Hey everyone.... I will try to make this brief, but some thank you's are in order. As most of you know this last week Engineer Dell and I have been running an Explorer Recruit Academy. We brought on 7 new explorers for a total of 13 explorers in the Explorer Post. We had a great week and all the explorers were very excited and appreciative of the opportunity. All completed the academy and the requirements we had for them. We covered a variety of topics from PPE/SCBA, Fire Hose, Building Construction, Search and Rescue, Forcible Entry, Ropes and Knots, Ladders, and even had live fire evolutions. You will soon be seeing these faces as they being riding along with everyone. With all this said we could not have done this with out the help of many of you.
Joe and I would like to thank...
-Chief Morales for your overall support of the program.
-Cheif Schwartz for your financial support of the explorer post. This last year we have received new class B shirts, new class C shirts, nameplates, badges, helmets, shields, officer collar brass, and fitted everyone with bunker gear. We have the ability to fit out a total of 20 explorers with all of the above mentioned. Thank you so much. The explorers love all of it.
-Chief Croom for your support, direction, and patience with Joe and I as we figured all of this out. The post wouldn't be where it is without your support. Chief Crom approved two off-duty advisors for the entire academy and much more.
-Chief Auston for helping out with the Live Fire Training.
-Chief Martin for allowing his on-duty crews to help with the Live Fire Training. We couldn't have done the live burns without this.
-Hollie Hogie (Rec Center) for allowing us to use a Rec Center van for the entire week, so that we could shuttle explorers to the FTC and back to station 1.
-Engineer Piper, Firefighter McWhorter, Engineer Horn, and Lt. Long for your instruction throughout the week. Each of these members were assigned to the academy and helped with instruction.
-Engine 154 C (Long, Howe, Debolt), Medic 154 C (Patik, Fitch, Groe) for their help with the Live Fire Training.
-Engine 151 C (Liveris, Eckels, McWhorter) for helping us pick up at the end of the Live Fire Training Night.
-Firefighter Bonomo and Paramedic Rollins for volunteering their time to help with the live fire training.
-Lori and Tad for all of the logistical help that Joe and I needed.
-Everyone for allowing us to use the Fire Training Room for the entire week.
-The explorer officers for delivering the training throughout the week. They delivered the training lectures and hands on each day. When they struggled with a topic our assigned advisors were there to help out.
-Explorer Captain Reifscheider for his dedication to the post this week. He was there everyday prepared and ready to go. As an example of his dedication, yesterday he showed up at 0700 to prepare for the day and did not leave until 0000 hours when the last test was graded. I'm am amazed by his dedication to the post and fire service.
-A special thanks to the parents of the explorers for helping put together a BBQ at the end of the Live Fire Training.
I hope that I have not missed anyone. If so, let me know and I will apologize and get it out to everyone. Thank you for helping to make this a successful week for Joe and I, and more importantly, for our explorer post.
Have a great day and let me know if there are any questions.
