You may not get paid in the traditional “paycheck” way as a member of the volunteer fire/EMS service, but the true benefits are countless — including a retirement program, tax incentives, free training, camaraderie, a new second family and more. Take a look at the benefits of becoming a volunteer in Montgomery County below.
Montgomery County Benefits
Montgomery County Government values its hard-working volunteers with special perks available only to active volunteer firefighters. Some of these benefits include free access to county recreational facilities, access to the Montgomery County and State of Maryland Credit Unions, tuition assistance and the ability for active volunteers to apply for “County Employee” only job positions.
Montgomery County Government values its hard-working volunteers with special perks available only to active volunteer firefighters. Some of these benefits include free access to county recreational facilities, access to the Montgomery County and State of Maryland Credit Unions, tuition assistance and the ability for active volunteers to apply for “County Employee” only job positions.
LOSAP
The Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) allows volunteers to earn a monetary award based upon age and years of active service. Volunteers receive credit for a year of active service by earning 50 or more total points in a calendar year. Points are earned by:
- training
- drills
- station sleep-ins or stand-bys (To receive credit for sleep-ins or responses, a volunteer must be active on Montgomery County’s IECS list at the time the responses occur.)
- station responses/calls
- holding elected or appointed positions
- meeting attendance
- military service
- collateral duties
Fire and rescue responders and administrative members both may qualify for LOSAP awards.
Volunteers who earn 50 LOSAP points in a calendar year will receive a cash payment ranging depending on their level of activity.
LOSAP also provides an annual monthly stipend for volunteers with 10 years of active service when they reach age 65, or at age 60 with 15 years of service, or when they reach 25 years of active service (with no age requirement). Volunteers who stay active, meeting the 50-point requirement, receive annual increases.
Volunteers with a minimum of 10 years of active service receive a $5,000 death benefit. In addition, a surviving spouse or domestic partner is entitled to receive 50% of the volunteer’s LOSAP stipend.
Maryland State Income Tax Credit Program
The Maryland Income Tax Subtraction Program allows a volunteer who meets certain requirements to receive a credit on their Maryland State income taxes. The amount is different each year. To qualify for the subtraction modification, a volunteer with less than 25 years of service must have been active in the past calendar year and have at least 36 months of qualifying service in the last ten years. A qualifying member must have a minimum of 50 points and those points must be earned in at least two categories. A member with 25 or more years of qualifying service need not have been active in the previous calendar year; however, the member must still qualify with at least 36 months in the last 10 years.
The Maryland Income Tax Subtraction Program allows a volunteer who meets certain requirements to receive a credit on their Maryland State income taxes. The amount is different each year. To qualify for the subtraction modification, a volunteer with less than 25 years of service must have been active in the past calendar year and have at least 36 months of qualifying service in the last ten years. A qualifying member must have a minimum of 50 points and those points must be earned in at least two categories. A member with 25 or more years of qualifying service need not have been active in the previous calendar year; however, the member must still qualify with at least 36 months in the last 10 years.
Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit
You do not need to be a Maryland Volunteer Firefighter or EMT to apply for this program. Many volunteers may have student loan debt and not know about this program.
https://mhec.maryland.gov/preparing/pages/studentloandebtrelieftaxcredit.aspx
Pro Board & Equivalency
The Pro Board is the original fire service system for the accreditation of agencies that certify candidates to the various disciplines and levels identified in the NFPA Professional Qualification series of standards.
The Pro Board is the original fire service system for the accreditation of agencies that certify candidates to the various disciplines and levels identified in the NFPA Professional Qualification series of standards.
Internal Hiring Eligibility
The County allows a Fire and Rescue Service merit system employee of a local fire and rescue department, or an active fire and rescue volunteer to apply for vacancy announcements that are limited to County employees only.
To be eligible, a fire and rescue volunteer must have achieved active status in the prior calendar year by accumulating at least 50 points under Code Section 2121(k), and the volunteer’s name must be transmitted to OHR on a master list compiled by the Fire and Rescue Service from certified lists of active volunteers prepared by the local fire and rescue departments.
Capital Bikeshare Discount
Capital Bikeshare Membership Discounts: Montgomery County Government employees may have access to a discounted annual membership to Capital Bikeshare for $25.00. This program is for Montgomery County Government employees only and will require signing into Office 365 to access Capital Bikeshare information and discounts.
Recreation Pass Discount
The Montgomery County Employee Recreation Program offers two options for volunteers: 1) The Total Rec Pass provides eligible volunteers free access to all Montgomery County Recreation facilities, including all indoor and outdoor pools for lap and recreational swimming, and community centers for use of the exercise rooms, game rooms and open gym activities, and 2) the Family All Pool Pass offers a 20% discount to eligible volunteers who purchase an Annual Family All Pool Pass. It provides access to four indoor pools all year long, and to seven outdoor pools during the summer months for lap and recreational swimming. Non-County residents must add $100 for the Family All Pool Pass.
Use the link below to complete and submit the online request form. You will receive a confirmation email once your pass has been approved and processed.
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec/howto/employee-wellness.html
If you have questions regarding the program, please call the Recreation Department at 240-777-6840.
Tuition Assistance
Volunteers might be eligible for financial assistance to pay for academic programs. As funds and deadlines vary, please visit below for more information
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HR/CareerDevelopment/TuitionAssistance.html#1
Ride-On Bus Pass
LOSAP active volunteers are eligible for a free Ride-On Bus Pass. Please submit an email request, along with an electronic photo, to the LOSAP Administrator, FRS.LOSAP@montgomerycountymd.gov. Once your eligibility is confirmed, an email request will be sent by the LOSAP Administrator MCFRS Internal Affairs for processing. Once created, it will be mailed out to the Chief of the volunteer’s LFRD.
Training Opportunities
Most training is held by the Public Safety Training Academy (PSTA) but Maryland Fire Rescue Institute (MFRI) and other agencies offer additional programs
Maryland Fire Rescue Institute
https://www.mfri.org/all-mfri-schedules/
FEMA and Emergency Management Institute (EMI)
https://training.fema.gov/emi.aspx
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Wildland Firefighting Training
https://dnr.maryland.gov/forests/Pages/fire/wildfiretraining.aspx
Discounted National Volunteer Fire Council Membership per the MSFA
Contact our Recruiter
Looking for information on joining a local volunteer fire/EMS department? search listings here or complete our short form below and our county recruiter will contact you, typically within 2-3 business days. You can also email recruiter@joinfirerescue.com