Marion County Fire Rescue welcomed nearly 40 new hires on Thursday with a graduation and pinning ceremony.
Out of the 39 graduates from the new hire class, 22 of them were from the Ocala/Marion Mentorship program. A joint effort between MCFR and Ocala Fire Rescue, the program’s goal is to mentor cadets from the local community by developing their knowledge, skills, and abilities.
In a press release, Marion County Public Relations stated that the mentorship program is “specifically designed to get youth excited about a career in public safety.”
Cadets go through a 24-week program that features in-depth physical training, along with skills orientation for tools and equipment to become acclimated with the fire gear. The program also includes paid training, paid certification at the Florida State Fire College, and medical benefits.
On Thursday, two of the graduates – cadets Cedric President and Arman Radlein – were awarded the Fire Chief challenge coin for their exceptional performance during the six-month training. In addition, MCFR also recognized 38 firefighters who were recently promoted within the department.
To learn more about career opportunities with Marion County Fire Rescue, visit the county’s Fire Rescue Careers webpage.