Greg Chandler served in the United States Marine Corps for a span of 20 years, retiring at the rank of Staff Sergeant E6.
He has been with the West Manchester Township Fire Department for 17 years, serving as a volunteer firefighter and previously holding the ranks of lieutenant, captain and assistant chief.
When asked why Greg decided to volunteer, he simply said, “I like to help people.” However, when Greg enlisted in the Marines at 18-years-old, his motivation was not to help people, it was to avoid punishment.
“I was a knucklehead teenage boy that got into some mischief. The day of reckoning came when I had to sit before a judge, and he gave me two options. One, spend the summer with the county sheriff, or two, go with Gunnery Sergeant Ward and enlist in the Marines. I didn’t want to go with the sheriff, so I chose the Marines. It was a good decision that resulted in a wonderful life, a great career and different places across the world that I got to visit,” said Greg.
He completed several overseas tours from the East Coast to the West Coast, stationed at locations like Camp Pendleton and Hawaii. His final tour was at Quantico Bay in Virginia, where he worked with HMX-1, the presidential helicopter squadron.
Throughout his 17 years at the West Manchester Township Fire Department, Greg has observed parallels between the Marine Corps and the fire service, with the most prominent ones being leadership and fellowship. He described the membership at the fire department as diverse, with volunteers ranging from mothers to fathers, to teenagers to young adults, but one where they all unite together to support the community.
“I think our department is number one, and I am not saying that because I am biased. We have such a strong sense of camaraderie and fellowship, it’s a really tight-knit organization. We are involved with the community and we support the community and take care of one another. It’s a great program with great people,” said Greg.
Greg encourages those who are contemplating joining the West Manchester Township Fire Department to give it a try.
“We offer all kinds of incentives to our members. If you are interested in becoming a certified firefighter, we will work with you from ground zero and help you as you progress through your courses. If you are a student, you can live in the department for free in exchange for your service. It’s a worthwhile organization with plenty of opportunities and people that are willing to work with you and help you succeed,” said Greg.
If you’re looking to make a difference, stretch yourself, and join team members who always have your back, West Manchester Fire Department is the place for you. We will train you, gear you up, and welcome you into our firefighting family! Learn more at www.WestManchesterFirefighter.org