A short one today (pun intended)….
A question came in regarding a “mini-drill” – meaning, a drill that is less than two hours. The two-hour requirement is in the statute, which is written as follows:
Drills—twenty points maximum. One point per drill (minimum two hour drill).
Therefore, in order for the skills practice event to qualify as a drill, and for volunteers to receive a point for attending the event, it must be a least two hours long. If the duration is less than two hours, it doesn’t meet the definition of a drill in the statue.
But it can still be a miscellaneous activity, and a point can be awarded there. Many point systems are written to specifically include mini-drills in the miscellaneous category. As a reminder, here is the miscellaneous category from the statute:
Miscellaneous activities—maximum fifteen points. Participation in inspections and other activities covered by the volunteer firefighters’ benefit law and not otherwise listed—one point per activity.
In this case, the mini-drill would be an activity covered by VFBL, which doesn’t meet the criteria of the other activities. Therefore, it would be a miscellaneous point.
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