Rebecca Wax will be joining the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). She is a pioneer of sorts. Wax will be the first person to become a New York firefighter without passing the Functional Skills Training Test. Rather than earning the job, it is being given to her as a result of the city lowering the criteria, an FDNY insider told the New York Post.
“They’re going to allow the first person to graduate without passing because this administration has lowered the standard,” said the insider, who is familiar with the training.
Upon graduation, Wax would be assigned to a firehouse and tasked with the full duties of a firefighter.
Some FDNY members are angry.
“We’re being asked to go into a fire with someone who isn’t 100 percent qualified,” the source said. “Our job is a team effort. If there’s a weak link in the chain, either civilians or our members can die.”
Two other women will be graduating from the Fire Academy with Wax, but they have met the physical requirements. There is a reason there are stringent requirements for firefighters, because they need to be prepared for their jobs. Running into burning buildings to control fires and saves lives requires the ability to endure high levels of cardiovascular activities and being able to work in low vision. If Wax can’t accomplish this, then not only will her life be in jeopardy, but she is endangering fellow firefighters and the very people she would be attempting to save.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSRjC9ZmZFo
Passing a physical fitness test is not subjective; you can either fulfill the demands or you cannot. It is nothing personal and it is not discriminatory.
Lowering standards for Wax not only puts her co-workers in danger, but it demeans the accomplishment of the women firefighters who earned their jobs rather than received them as a trophy for showing up. It is essentially a war on accomplished women.
Why do you think New York is allowing this woman to become a firefighter without being able to pass the test? Please comment below.