Antarctica Forums › Forums › Antarctic Memories Message Board › Discussion topics › Maybe S. Pole bound
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July 17, 2007 at 3:27 am #492
spolebound
MemberHi All,
I have been corresponding with RPS the last few weeks and have been told an application package is coming my way. It is for a field medic position, I do not know what my chances are but I am exited to be getting this far along. Is it usual for one to be hired this late? Is it even late? It was indicated that this is for an October deployment. Does anyone have experience in field work that they could share? How long does the app. process take? Anything anyone can share would be great!
Like I said just happy to get this far! Love this group!! Have really enjoied reading the posts.Tom
July 17, 2007 at 6:00 am #4701thepooles98
KeymasterTom I’m not familiar with the field medics, but I would assume it would be connected to one of the deep field camps. If so expect to sleep in a tent and have a small building for eating. I know the WAIS divide project is going this year. It could be for that. Pretty cool assignment, but several field camps get medics. I would expect that you would have other jobs as well.
It not at all unusual for jobs to be offered this late. Some jobs are just hard to find applicant to fill them. I would think that fild medics aren’t beating down the doors to work in Antarctica.
The ap process can take a while. I got my offer at the beginning of May and still havn’t go word of passing my PQ. I’m expecting it any day, but it can drag on. If you get the offer, Get your medicals started the next day. They can really take a while if you get flagged for anything special.
MikeJuly 17, 2007 at 7:54 am #4702Sciencetech
KeymasterHey Tom, good luck. Field work there is just about like field work elsewhere, except you get to work with some really cool people in an exotic place.
News Flash for applicants who have not received an offer letter yet…
I have received some information regarding recent changes in the internal hiring policies. I don’t have details yet, but I’m getting ‘vibes’ that the hiring managers may have to jump through considerably more hoops to hire someone; this change appears to be in compliance with government requirements. I’m sure the hiring managers are unhappy about this too, so I wouldn’t get down on RPSC about it, but it looks like this will make a slow hiring process even slower. If you’ve already received an offer letter then I don’t think this will affect you (this time around). I’m kind of curious to see how they will handle last-minute hires. If I get better information I’ll pass along what I know.
g
July 17, 2007 at 11:00 am #4703MightyAtlas
ModeratorYo, Spolie —
Chances are that if you’re hired as a medic, you’ll be operating out of McMurdo. No field camps operate out of Pole, that I’m aware of. All the cool, interesting, worthwhile, and important science takes place in and around McMurdo, anyway.
Glenn will tell you differently, but he’s worked at Pole (you can take the boy outta the Pole, but can’t take the Pole out of the boy – wait, that didn’t sound right…).
Wherever you end up, it’ll be a great adventure for you. Ain’t no place on earth like it.
Good luck!
aJuly 17, 2007 at 12:19 pm #4704Sciencetech
KeymasterHey, watch that talk! You know how we Polies are — we could just *snap* at any minute.
I think Mike may have nailed it… they probably need a medic/EMT at the WAIS camp. Ice, baby, ice!
glenn
July 17, 2007 at 11:36 pm #4705spolebound
MemberThanks for the reply. I hope that they are desperate for medics but I also hope I am hired for my experience not out of desperation. I am a Fire Fighter, EMT, Ski Patroler and I would like to sign of as a FF next year. I am very exited about the prospect being in the field and seeing some of antarctic, I feel that I do have the background, experience, and training they are looking for so maybe I have a shot. The wife has given me the green light so if I am hired I will be going for sure. I would love to talk her into a season as well if things work out. I have really enjoied the information in this group and I know I will have more questions if I get hired.
Never Let Life Pass You By!!
Tom
July 18, 2007 at 10:17 am #4706spolebound
MemberJust wanted to let you guys know I got an email from Hire Ready today. This is getting serious. I will have a hard time sleeping tonight.
Never Let Life Pass You By!!
Tom
July 18, 2007 at 10:57 am #4707spolebound
MemberERR that would be HIRERIGHT. See I am stoked.
Tom
July 19, 2007 at 2:16 am #4708m0loch
KeymasterOh man…if you’re ever offered a winterover position don’t tell the shrink that you’re actually excited about hire right. They’ll know you’re crazy for sure
July 19, 2007 at 10:49 pm #4709thepooles98
KeymasterFirefighter medics are hard to come by in the program. Mostly I think it is the fact that you get seniority in most depts and if you quit a season to go to the ice, you end up starting from scratch in a new dept. I think if you get hired here you will greatly increase your chances of getting a MCM ff job next year.
Its nice to have mature firefighters get jobs. Because experienced ff’s don’t apply they are often forced to hire 21 year old kids right out of the acadamy.
For many it is their first time away from home and they act pretty much like 21 year old college kids. Sometimes hard to deal with in a small community with mixed ages. Hope you get the job.
MikeJuly 20, 2007 at 10:05 am #4710spolebound
MemberThank You Mike,
I finished the RPS App last night and sent it in so now I wait I guess.The kids are in college and the wife says go so I can’t wait. If this works out Naomi (wife) and I plan to meet in NZ and do some skiing if we can when my stay is over. That is if it is not too early for skiing in NZ.
BTW does anyone ever ski down at MCM? That would be back country stile hike up and ski. I know there is XC skiing and I have heard there is some mt biking. Of course as a field medic there will not be much time for that sort of recreation.I had already thought about having a better chance of getting on as a FF next season if this season medic position works out. I do plan on getting by the fire station and making the rounds if I get the chance. I had applied this year as a FF as well but way late in the game. When I saw the medic position I put in for it and was contacted rather quickly. In fact it has been less than 3 weeks since I sent in my resume. I hope this means my chances are good. (you know maybe they are desperate) Anyway I know that I will have a load of FNG questions if this works out so I thank all you old salts in advance.
Tom
July 21, 2007 at 8:47 am #4711m0loch
Keymasteryou can do some downhill skiing @ MCM, the authorized ski hill is about 300 vertical feet and involves a pretty long hike from town. Once on the ice you will have the opportunity to attend a mandatory safety briefing before you can partake in any outdoor recreation type fun. There is some snowboard gear available for checkout, but not much in the way of alpine ski gear…X-country/skate skis are much more plentiful and the options are far greater and conditions are more favorable for that type of skiing.
July 23, 2007 at 11:12 pm #4712spolebound
MemberI had once read some were about a ski area an MCM. I think though my size 15 feet will prohibit me from using the loaner equipment. I have a hard time just buying the stuff. I do have an old pair of boots that if I go I think I will send down and donate to the cause. I do look forward the opportunity of skiing in NZ when on the return trip. I snowboard some but much better on skis. XCS is something I have never tried but have always wanted to. I wonder if they have some very large XC boots? Kind of moot though, if I get this job I most likely won’t be near MCM very often. Do you knowif there are breaks from the field work from time to time to do laundry and such?
Tom
July 24, 2007 at 9:41 am #4713Sciencetech
Keymaster> Do you know if there are breaks from the
> field work from time to time to do laundry and such?Break? What’s a break? No… I wouldn’t bet on it.
😉If you’re at a field camp you may have some XC skiing available, but unless you’re at McMurdo for an extended period of time you probably won’t get to do any downhill.
July 24, 2007 at 11:13 am #4714spolebound
MemberBreaks, Breaks, We don’t need no stinking Breaks! (old movie trivia for $50)
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