Four Ocala Marion Mentorship Program cadets are being lauded for achieving a huge accomplishment recently.
On Wednesday, October 9, the four cadets – Richard Allman, Giselle Colon, Kayla Miros, and Matthew Rice – challenged and passed the Candidate Physical Abilities Test (CPAT) at the Florida State Fire College. They spent six months getting prepared for the exam, which carries a 40 percent fail rate.
Comprised of eight stations simulating fire scene tasks, the CPAT is a nationally recognized fire college entry exam that ascertains a candidate’s physical aptitude. It gives candidates no more than 10 minutes and 20 seconds for tasks that begin with a three-minute stair climb while wearing a 75-pound weighted vest. The test culminates with a ceiling breach and pull.
While there’s no doubt the CPAT is both strenuous and stressful, the cadets were successful because they relied on lessons learned during the mentorship program. Passing the CPAT also is a necessary step toward gaining admission to a firefighting certificate program.
Thanks to partnerships between Ocala Fire Rescue and Marion County Fire Rescue – agencies behind the Ocala Marion Mentorship Program – participants are exposed to training that is fundamental to the successful completion of the CPAT. Moreover, candidates gain the opportunity to secure full-ride scholarships and employment in the first responder arena.
That was certainly the case with the four cadets, who all have secured employment offers from Marion County Fire Rescue upon successful completion of their fully funded fire college experience.
“We have seen each one of these youths overcome life’s hurdles, improve their physical state, and grow through training experiences,” said Chris Hickman, coordinator of the mentorship program. “It has been our honor to witness their transition from dreamers to achievers during this defining step in pursuing their career.”
For more information about the Ocala Marion Mentorship Program, visit, www.OcalaFire.org/Mentor. To learn more about the eight tasks CPAT candidates completed, visit https://bit.ly/NationalCPAT.