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6th Annual DSFS New Castle County Recruit Class Academy Graduation
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
The 6th New Castle Fire Academy class successfully completed ALL of the Job Performance Requirements of NFPA 1001 and passed the Pro-Board Test for Hazmat Awareness, Hazmat Operations, Firefighter I and Firefighter II as well as receiving certification in American Heart Association First Aid and American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR. This Academy was the First Academy to do Air Management Training which consists of 3 parts, The first part is wearing SCBA while doing sedentary things such as sitting in class and viewing a power point given by an instructor. The second part is wearing SCBA while doing a little activity such as walking and the third is wearing an SCBA while doing extreme activity such as Fire extinguishment, Ladder raising or Rescue evolutions. All of these are timed to demonstrate to the recruit just how much air they consume and to make them concentrate on their breathing while in these situations so they can learn to conserve air. During the first phase we had most recruits go at least 1 hour on a 45 minute SCBA bottle, several went 2 hours and we had 1 that went almost 3 hours.
Unfortunately due to the Covid 19 halt of all training we were unable to complete the second 2 parts of the training, but we were able to incorporate the breathing control with the recruits when we returned to training in June. One other First for this Academy was they were the Academy to have the most drastic changes in weather for their PT testing, when this Academy did their original PT test the temperature was 22 degrees and when they did their Final PT test it was 105 degrees. This Academy started on February 4th, 2020 and was abruptly stopped on March 17th, 2020 due to Covid 19. During the off time the Recruits were sent homework assignments every week and they had to complete them and return them for credit, which they all did.
When we finally were able to return as a group on June 16th, 2020 things had changed in the way we operated, such as social distancing and the wearing of masks while training, No food being provided for lunches, so they had to go out for lunch and even water had to be brought in by the individual recruit and kept at his desk or personal area during training, but this did not deter this group of recruits and they pushed forward and were able to hold out, even during 2 weekends of outside training at the Dover Division of the Fire School when the heat was over 95 degrees every day. Even the day of their Graduation which is usually hosted by the Delaware City Fire Company at their hall had to be changed to an outside venue held at the New Castle Division of the Fire School, which by the way was another day where the temperature was over 90 degrees during the day, but Once again the recruits stood tall and were recognized for their accomplishments while having their family and friends present, even if they were social distancing at the time.
The following is the list of awards given out during the 6th Academy Class Graduation:
Physical Fitness Award Male: Mark Ferguson, Claymont Fire Company
Physical Fitness Award Female: Kayla Currey, Hockessin Fire Company
Academic Award: Scott Myers, Bethel Township Fire Department, PA
Most Improved: Ahmed Elmasry, Volunteer Hose Fire Company
Director’s Award: Esteban Suero, Delaware City Refining Fire Department
Special Awards for their Outstanding support to both the Staff and Recruits:
Covid 19 Leadership Award:
Jason Pinder, Volunteer Hose Fire Compan
Jesse Cowell, Millcreek Fire Company
Adam Golden, Claymont Fire Company
Esteban Suero, Delaware City Refining Fire Department
Records broken by this Academy:
Push-Ups: Old record 105, (New 118) by Hunter Saunders, Wilmington Manor Fire Company
RIT test: Old record 6 minutes 21 seconds, (New 4 Minutes 40 seconds) by Mark Ferguson, Claymont Fire Company
Pull-Ups: Old record 21, (New 24) by Adam Golden, Claymont Fire Company
Graduating Class Members:
Kyle Augustine, Station 17, Aston Township Fire Department, PA
Joshua Bright, Station 15, Delaware City
Joshua Collado, Stations 28 & 32, Wilmington Manor
Jesse Cowell, Stations 2 & 21, Millcreek
Kayla Currey, Station 19, Hockessin
Jeremy Deluca, Stations 28 & 32, Wilmington Manor
Bryan Dill, Station 15, Delaware City
Ahmed Elmasry, Stations 1 & 27, Volunteer Hose
Mark Ferguson, Station 13, Claymont
Adam Golden, Station 13, Claymont
Aiden King, Station 22, Minquadale
Michael Lucy, Station 17, Aston Township Fire Department, PA
Amanda Manuel, Stations 28 & 32, Wilmington Manor
Wayne McSherry, Station 19, Hockessin
Adam Mills, Station 66, Bethel Township Fire Department, PA
Scott Myers, Station 66, Bethel Township Fire Department, PA
Kofi Ofori-Agyelsum, Station 13, Claymont
Jason Pinder, Stations 1 & 27, Volunteer Hose
Mark Powers, Station 13, Claymont
Hunter Saunders, Stations 28 & 32, Wilmington Manor
Joshua Schumacher, Station 66, Bethel Township Fire Department, PA
Esteban Suero, Station 34, Delaware City Refining Fire Department
Jeffrey Thomas, Station 66, Bethel Township Fire Department, PA
Haotian Wang, Station 25, Talleyville
