Twenty-Seven Cadets Graduate From AHC Fire Academy
DECEMBER 7, 2023--Twenty-seven cadets graduated from Allan Hancock College’s Fire Academy on Dec. 7 at the college’s Public Safety Training Complex in Lompoc.
The ceremony marked the end of a rigorous 18-week academy consisting of 624 hours of classroom and field instruction for the cadets in Battalion 152. The ceremony was also an acknowledgment that the cadets had not only completed that training but met and exceeded the state and national certification training standards for Firefighter I Certification.
“I truly believe that there is no higher calling than public service,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “These graduates are highly trained and ready to go out into the world and keep our communities safe.”
Before the ceremony, the cadets gave a live demonstration of the skills they learned at the academy, which included running fire hoses, dousing burning cars and extricating “victims” from vehicle wrecks outside the PSTC’s burn tower.
With their newly earned certification in hand, the 27 cadets are now able to pursue their firefighting careers. Thirteen of the graduating cadets have already secured jobs as firefighters for various agencies across California.
“This academy has been one of the most mentally and physically challenging things I've ever done,” said academy graduate and Battalion 152 Class President Nolan Binkele. “But l would do it again in a heartbeat.”
The full list of Battalion 152 graduates includes Scott Andree, Ethan Arebalo, Elijah Bensen, Nolan Binkele, Jaron Blank, Zane Booth, Brett Burress, Matthew Burroughs, Dane Callahan, Augustine Chavez, Jake Ethington, Joshua Goodman, Noah Grove, Alan Gudino, Ezra Horvath, Tyler Kelly, Evan Manzo, Christian Martinez, Jonathan Ordonez, Kyle Rebel, Robert Rojas, Ella Ross, James Schmitz, Jack Sevier, Eric Vera, Brecon Welton and Samuel West.
