In the December 1996, TCFP Fire Protection Personnel Advisory Committee meeting, this problem was presented by staff members. There was discussion regarding the various problems encountered with incorrect forms and the employee/hour cost involved.

During the March 1997 meeting, staff had performed a survey of Basic and Higher Level Applications. There were 211 Basic applications submitted during this time. Of the 211 applications, there were 111 problems identified. The primary problem (30.6%) found was "No Notice of Employment on file," meaning the employer had not notified TCFP that the individual had been hired. Second, there was no Texas Department of Health certificate on file (22.5%). In third place (16.2%) was the application was incomplete or not sent.

In advance level applications, the greatest error was the applicant failed to submit the college transcript or the transcript was incomplete (35.4%). The second problem area (15.9%) was that the applicant had insufficient NFA hours submitted. The third level of problem (11.0%) was the applicant did not have the proper time in service to achieve the advanced level.

In the majority of the problem areas, proper education of the person completing the forms would reduce problems for the TCFP staff. During the December 1996 meeting, I suggested that members of the TAFE assist the staff with the development of informational material that could be used by persons completing the various forms. This was well received by committee members and staff. Since that time, I have worked on several draft items which Cy Long is presently reviewing. There is still need for additional work to be performed. Some of the assistance that we, as a group, can render is listed below:

1) detailed explanation sheets indicating what each form is to be used for.

2) detailed instruction sheet for each form to walk a person through the form, so that errors can be minimized or eliminated.

3) a lesson plan that can be used by instructors across the state during recruit schools and other training sessions on how to use the various forms: and 4) a flow chart that can be used for someone to check-off the steps needed to be performed when a new employee comes on board, a discipline assignment occurs, or some other event that requires form usage.

If you have been trapped in the maze of forms and would like to see some relief, please contact Cy Long or myself. We, as a group, can assist the commission staff while at the same time assist fire fighters across the state in properly completing TCFP forms.

Rusty Sanders can be contacted by phone @ 409-564-0170, E-Mail @ RSanders@ci.nacogdoches.tx.us

by Rusty Sanders, Nacogdoches Fire Department