What might drive a tenured professor in the College of Health and Human Development at Penn State (and a full time mom) to join the Alpha Fire Police? Sometimes it’s a calling that’s been with you all your life. See how Janet Welsh took the long way around to becoming an Alpha—urged by one of her children. Janet Welsh Fire Police Officer Firefighter 1, HAZMAT, Engine Pert Alpha Since:  2014 Education:  Masters & Ph. D from Penn State Current Job:  Professor in the College of Health & Human Development

Tell us a little about you, where you’re from, your family.

I grew up in Iowa, but my parents live in Maine. I live here with my children in State College.

Why did you become an Alpha?

I decided it was time to do some things I had on my list for a long time. It was something from the time I was very young, I always admired firefighting. Firefighters seemed to be those kind of people who were always helping other people… people that you could really trust.  When my youngest was little, he was obsessed with fire engines—fire trucks–and used to come over here to play on the engines. When you have a little kid with you? No one knows you’re having as much fun as he is. (laughs)

One day we were at home and and there was  a big black hat Alpha ad in the Sunday paper, and he, all of 7 or 8 years old, came over to me and said, “They won’t take me, but they’ll take you!” And I decided he was right. The next day I e-mailed the fire director.

What’s it take to be a Fire Police Officer?  What surprised you about the training you received?

As a Fire Police officer, you’re mostly in charge with managing the scene. Making sure everyone is safe. No one’s going to get hit by a car, No one’s going to run over hoses. There’s a lot to it.

I completed Fire Police 1, Fire Police 2, Firefighter 1, Engine Pert, HAZMAT… I lost track of the hours I put in, but for me, it wasn’t like I was counting the hours till it was done. I loved the training. It was really fun. I made some great friends while doing it and we had a blast, and learned all kinds of really cool stuff I wasn’t sure I could do until I tried it.

The first time I climbed on a roof with a saw and cut a hole in a roof? It felt pretty cool!

What one piece of advice would you have for someone thinking about becoming an Alpha?

In the beginning, there is a lot of training, a large time commitment. People should know that coming in. That front end when you’re doing the training does take time. After that, it can kind of become of what you make of it. There are membership requirements and expectations for shifts and calls, but I think the average person can easily manage them—even if you work full time and have a family. I explained to my family that this was important to me. You prioritize it and make it work.

What one thing would you like the public to know about Alphas & volunteer firefighting that they might not understand. It’s like being in a family because there’s people here of all ages, all different walks of life, different ways of looking at things. You don’t choose your family, you learn to get along and appreciate each other and look out for each other. When we go on a call, I feel very protective of all the young guys, I feel like I’m Mom to all of them. I get after them for swearing, stuff like that. (laughs)

Being in a fire company, what we do is so immediate. In my field, prevention, you have to wait a long time to effect change—sometimes 20 years. The things we do at Alpha have an immediate effect. I think it’s terrific. It might not be for everybody, but check it out before you join. See what you think.

See Janet in our new training video…

Quick Sparks—Janet’s Favorite…

Movie:            Jaws Book:              War and Peace Color:              Red, of course Food:               Pizza Time of year:  Summer Hobbies:      Coached little league, Sunday school teacher, racquetball, gardening Sports Teams:     Phillies.  Lots of suffering Favorite Vehicle:  Fire Police Truck. But there’s nothin’ like a Fire Engine.