December 13, 2004

Hiring process concludes with graduation

       After eleven months of filling out mountains of paperwork, going through an extensive Physical Ability Test, taking written exams, performing in front of an oral board, and eight grueling weeks of the Candidate Orientation Academy, the twenty new full-time Lieutenants and Engineers began their new shift assignments last week.  Even though the selection and training process was eleven months, the campaign to recruit and hire these individuals began long before that.  The entire process from A to Z took about twenty-one months to complete, said Deputy Chief Scott Cassin.  That was from concept - to state approval - to today.   

         The graduation ceremony, held on Tuesday, November 30th, was both exciting and surreal for the candidates.  Now that it is over, they will apply what they have learned throughout the process to their everyday experiences in the field.  The graduating candidates came from many different backgrounds with twelve coming from within the department and eight coming from surrounding fire departments, each bringing a wealth of knowledge to the department.  The candidates formed a one-of-a-kind bond with each other while attending the academy over the long eight weeks which will stay with them for a lifetime. 

Lieutenants:                                                Engineers:
Greg Hurrle                                                    Tony Slusher
Mark Williams                                               Josh Justice
Eric Funkhouser                                           Mike Combs
Ryan Cox                                                       Scott Tichenor
Aaron Bryant                                                 Jared Clark
Brian Russell                                                 Jory Cox
                                                                        Corey McGaha
                                                                        Joe Green
                                                                        Dave Scholl
                                                                        Scott Wiegle
                                                                        Jason Bailey
                                                                        Tim Smith
                                                                        Jim Meacham
                                                                        Bryan Arkins

        

        

        
(Click on a thumbnail to enlarge photo)
 

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