OFPD adds 11 firefighters at swearing-in
ceremony
The Orland
Fire Protection District swore in eleven firefighters who completed their
year-long training requirements at a special meeting of the Board of Trustees on
Thursday, September 5.
The new firefighters were sworn in by Orland Fire Commissioner Craig
Schmidt during ceremonies at the Orland Fire Protection District Training
Facility, 10728 W. 163rd Place. They will fill existing personnel vacancies
created over the past two years, including through retirement.
Orland Fire Chief Ken Brucki described the job of firefighters as “one
of the most honored but dangerous occupations” in the world.
“When there is
an emergency in the community, firefighters are one of the first on the
scene. Firefighters are there at
devastating ravages of fire, motor vehicle accidents, tornadoes, hazardous
materials incidents, rescue operations, medical emergencies and many other
critical incidents,” Brucki said.
“Firefighters
are civil servants as sworn officers, following standard policies and
procedures of the fire service and standard operating procedures of their
departments; they are there to prevent human suffering and death, to stabilize
the incident and prevent damages and loss of property.”
The eleven firefighters who were sworn-in to service are Donald
Andersen, Douglas DePersia, Chad Erickson, Kevin Frawley, James Karp, Michael
Neubauer, Daniel Ritchie, Isaac Salazar, Timothy Sierazy, Jennifer Smith and
James Wooten.
An invocation was offered by Pastor Shawn Nettleton.
New recruits being sworn in
Battalion Chief Michael Schofield welcomed the new firefighters saying they will become part of an important “team” effort.
“In our team, no single firefighter is more important than The Team. No single engineer is more important than the team. No Lieutenant of Chief is more important than the team,” Schofield said.
“Everything you do reflects on the Fire District, on duty or off duty. You must always take in to consideration what the effect does your action have on the Team. Starting today, you have the opportunity to change the face of this fire district.”
Brucki said he hopes to instill in each new firefighter “a strong sense of awareness, stressing the importance and value of firefighters to themselves and families, fire departments, and their communities. The Orland Fire Protection District’s staff is dedicated to preserving life and property while valuing full accountability to each other and the people we serve.”
The Orland Fire Protection District Board of Trustees voted in July 2012 to hire the 11 firefighters, allowing the 11 candidates to begin the training process.
(older photos from original recruitment training from 2012, below)
The recruits at the beginning of their training in 2012
FULL AGENDA of Swearing In Ceremony:
Welcome Commissioner Craig Schmidt
Posting
of Colors & Orland Fire Protection
Pledge
of Allegiance District Honor Guard
Invocation Pastor Shawn Nettleton
Chief’s Address Fire Chief Ken Brucki
Video
Presentation Created by Stephanie Koenig
Director
of Training Lieutenant David Piper
Orland
Training Academy Lieutenant Erick Johnson
Swearing in
of Firefighters/Oath of Office Commissioner Craig Schmidt
Closing
Remarks
Battalion Chief Michael
Schofield
Chief
Brucki’s speech:
Today we are here for a
swearing in ceremony for firefighters, one of the world’s most honored but
dangerous occupations. When there is an
emergency in the community, firefighters are one of the first on the scene. Firefighters are there at devastating ravages
of fire, motor vehicle accidents, tornadoes, hazardous materials incidents,
rescue operations, medical emergencies and many other critical incidents.
Firefighters are civil
servants as sworn officers, following standard policies and procedures of the
fire service and standard operating procedures of their departments; they are
there to prevent human suffering and death, to stabilize the incident and
prevent damages and loss of property.
It is a great honor to have
this opportunity to swear in these recruits of the Orland Fire Protection
District.
In
doing so it shall be my intent to instill a strong sense of awareness,
stressing the importance and value of firefighters to themselves and families,
fire departments, and their communities.
The
Orland Fire Protection District’s staff is dedicated to preserving life and
property while valuing full accountability to each other and the people we
serve.
One of
my mentors, Retired Chief Eddie Enright delivers a powerful speech on Duty ,
Pride , and Tradition. I would like to
pass along my thoughts on some of his words.
“DUTY”
is defined as at one’s post or work, a task or chore one is expected to
perform. It is answering the bell and being asked to perform tasks that
challenge our physical and mental toughness under extreme conditions. It is our
duty to prepare for these tasks through training, leadership, and “Esprit De
Corps”. It is our moral obligation to be doers in the fire service, to prepare
for combat and meet the enemy -“BATTLE READY”.
“PRIDE”
is defined as a state or feeling of being proud, a reflection of credit upon
oneself. Pride is feeling good after a job well done! It is a feeling of goose
bumps as you recount your actions; by going somewhere nobody else can go. By
making a rescue and saving a life by being a part of a unit that successfully
achieves its goal. Pride is wiping a tear from your eye and swallowing a lump
in your throat, as you are hugged and kissed by a loved one thankful you have
returned safe and sound. Pride is a glow in your kids as they brag about you
being a firefighter. Pride is wearing your uniform, proud of your colors, proud
of your co-workers and fire department.
Being
a member of “THE NOBLEST BREED”.
“TRADITION”
is defined as the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, and
information from generation to generation. A long established or inherited way
of thinking or acting “Courage in the face of danger is a tradition of the fire
service”. Firefighters of the past stand by us today, passing on their legacy
and dedication to us, and our fire departments. Tradition is the maintenance
and connection of values with our heroes, pacesetters, and examples set by our
idols! It is our foundation.
“Duty
– Pride – Tradition” gives an individual the desire to serve – the ability to
perform and the courage to act.
“DUTY”
IS DOING IT.
“PRIDE”
IS WEARING IT.
“TRADITION”
IS LIVING IT.
Thank
you for the opportunity to express my thoughts and feelings.
Battalion
Chief Schofield’s Speech:
Congratulation on the completion of probationary period.
You are officially part of our family. You are part of a great team
(which is the Orland Fire Protection District.
In our team, no single
firefighter is more important than The Team. No single engineer is more
important than the team. No Lieutenant of Chief is more important than the
team.
Everything you do reflects on the fire
district, on duty or off duty you must always take in to consideration what the
effect does your action have on the Team.
You have a tremendous opportunity and it
starts with a number and that number is 2012.
Your career here will be judge by three
things your start date which is the only number that is known; you’re ending
date; and the dash in between.
That dash is the most important thing of
these three. The dash represents your entire time you spent with the Orland
Fire Protection District.
Starting today, you have the opportunity
to change the face of this fire district. You alone will choose what kind of an
impact your dash will be some may choose to do nothing more than the minimum,
others may choose to take full advantage of the opportunities that will face
you. We look to you to be the leaders of our future.
It is much easier to set back and enjoy
the ride then it is to be in the drivers seat. My wish for you is to be
leaders, stand up, and be heard, get involved, we have so many opportunities
for you, take advantage of them.
Unfortunately we do not know when that
dash will come we all hope to reach retirement, but in the fire service know
there are no guarantees in life, so we must cherish each day because that dash
is always out there we just do not know when it might come.
When your dash comes, and you retire, your
career will not be judged on what material things you have, what kind of car
you are driving, how big your house is, how much money you have accumulated in
your life, or what rank you have achieved. You will be remembered for what you
have done for the fire service, how you treated your brothers and sisters here,
how you help change the organization. How you left the fire district compared
to how you entered it.
So think about this long and hard. Are
there things you’d like to see changed? Be the leader we know you can be. We never
know how much time we have.
The biggest gift you can make to the
Team, to the fire district, to the Community during your time…during your dash,
is you make this organization better than it is when you came in.
I want to also welcome your families, please
stand up. It is only through your support that we have our newest members ere
today.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, the
Board of Commissions, the Command staff and the administrative staff, the
officers, engineers and firefighters of the Orland Fire Protection District, we
say congratulations on this first step in your career.
END
