I don't know if there is any paid fire departments around you but if there is look in to them. I got on with the Tyler FD when I was 22 and it is awsome. Good benifits, good pay, room to move up and the best schedule goin 24 hrs on and 48 hrs off.
there's one or two but my dad was on the manvel vfd and he got out of it cause of the politics and from what I hear of the paid fds around you gotta know somebody in order to move up