Wedged...

right between that big ol' rock and some other unidentified hard place.

This is where I currently reside.

Every department has it's transitional phases. You know, when the "old" guys start to retire and the "young" guys have to start learning the leadership aspect of running a fire department and not just "playing". It is usually a rough place to be in, but throw in a recruit that can't seem to get it together whose father is also on the department, and you are in for a whole world of hurt. If this was not enough, said recruit has a disability that would prevent him from ever doing internal work, but not other duties around a station/scene. So what do you do when the disability isn't the problem, just the attitude of an 18 year old? Lying, not following instructions, diverting from SOGs and generally a sucky attitide are just a smattering of the issues at hand.

Now, assume that you are good friends with the father outside of the department - just another wrench in the wheel.

The recruit's probation has been extended and it has come time to make a decision as a department and the father puts you smack dab in the middle of all the hullabaloo. What do you do? Even if you weren't 'stuck in the middle', what do you do?

Votes are usually cast verbally, but it has been mentioned that a paper ballot should be cast in this specific situation to prevent embarrasment for the recruit. Is that REALLY the answer?

Veiled threats of lawsuits, lacking leadership, poor documentation of infractions and sucky attitudes all around are a few more things to gum up the situation.

And here I sit. Stuck in the middle.

How the hell do I get unstuck?