Hi, I've just read your post, I've just done the move and from what I've already experienced it's the best thing I've ever done! I was with GMFRS for 15 years and ended up feeling absolutely disengaged with the job, what with the pension going up the wall and more changes to our shift system, forever changing conditions (all for the worse!) and the lack of money something had to change! There was no way I could stay, I would just end up turning into one of those bitter old firemen and that's what I hated the most! People wishing their lives away just so they could get their hands on their pension!!! A friend of mine made the jump around 3 years ago and was forever on at me to do it, it always sounded too good to be true? I can now confirm to you that it's everything he said it was!! I'm on week 11 at the training school but it's so refreshing walking about and not hearing any negativity, all the trainers are experienced drivers who have nothing but good things to say about the job.