THE “FLY AND ANALYSE” PARADOX: PROFESSIONAL SOCIALIZATION AND DIGITAL EDUCATION GAPS AMONG FUTURE FIRE OFFICERS

Аннотация

Modern emergency services are undergoing a rapid digital
transformation, yet the effectiveness of this process depends heavily
on the competencies of future officers. This paper analyses the
results of a survey conducted among 177 cadets of the Polish State
Fire Service (PSP) regarding their perception of IT tools. The study
reveals a significant technological paradox: while students exhibit
high enthusiasm for innovative solutions naming a dvanced drones
and Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the most promising tools their
self assessed knowledge of fundamental systems, such as
Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remains alarmingly low
(average score of 2.15/5.0). The author argues that the professional
socialization process in fire academies does not diminish
technological enthusiasm but rather realizes it. Cadets increasingly
recognize that effective firefighting in the 21st century requires more
than just tools. It demands mastery of comp lex, data heavy systems
such as GIS and Command Support Systems (SWD ST). However,
the results indicate a clear educational gap: cadets want to fly and
analyse ”, yet they lack the digital cartography fundamentals
necessary to utilize such data. These find ings serve as a critical
signal for decision makers to reform the curriculum by shifting from
theoretical lectures to integrated practical workshops and
simulations. Without strengthening these digital foundations, even
the most advanced hardware will rema in underutilized in the field.