Objective responsibilities are those that are imposed on us from an outside source. Ethical obligations were attached when we willingly agreed to a department's expectations when we voluntarily joined it. We form a contract with the department and, by extension, with the citizens it serves. Hence, we have a duty to meet expectations. We also share the ethical responsibilities of the department itself, which arise from the department's promise contained in its mission statement. The following are some of those ethical responsibilities:

(1) The obligation of competency. Firefighters make a tacit promise to the public to respond efficiently and effectively. Being unprepared or unwilling to meet competency obligations is a breach of trust not only to the public but to fellow firefighters, who likewise count on their peers (Figure 4). A department has a right to expect the firefighter to be a lifelong learner and to grow and develop skills continually. All disciplines within the fire service matter. Whether it is inspections, code interpretation, pre-fire planning, or public education, all tasks have significant consequences. (2) The obligation of safety. The fire department owes the firefighter a reasonably safe working environment. Likewise, the firefighter must accept responsibility for his or her safety. Injuries compromise or even prohibit firefighters from doing their job effectively. Their injuries can and usually do have negative impacts on their fellow workers. An injury-related absence can cause reduced staffing or backfilling by someone unfamiliar to the rest of the crew. Injuries can have an emotional and financial impact on the firefighter's family.

(3) The obligation of policy and authority. It is the department's responsibility to issue rules and policies that support the department's mission and strategic priorities, and it is the obligation of the individual firefighter to follow those rules and policies. By joining a fire department or any other organization, the member agrees to its organizing principles, its mission, and by extension, the policies that support that mission. Firefighters are typically sworn personnelthis involves giving an oath to uphold rules. Any action by a firefighter that disrupts the department's ability to provide safety or service is tantamount to a dereliction of duty. Unfortunately, rules and orders can conflict. For example, a firefighter identifies as a member of the Christian Right. He strongly believes America is a Christian nation. Upon reporting for duty, he learns that his company has been assigned to a public education detail at the local Islamic Center. He believes his orders conflict with his religious values and sense of patriotism and so refuses to participate. Like the county clerk case previously, he has an objective responsibility to perform the duties for which he is paid. He must support the department's core mission of promoting safety. He must participate.

(4) Obligation to physical fitness. Employees have an obligation to perform the duties for which they are paid. In order to meet those obligations, firefighters must prepare themselves for the incredible physical demands of the profession. This requires a regular exercise regimen, proper diet, abstinence from excessive alcohol and drugs, and proper sleep. The public and a firefighter's coworkers have every right to expect that a firefighter will show up for duty physically capable of fulfilling his or her obligations and responsibilities. Subjective responsibilities. Unlike objective responsibilities, which are based on the expectations of stakeholders, subjective responsibilities tend to be self-imposed and rooted in values. Responsibilities arising from a personal sense of values and priorities are as important as those based on others' values and expectations, since they are also shared values within the profession.

Subjective responsibilities. Unlike objective responsibilities, which are based on the expectations of stakeholders, subjective responsibilities tend to be self-imposed and rooted in values. Responsibilities arising from a personal sense of values and priorities are as important as those based on others' values and expectations, since they are also shared values within the profession.

The following are some subjective responsibilities:

(1) Respecting tradition. Traditions are important to the fire service. Traditions represent and reinforce the department's legacy and its shared values. They celebrate the department's identity, its past, and its values. Respect for seniority, awards banquets, shift celebrations, and swearingin ceremonies are all examples of traditions. Shared history implies ownership, and a sense of ownership is elemental to responsibility.

(2) Obligation of cohesiveness. One of the most significant differences in the fire department culture, as compared to other career fields, is that firefighters literally live together. As a result, the concepts of team loyalty and cooperation are pervasive in fire department culture. Maintaining a positive work environment can be challenging. A single disruptive personality can jeopardize an entire firehouse's cohesiveness and morale. Bitterness, argumentativeness, and cynicism can create a toxic work environment and destroy initiative and overall effectiveness. A spirit of cooperation and sociability are nearly imperative in firehouse culture, and every firefighter has a responsibility to uphold his or her part of team unity. Firefighters have a right to expect a non-hostile work environment. There is a tangible obligation to maintain a productive work environment when individuals continually work in close quarters.

(3) Obligation to learn. This responsibility goes beyond basic competency. Open-mindedness and curiosity are essential for personal growth and development. They allow for continual improvement and professional development. A firefighter's willingness to explore possibilities and be open to change can facilitate the department's efforts. The ability of a department, and its individual firefighters, to grow professionally demonstrates a commitment to placing professional growth ahead of comfort with the status quo.

(4) Balancing work and private life. Being a firefighter is more of a way of life than an actual occupation. Certainly for many, being a firefighter becomes ingrained in self-identity. For some, the fire service can become the focal point of the firefighter's professional and social life, even to the exclusion of family, non-fire department friends, and hobbies. For others, the demands of family and the attention of personal pursuits can make meeting the demands of the fire service difficult or uncomfortable. Personal life and department activities both matter. In a sense, both should be priorities. It is here that the challenge lies. Firefighters have an obligation to maintain awareness of personal and professional demands and actively seek to balance those important responsibilities, hopefully developing appropriate coping mechanisms along the way.

(5) Obligation to give back. The importance of leadership cannot be overstated in the fire service. A firefighter who comes to actualize his or her potential fully has learned much along the way and has much to offer. Des a firefighter have an obligation to "step up and give back" through leadership positions? (Most high-ranking officers will tell you that it is more "fun" to be a firefighter than an officer.) Having the right to refuse something does not necessarily negate the existence of a responsibility to do it. If the best and brightest firefighters turned their backs on promotional pursuits, the department they serve would suffer from their lack of contribution. Firefighters have an obligation to provide leadership when needed. Firefighters gain skills, knowledge, and experience because of the effort and commitment of others to teach them. Acceptance of leadership and mentoring, without being willing to do the same for others, is self-serving. If a firefighter personally benefits from leadership by those who were willing to accept that responsibility, there is a tangible obligation to pay it forward.

(6) Loyalty. Loyalty is a virtue and a highly prized one in the fire service. However, it is so ingrained in fire service culture that it is not only a virtue to aspire to but an expectation as well. The nature of their working conditions and the dangers that firefighters face together create strong bonds between crewmembers. Loyalty is important in the fire service and if properly focused, it promotes a sense of belonging and trust. These are key elements in teambuilding. The virtue of loyalty imposes certain obligations on firefighters, including the willingness to commit to competency. Making the commitment to excellence is an act of loyalty. Loyalty also requires having each other's back, helping when asked, listening when necessary and stepping in when needed. However, loyalty can never be an excuse to cover up others' unethical behavior. To help conceal others' unethical acts is to enable them. By its very definition, a cover-up is unethical. The first and most important obligation of the individual firefighter is to act in the public's interest. This obligation supersedes loyalty to the department, or to individual firefighters if they are not acting in the public good.

(7) Responsibility for image protection. If the fire service has an obligation to fulfill its mission, then individual members have an obligation to engage in actions that contribute to the success of that mission, including maintenance of a positive public image. The inherent responsibilities of reputation management go beyond the practical obligation of supporting the fire service's mission. Most firefighters take pride in the values and traditions associated with the fire service and their individual departments. This pride is based on a long history of service, bravery, and self-sacrifice. That source of pride is the result of the honorable efforts of millions of past and present firefighters. The actions of every firefighter contribute to or detract from this legacy. Every firefighter honored for bravery, or recognized for an act of kindness, helps ennoble all firefighters. Conversely, the foolish, selfish, or unethical actions of some firefighters tarnish the reputation that so many have worked to build, especially in this day of social media and an increasingly cynical populace. If a firefighter's actions can harm others, then that firefighter has an obligation to refrain from those actions.

(8) Respecting privacy. Respecting and protecting the privacy of the citizens served is both an objective and subjective responsibility. Objectively, there are restrictions that limit a fire department's prerogative to release personal information An example of this is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA). Any department that provides emergency medical services is bound by HIPPA regulations. Subjectively, the fire service has a humanistic responsibility to protect the privacy of those it serves. Firefighters routinely interact with people who are having the worst day of their lives. A firefighter with any amount of experience can tell many stories relating to the amazing, comical, and tragic ways that people live their lives. It is important to remember, however, that the fire service's customers are trusting firefighters with nearly unlimited access to their lives. They rightfully assume that the fire service will cause them no harm. They have every right to feel betrayed if the fire service causes embarrassment or worse by breaking their confidence. Firefighters must avoid gossip. It displays a lack of personal integrity and empathy. The more calls firefighters answer, the more likely they are to be desensitized to the elements of humanity they are dealing with. A loss of empathy can cause even well-intentioned firefighters to lose touch with the consequences of an unfortunate remark.

Not long ago two medics became entangled in a scandal. They were taking "selfies" with unconscious patients and showing them to friends and colleagues. It is likely that they considered themselves "good" people, but consider how you would feel if a medic took a picture with your unconscious mother, daughter, or spouse. You would feel outraged and betrayed. These firefighters had obviously lost perspective on their responsibility to respect the privacy of those they serve.