Fire Protection

What does the Fire Protection career field do?

Protects people, property, and the environment from fires and disasters. Provides fire prevention, firefighting, rescue, and hazardous material responses. Related DoD Occupational Subgroup: 149500.

Duties and responsibilities

• Plans, organizes, and directs all fire protection activities. Analyzes fire protection operations, determines trends and problems, and formulates corrective measures. Provides fire protection guidance. Coordinates fire protection support agreements and pre- incident plans. Executes and enforces the Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program. Conducts and evaluates training on specialized fire protection equipment and procedures. Performs inspections and organizational maintenance on fire protection vehicles, equipment, and protective clothing. Manages and operates fire alarm communications centers. Supports the electrical power production function with resetting aircraft arresting systems.
• Provides fire prevention guidance. Performs project reviews to ensure fire safety feature adequacy. Inspects facilities and identifies fire hazards and deficiencies. Determines fire extinguisher distribution requirements and performs inspections and maintenance. Establishes public relations and conducts fire prevention awareness and educational training.
• Controls and extinguishes aircraft, structure, wild land, and miscellaneous fires. Establishes an emergency operations incident command system. Drives and operates fire apparatuses, specialized tools, and equipment. Conducts hose evolutions and pump operations and protects exposures. Preserves and protects emergency scene evidence. Investigates fires to determine origin and cause.
• Effects entry into aircraft, structures, and other enclosures. Shuts down engines, safeties ejection systems, and isolates utilities. Conducts search and rescue operations. Administers emergency first aid.
• Protects people and the environment from hazardous material releases.

Specialty qualifications

Knowledge. Knowledge is mandatory of: fire department mission and organization; safety requirements and objectives; fire alarm and communications; fire behavior; portable fire extinguishers; personal protective clothing and equipment; forcible entry, ventilation, ropes, ladders, fire hose appliances, and streams; foam fire streams; fire control, salvage, overhaul, emergency medical care, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); rescue; water supplies and sprinklers; hazardous materials; fire prevention and public fire education; and fire cause determination.

Education. For entry into this specialty, completion of high school with courses in chemistry, general science, and mathematics is desirable.

Training.

• For award of AFSC 3E731, completion of Fire Protection Apprentice X8ABR3E731 0A1A course is mandatory.
• For award of AFSC 3E771, completion of Fire & Emergency Services Flight Management course WMGT 427 is mandatory for Active Duty and highly recommended for ANG and AF Reserves.
• For award of AFSC 3E791 completion of Fire & Emergency Services Flight Leadership course WMGT 527 is mandatory for Active Duty and highly recommended for ANG and AF Reserves.

Experience. The following experience is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated:

• 3E751. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 3E731. Also, minimum rank of SrA/E-4, experience operating firefighting tools and equipment, extinguishing fires, rescuing personnel, and performing emergency medical care and CPR.
• 3E771. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 3E751. Also, experience performing or supervising fire protection functions.
• 3E791. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 3E771. Also, experience managing fire protection functions.

Other. The following are mandatory as indicated:

• For entry into this specialty:
• See attachment 4 for entry requirements.
• For entry, award, and retention of this specialty and these AFSCs:
• No record of pyrophobia, acrophobia, or claustrophobia.
• Ability to speak distinctly.
• Must possess a valid state driver’s license to operate government motor vehicles (GMV) in accordance with AFI 24-301, Vehicle Operations.
• Normal color vision as defined in AFI 48-123, Medical Examinations and Standards.
• AFSCs 3E711/31/51/71 must meet physical standards according to AFI 48-123 and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1582, Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments.
• For award and retention of these AFSCs:
• Specialty requires routine access to Tier 3 (T3) information, systems, or similar classified environments.
• Completion of a current T3 Investigation required IAW DoDM 5200.02, AFMAN 16-1405, Air Force Personnel Security Program is mandatory.
• Must maintain local network access IAW AFI 17-130, Cybersecurity Program Management and AFMAN 17-1301, Computer Security
• For retention of the AFSC if awarded 3 skill level, 2 years of lack of recent performance AFSC is withdrawn IAW AFMAN 36-2100.
• For retention of the AFSC if awarded 5 skill level, 4 years of lack of recent performance then downgraded to 3 skill level and then 2 more years of non performance AFSC is withdrawn IAW AFMAN 36-2100.
• For retention of the AFSC if awarded 7or 9 skill level, 6 years of lack of recent performance then downgraded to 3 skill level and then 2 more years of non performance AFSC is withdrawn IAW AFMAN 36-2100.
• Must maintain certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and National Registry Emergency Medical Responder (NREMR) IAW DAFI 32-2001, Fire and Emergency Services Program (F&ES).
• Must maintain a current and passing respirator fit test. At all times will maintain no hair growth between the skin and the facepiece sealing surface, such as stubble beard growth, beard, mustache, or sideburns which cross the respirator sealing surface IAW with OSHA - [29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A)], Appendix A to § 1910.134, DAF 52-201. No shaving waivers are authorized to maintain 3E7X1 AFSC. NOTE: Award of the entry level without a completed T3 Investigation is authorized provided an interim Secret security clearance has been granted according to DoDM 5200.02, AFMAN 16-1405.

Civilian career paths

Comparable civilian careers for this field pay roughly $30,640–$94,240 per year (median salaries; varies by role and location):

• Emergency Management Directors: $76,250
• Emergency Medical Technicians: $36,650
• Fire Inspectors and Investigators: $64,610
• Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers: $94,240
• Firefighters: $52,500
• First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers: $78,870
• Forest and Conservation Technicians: $38,940
• Forest and Conservation Workers: $30,640
• Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists: $42,150
• Foresters: $63,980
• Hazardous Materials Removal Workers: $45,270
• Occupational Health and Safety Specialists: $76,340
• Paramedics:$36,650
• Public Safety Telecommunicators: $43,290
• Training and Development Specialists: $62,700