the Air Force fire service, the Fire Chief was a civilian position only. The Air Force struggled to maintain adequate numbers of firefighters because the airmen knew they would never be able to become fire chief as a member of the Armed Services. Organization The top firefighter position in the Air Force, the "top Fire Chief," is the Air Force Chief of Fire & Emergency Services Division of the Air Force Civil Engineer Center Readiness Directorate, and is identified by the abbreviation CXF. The CXF is one of six subject matter experts in the Readiness Directorate (CX) and establishes technical and administrative policy guidance for fire emergency operations. Outside of the basic positions listed above, there are additional titles that exist within the fire service: Fire Inspector Fire Prevention Logistics Officer District and Division Chief Fire Marshal EMT/Paramedic Fire Alarm Control Center Operator Traditions Though the civilian fire service is steeped in tradition, the military fire service stymies the amount of distinguishing traditions that their fire companies may establish. Helmet colors depicting rank is a tradition in the fire service among both civilian and military. White - Chief Red - Crew Chief/Captain Black/Yellow - Firefighter In some departments, the yellow helmet is used to indicate a probationary firefighter. In other departments, the ranks of "probie" through Captain wear the same color helmet and the rank is depicted by the color of the shield. Dog - The use of a dog (most notably, the Dalmatian) as a mascot is one of the most distinguishing traditions of fire services. In the military, the fire service is typically portrayed as a Bulldog or Dalmatian. At the fire academy, members of the 312th Training Squadron are referred to as "Fire Dawgs" and are personified by a Bulldog in a fire helmet. Brotherhood - Because firefighters often spend half of their lives with each other it is only natural that lasting relationships develop and a family atmosphere evolves. As a result, the Air Force fire department tends to view it as a close-knit brotherhood, a fraternal society separate from the "Regular Air Force." Training Training at the Louis F. Garland Fire Academy is some of the most difficult firefighting training in the world. The 17th Training Wing has as its primary mission "To train world-class firefighters." The fire academy's 68-day course length does not include weekends and is actually 13.5 weeks in length. School is