1. Being in charge of a scene should be just that, being in charge.  How can he direct his minions if he doesn't know what a paramedic should be doing.
2. The man in charge should know every aspect of the job he is supervisoring.  It would be hard to issue directives to the department if he isn't up on paramedic skills or is not even a paramedic.

Middletown is unique in that 79 out of 81 fire fighters are state certified paramedics.  In most departments, only those assigned to the medic units and a few extra are paramedics.  To be considered for employment in Middletown, you must have your state paramedic certification and maintain that certification for 12 years.  Middletown used to send fire fighters to Butler Tech to receive that certification.  Middletown paid for the schooling and paid overtime for the time fire fighters were in class.  That change saved the City thousands of $ per new employee.  We receive our continuing education from in-house instructors as well as doctors and instructors from the Atrium.