Fire departments across the country - career, volunteer, and combination - are facing the same challenge: how to attract new members while keeping the good ones we already have. Recruitment brings people through the door, but retention determines whether experience and culture survive. This class explores the real-world factors that influence why firefighters join, why they stay, and why they leave. Students will examine common recruitment barriers, generational differences in today’s fire service, and the critical role leadership and department culture play in long-term retention. The focus is on practical, proven strategies that can be applied at any department, regardless of size or staffing model. Through discussion, case studies, and experience-based examples, students will leave with realistic ideas they can take back to their own departments to strengthen membership, improve culture, and build a sustainable future for the fire service. Instructor: Zach Bess Prerequisite: None Equipment Required: None