News
15 graduate from Salem County Fire Academy
Press Information Memorandum
Fire Fighter 1 Graduation Ceremony - Class #1482
Wednesday, June 7th, 2010
Salem Community College’s Davidow Theater
In today’s world of dwindling volunteers in the fire service, the Salem County Fire Academy recently graduated thirteen new volunteers who have joined the “Brotherhood”. The fire fighter recruits recently completed a rigorous 175 hour course which spanned over five months. The recruits were exposed not only to the required firefighter basic academy education and skills, but were also trained in military decorum, physical training and military drill. These ideals are meant to instill a sense of pride, teamwork and comradery as well as reinforcing the concepts of respect and command structure that is an integral part of the fire service.
The latest cadre of new volunteer fire fighters took their oath during a ceremony held at the SCC Davidow Theater on Monday, June 7th before a crowd of family, friends, fellow fire fighters and dignitaries. The ceremony opened with posting of the colors by the Salem County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard and the class being led into the theater by the Camden County Emerald Society Pipes & Drums. The invocation was once again eloquently delivered by the Rev. Dr. Holland Fields of the Mt. Pisgah AME Church in Salem. A tribute to fallen fire fighters honored those who have made the supreme sacrifice with a moment of silence and the playing of “Amazing Grace” by the Emerald Society’s Pipes & Drums. Those gathered were led in the Pledge of Allegiance by FF Joseph Weaver, IV. Director of Emergency Services, Jeffrey Pompper, acknowledged the class’ accomplishments, thanked the recruits for their commitment and urged them to continue in their fire service education, citing the fact that this achievement marks only the beginning of their fire service education and training. Deputy Freeholder Director, David Lindenmuth offered his personal thanks and also extended thanks from the entire Board of Chosen Freeholders and on behalf of the citizens of Salem County. Freeholder Lindenmuth as always, urged the new recruits to continue their education and to be safe. He also thanked all of the other fire fighters and response personnel in the audience for their commitment and thanked their families for the support shown to their family members who serve. Assemblyman John Burzichelli, of the 3rd Legislative District, then offered congratulations and his heartfelt thanks to all of the recruits in the graduating class as well as those other fire service personnel in attendance. Assemblyman Burzichelli recounted
him forming the admiration of those in the fire service, growing up in the home and watching his father serve his community as a fire fighter. He closed by urging the graduates and the other fire fighters gathered, to constantly strive to be safe so that each goes home safely after each call.
Deputy Fire Marshal Jeffrey Hoffman thanked the graduating class on their accomplishments and asked that they seek to build the fire service ranks by urging other family members to join the ranks of the fire service. Deputy Hoffman is a fourth generation fire fighter and serves in the fire service with his brother.
The Public Service Electric & Gas Nuclear Fire Department sponsors an award given to the firefighter recruit in each of the Firefighter 1 programs, who displays the highest level of dedication & commitment to the educational requirements, as well as their skill set, during a FF1 class. The recipient is chosen by the Academy’s instructor staff. The recipient of the PSEG Nuclear FD – Instructors Award, was presented to FF John Robinson, 3rd of the Daretown Fire Company. FF Robinson received his award from Chief of Training Ken Gralley and Battalion Chief Rob Chambers of the PSEG Nuclear FD, who, on behalf of the FD department personnel and PSEG, both thanked all of the recruits for their dedication to the educational process and congratulated them on their accomplishments. Chief Gralley, in a very memorable manner, urged the newest group of graduates to become “committed” to their fire service education not just settle on being “involved”.
The evening’s keynote speaker was Edward J. Akins, the Director of Emergency Services for Chester County, Pennsylvania. Director Atkins shared some similarities in his life’s experiences, comparing the first live fire training he was exposed to with his first nighttime combat mission that he flew over North Vietnam as an Air Force aviator. He reviewed his top ten list for the recruits on how to be successful in the fire service. Five of the top ten, in alternating spots, were listed as Be Safe. He urged each to be safety minded in all that they do in the fire service and to strive to insure that they and their fellow fire fighters operate within their training guidelines. Director Atkins thanked the recruits for their commitment to the fire service, congratulated them for their accomplishments and he also thanked them on behalf of those they have yet to meet, the victims or individuals who they will soon find themselves serving, in response to their emergency. Atkins related that “oftentimes these folks do not have the presence of mind to say thank you due to the emotions and stress from their bad day or troubling experiences. On their behalf, I say thanks.”
The graduates were congratulated on stage, after receiving their certificate packets, by the Director of Emergency Services for Salem County, Jeffrey Pompper, Director Atkins, and State Assemblyman John Burzichelli who also presented each of the graduates with a special New Jersey Senate / Assembly Citation memorializing their achievement.
During the ceremony special recognition and achievement awards were presented. Special Recognition Awards were presented to Chief Lawrence Zimmerman, Deputy Chief Chris Hagan and FF Vicki Nixon who assisted in the development of the Academy’s newest segment of the FF1 program, Fire Fighter Health & Fitness. The program is geared to evaluate the fire fighter recruit’s physical conditioning as well as to begin to instill healthy life style mindsets through exercise & dietary recommendations as well as vital sign monitoring. The Academy staff desired to begin to work to stem the tide of a significant number of fire fighter deaths annually, due to health related issues. This program may be the first of it’s kind in the State, being conducted at the volunteer recruit level setting. Each recruit was challenged at the beginning of the course by the program developers and the staff, to make attempts to change their lifestyles to a healthier one and to work on exercise and physical conditioning, in order to show improvements along the way. An award was to be presented along with a $100.00 gift certificate to the Sports Authority for the most improved. The program evaluated the recruit’s performance three times during the course using four physical conditioning stations while measuring their body weight, body fat percentage, percentage of water content or hydration level, and their vital signs. The results were analyzed with a special emphasis placed on the healthy lifestyle improvements. The first Fire Fighter Health & Fitness Award for this recruit class was presented to FF Chris Mathiesen of the Clayton Fire Company. The award was presented by Chiefs Zimmerman & Hagan along with FF Nixon.
Additional Achievement Awards were presented as follows:
Perfect Attendance Recognitions-
FF Justin Acton , Pennsville Fire & Rescue Co. #1
FF Chris Mathisesen, Clayton Fire Company
FF Paul Muhlbaier, Jr., Carneys Point Fire & Rescue
FF Joseph Weaver, IV, Salem Fire Department (Liberty Co. #2)
Academic Achievement Award –
FF Jack Rhoads Jr. , Reliance Fire Company of Woodstown
Lead Instructor’s Award for Dedication-
FF Evan Crim, Elmer Fire Department
Battalion Chief Excellence –
FF Joshua Penn, Reliance Fire Company of Woodstown
Members of the Fire Fighter 1 graduating class were as follows:
FF 1 Program Graduates
Class #1482
Justin R. Acton Pennsville Fire & Rescue Co. #1
Samantha Conover Monroeville Fire Company
Evan Crim Elmer Fire Department
Jeffrey A. Krieger Clayton Fire Company (Gloucester County)
Cody R. Loatman Salem Fire Department (Liberty)
John A. Maser Harmony Fire Company (Mullica Hill, Gloucester County)
Chris M. Mathiesen Clayon Fire Company
Paul R. Muhlbaier, Jr. Carneys Point Fire Department
Rickie W. Patton Deepwater Fire Department
Joshua M. Penn Reliance Fire Company of Woodstown
Jack F. Rhoads, Jr. Reliance Fire Company of Woodstown
John A. Robinson, 3rd Daretown Fire Company
Joseph A. Weaver, IV Salem Fire Department (Liberty)
