Fire district looks for more explorers
Recruits for the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District Explorer 1001 program are being sought.
Teenagers looking to join the career education fire program are asked to contact the Beach Fire Administrative Office at 590-4200. The Explorer 1001 program is geared to emphasize career opportunities, service learning, leadership experience, life skills and character education. Recruits will be trained by members of the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District and the Community Emergency Response Team. The program is financially supported and sponsored by the Beach Kiwanis.
If you meet the age requirement and are maintaining a 3.0 grade point average with a clean background, a career in fire and rescue may be a positive path for your future. A soft deadline of this Sunday (Oct. 3) has been implemented, but may be stretched to a later date, according to CERT leader Al Agathen.
“The real final day of recruitment is Oct. 13, but we do have some preliminary paperwork involving background checks and grades on the recruits,” he said. “You must reach your 14th birthday and cannot have reached your 21st birthday. Above all, one must have a 3.0 grade-point average. We won’t take any “D” students, and “C” students are going to be watched closely. Because it’s backed by Boy Scouts of America and Kiwanis, the grades are one of the most important requirements.”
On Oct. 13, Agathen said the new recruits and their parents will meet with training officials (such as FMB Fire Chief Mike Becker) and committee members of the program’s chapter.
“The chief and I will start by giving them a presentation on what’s ahead in their future and what the program entails,” he said. “We’ll try to find out what each individual’s basic interests are in fire and rescue.”
The program has a current class of six students which has completed training in water safety, vehicle rescue and has gained skills in other pertinent fire equipment such as fire hoses and ladders. The students are involved in the tools and equipment segment of the program, which will lead them in the completion of their second year of the training.
“It’s an ongoing training program,” said Agathen. “After they are done with our soft training, then they will start training with the fire academy through the Explorer program. Upon graduation, the Fort Myers Beach Kiwanis Club has offered scholarships.”
At the recent FMB Board of Fire Commissioners meeting on Sept. 21, the current students of the Explorers 1001 program made a presentation of the colors and led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
“The commissioners were impressed,” said Agathen. “It was quite a moment to be proud of. During the commissioners comments, they all shook hands with the students.”
Explorer Post 1001 began in early 2007 after a representative of the Learning for Life career education program made a presentation outlining the program to Beach fire fighters. The program provides more community interaction with the Beach department, something that Fire Chief Mike Becker has always emphasized as a priority for the district.
“It’s a wonderful program for the kids as well as the fire fighters because it’s a win-win scenario for everybody,” said Becker. “To see the interaction between the kids coming in makes it a positive impact all the way around.”
PLEASE MAKE BOX FOR THE FOLLOWING…………………….
*Youth benefits include:
Stimulated interest in continual education
Career information; insight into future vocation
Positive alternative to negative youth activities such as drug abuse and involvement with gangs
Sense of acceptance and belonging to the “right” group
Safe environment for adult-like activities
*New career and personal skills
Opportunities to try leadership roles and develop skills
Cooperative relationship between adults and youths
Service to others
*Information provided by Learning for Life