Looking at your posting history, you may wanna consider posting your questions at a firefighter forum like
http://www.firehouse.com/forums/ or something. You already asked a question similar to this (
http://www.emtlife.com/showthread.php?t=23642) and it seemed like overwhelmingly people told you that Paramedics would be more valuable, however, they were saying that about FF1 and FF2, but there was one poster that said AS also.
This. I would work on getting your EMT then Paramedic first if that is truly what you want to do. When you get a job on an ambulance, you can take a Fire Science class here and there if you want. I did the total opposite and feel like I wasted so much time, because there are far more Fire department tests that require a Paramedic license than tests that require a FF1 IMO.
Somebody also shared a link that's related.
http://emtlife.com/showthread.php?t=21265&highlight=fire+science
Your going to start ruffling feathers making duplicate threads boss.
Anyhow to reiterate what it seems like the active members of forums have been saying, get you paramedics,
but and associate wouldn't be bad, bachelor would be better.
Anyhow... I know these don't seem to be answering your question directly (logically though, you would think the answer would be same e.g. "should I get my paramedics first or AS?" and people replying "A lot of FD require you to have your Paramedics, and they'll pay for your AS after you are hired" or "Should I get my paramedics or FF1?" and they reply "A lot of FD require you to have your Paramedics, they'll train you to FF1 on their own", etc....).
To add more to this, you'll find a list of great resources for your question here:
http://www.google.com/search?q=para..._gc.r_pw.&fp=a91b69f6bd0a7737&biw=958&bih=694
One of the first couple of links in that I thought was almost an exact replica of what you were asking, however, it's from 2002, but I wouldn't be the least bit shocked to find more than one per year 2002->present.
http://www.firehouse.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-43449.html
Naturally, in the end, it's up to the FD you are looking at! I HIGHLY recommend that you contact them, look at their websites, whatever, to find out what qualifications they are looking for.
This leads me to the next part of your question... will you be operating as a firefighter, an EMT, or paramedic mostly? Or just one or the other? Well, naturally, in the end, it's up to the FD you are looking at! I highly recommended that you contact them, look at their websites, wahtever, to find out what do they do. Honestly, it varies per department. Seems like the general trend is Paramedics/Firefighters that does dual role, but since they aren't as many fires, they usually do mostly EMS calls rather than Fire calls. Some departments like I believe San Fransisco (example department) does it separately so they have firefighters and EMS (so firefighters do fire, EMS does EMS).
Honestly, it was no problem doing the research for you. Goodluck with the baby, the military, paramedics, firefighting, and the degree all together.
