LEONARDTOWN, Md.—For 16 high school juniors and seniors at the Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center in Leonardtown, Wednesday, August 22 marked the start of the school year. It could also have been the first day of their post-scholastic careers. The day marked their first official day as Fire Cadets.
St. Mary's County Public Schools (SMCPS) and the St. Mary's County Department of Emergency Services and Technology officially kicked-off the High School Fire/Rescue Cadet Program on the first day of school. The program will involve training for the next generation of firefighters and emergency medical personnel.
The one-year program allows students to take fire and emergency medical services classes, while providing 17 college credits to those who successfully complete the curriculum. Additionally, students graduate from the program with all necessary training to be nationally certified as firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians. Cadets report to the Tech Center at 8:15 each school day and remain until the end of the regular school day at around 11:15 am.
"This is beginning of the seventh year of the program and we are very excited to begin the school year with a new classroom, new personal protective clothing and new gear lockers for all student cadets," says Bill Smith, St. Mary's County Department of Emergency Services & Technology Recruitment and Retention Coordinator. "We would like to thank Brad Clements, St. Mary's County Public Schools and Theo Cramer, SMCPS College and Career Readiness, for their continuing partnership in making the new classroom available to the Fire/Rescue Program."
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter or emergency services member with your community fire department or rescue squad should contact Bill Smith, Recruitment and Retention Coordinator at 301-475-4200 x2114 or email at emergencyservices(at)stmarysmd.com for more information.
Source: St. Mary's Co. Gov.