Ceremonial appointment and new admission to the preparatory service
Today, the ceremonial transfer of eight successful graduates of the two-year preparatory service to a probationary civil servant position with the City of Chemnitz took place at Fire Station 1 on Schadestraße with effect from 1 January 2019.
In accordance with the Saxon Civil Service Act, probationary civil servants generally have to complete a three-year probationary period during which their personal suitability and professional performance are assessed.
During their preparatory service, the junior firefighters completed internships at the Chemnitz professional fire brigade as well as training as paramedics and attended specialised theoretical courses at the Saxon State Fire Brigade and Disaster Control School in Elsterheide/Nardt.
All eight completed their training in the intermediate fire service with good to very good results. The high-performing comrades will thus be able to fill the gaps left by colleagues who will be retiring in the coming years.
Due to the generational change that the Chemnitz Fire Department is currently undergoing, the need for firefighter candidates must also be covered by new recruits in the coming years. To this end, annual selection procedures are held in which applicants have to prove their physical abilities in an extensive sports test. In a further series of tests, basic scientific and socio-political knowledge is tested and a dictation is written. A personal interview and a health assessment complete the selection process.
It is necessary to carry out such a complex personnel selection process, as the profession of firefighter is very demanding and a high level of physical fitness is an essential prerequisite for recruitment.
Four participants in the 2018 selection process, who beat their competitors with very good performance scores, were also appointed as permanent civil servants on 21 December 2018 and will start their two-year training period on 1 January 2019.
More information on the planned recruitment tests for 2019 will be published soon on the homepage of the Chemnitz City Fire Service Association at www.chemnitzer-feuerwehr.de.