoon won the Wolf Pack award at the end of the live fire week for demonstrating excellent teamwork and always encouraging others to be their best. It was amazing to see and put to work all the skills and techniques we had learned and built on throughout the year.

Jessie Pustai (centre) alongside his platoon team and classmates.

How did the Pre-service Firefighter Education and Training program help you prepare for your future career?

The Pre-service Firefighter program has done so much to help me prepare to be successful in my career. Throughout the program, many certifications are offered or encouraged that might not be necessary to graduate but help boost a resumé and one’s understanding of certain topics. The program also offered many opportunities to work on leadership skills whether it’s being a platoon captain, being a class president, who the captains report to and they report to the program instructors, or in smaller ways like taking the lead for scenarios or class tasks.

The program’s faculty are fantastic at helping students understand and improve their problem-solving skills through the use of obstacle courses or search and rescue scenarios. They helped to identify weaker areas in some students and then talked them through it to improve. Finally, the program offers a career preparation class, which helps students prepare for the aptitude testing and the different components within it, interview preparation and understanding what the next step is after college.

Now that you’ve graduated, what’s next for you?

I’ve been doing my fire testing and applying to open opportunities. The testing is a range of physical, skill and aptitude testing required by most departments; the goal is to keep up with those to keep them up to date. I recently landed a job in a safety and rescue company and would like to grow with them. It’s a great opportunity to keep up with some of the skills learned through the program, such as rope rescue and EMR.

Short term, I aim to get more involved with rugby again, playing and even coaching for a youth team, as well as joining a fire department.

Long term, I’d like to continue self-improvement with fire-related skills and even expand my medical knowledge. I loved the EMR program that the college offered and have always been intrigued by the body and the way it works, so I would like to explore expanded avenues about the medical side of firefighting.

What advice would you give to future students considering Georgian’s Pre-service Firefighter Education and Training program?

To any future students considering Georgian’s Pre-service Firefighter program, I encourage you to go for it. The knowledge and experience gained from the program opens doors to different fields within the fire service and it truly is a great program. The faculty are fantastic, have a wealth of knowledge and experiences they’re excited to share and are a great connection moving forward.

Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there at the beginning of the program by stepping up to be a captain or class president. You’ll learn as you go through the program and will be better for it. Be prepared to dedicate yourself fully to learning as much as you can while in the program. It’s hard work but it’s unbelievably rewarding with the knowledge, experience and friendships you’ll come out with.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your Georgian experience?

I only wish I knew more about some of the services the college offered, earlier on. Toward the end of the program, I signed up for math help and career services, through the student services. I needed the math help as a refresher for doing some simple math that I had long forgotten since being out of high school, and the career services really helped me to perfect my portfolio. I think if I had gotten a head start on some of those services earlier on, it would have lightened the workload for myself closer to the end.

I’m so grateful and proud to have successfully completed the Pre-service Firefighter program at Georgian. I made some amazing connections and shared some unique experiences with my fellow students and teammates, and I can see how much it has paid off for me as I work toward my career as a firefighter.

Jessie was also awarded The Bill Wilkins Memorial Award which is presented to a student who shows a combination of leadership, academic merit and outstanding practical performance and is deemed most likely to succeed in the firefighting field.

When I heard about the award, I knew it was something I wanted to work toward because I was determined to leave the program with the best chance at furthering my career. Having the award to work toward helped me to stay focused on school and to continually put the effort in. I tried to be the best all-around student I could. I stayed engaged during class and put the studying hours in when needed. I mentored my fellow students in areas they were struggling with, and I volunteered when opportunities arose. I’m extremely grateful to both the program staff and the Barrie Professional Firefighters Association for choosing me, as many other students were deserving.

Jessie Pustai