It goes without saying that not all departments, stations, or crews are the same, but all are sworn to uphold the core tenants of Duty, Pride, Honor, and Tradition and a sense of ‘brotherhood’ is a timeless bond that crosses all four. That said, the fraternistic sensibilities of initiation into the fire service have become well researched, with an alarming spectrum of hazing activities still alive and well today.

In September 2025, Harvard University in partnership with the American Psychological Association (APA) released that Moral Injury will now be officially recognized as a condition in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR). If you’re not a social science junkie like me, perhaps this sounds like a decent advancement, or you’re wondering WTH moral injury even is? or you’re asking yourself, that’s nice, but why should I care? Let me ask you this: do

Similar, but NOT the same. How breaking the mental health stigma requires recognizing PTSD symptoms do not always correspond to a PTSD diagnosis.