CLARKSVILLE, TN – Twenty-four new Clarksville Fire Rescue firefighters were officially sworn in Friday morning in front of a packed house at Wilma Rudolph Event Center.
Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts administered the oath of office before the firefighters were pinned and presented their helmets by loved ones. Then, each firefighter was assigned to one of CFR’s three shifts.
In addition to CFR and City of Clarksville leadership, Tennessee Firefighting Commission Executive Director Eric Barlow and Field Representative Todd Ratley were also in attendance. They presented each firefighter with a challenge coin.
These 24 firefighters successfully completed CFR’s six-month training academy, earning their Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Hazmat Awareness, Hazmat Operations, and Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) certifications in the process.
“Today, we graduated 24 recruits from our six-month academy. We understand the commitment required from both our staff and recruits to produce a certified, qualified firefighter for this city. Very few fire departments commit six months to developing a recruit before they are assigned to a shift. The entire department plays a part in filling the gaps and carrying the load because we all understand the value of having a prepared firefighter who has the right training and tools to respond to calls. An entire career is built on on-the-job experience, but we are committed to giving our new firefighters a strong foundation to build upon,” says Fire Chief Freddie Montgomery, Jr.
The instructor cadre also recognized recruits for outstanding performance throughout the academy with the following specialty awards:
- Honor Recruit: Anthony Partlow
- Highest GPA: Anthony Partlow
- Fastest FPAT: Joaquin Gurrola
- Most Improved Recruit: Anthony Partlow
- Instructor Cadre Award: Joaquin Gurrola
The firefighters will report to their assigned shifts beginning Saturday, Sept. 19.