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Samson J. De Sessa, FSCEO
Assistant Fire Chief
NAS Forth Worth FD Operations Division

"Brotherhood Has Always Been a Verb"

Brotherhood - Some people seem to think that it’s something you “get”. They believe they are entitled to it because they belong to a certain group or affiliation. The word has made its way to decals, t-shirts, tattoos, websites, blogs, podcasts, TV shows, video games and has been tossed around so often it seems to have lost its value. People abuse the meaning by demanding it from others, bastardizing it into a commercialized marketing ploy or shoving it in another person’s face when they don’t do what they want them to do. It is all about what they can get out of it.

That is not how Brotherhood works. It is not something to be claimed, demanded or seized.  No one owes you Brotherhood. The Dictionary will tell you that Brotherhood (noun) is defined as a feeling of relationship with and closeness to a group of people, or all people. I would like to submit to you that you don’t “get” Brotherhood; you give it, you live it and you do it. Brotherhood is a verb, an action word, not a noun. Brotherhood has always been a verb. Brotherhood is reliant upon relationships.  

As leaders, many of us are stuck at home right now and unable to be around our people. Even if we go to our worksites, the city often has skeleton crews working. Holding online meetings and social distancing is causing our teams to feel more isolated. While our Introverts are thriving, Extroverts are having a hard time! Whatever worksites look like right now for you, please remember that your people need your leadership now more than ever. I’m not talking about your micromanagement and digital stalking,I mean they need to know you are still there for them, you still care and they are still part of your team (and that the team still exists!). My definition of Leadership is the “growing of people”. Know yourself; your strengths and weaknesses, and strategically apply your strengths. Be a student of your troopers; get to know your people. That is the only way to know where they need to grow. I strongly encourage calling or meeting online face-to-face with your individual team members in addition to virtual meetings with the whole team. Ask how their families are doing, see if you can provide any immediate needs for them.  That is where real, authentic Brotherhood happens. Most of us will not experience the romanticized version of brotherhood where you are given the opportunity to die for a Brother or Sister. That does not mean that you do not have opportunities to “lay your life down for them”. This can also mean temporarily setting aside your life to help them with theirs.  Set aside what you want to do and help your people with something they need you to do. That’s doing Brotherhood.           

Did you know that in the Fire Service today your First Responder Brothers and Sisters are more likely to die by their own hands than on the fireground? The Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance estimates over 100 Firefighters commit suicide every year. With the current situations in America right now we are more isolated from friends, family and coworkers than ever before. Please remember that Brotherhood and Leadership are needed now more than ever. Be approachable, be available and be relatable for your people. The antidote to isolation is Brotherhood.