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PLEASE BE SEATED.I'M BATTALION CHIEF DONNY WATSON.
I'LL BE YOUR MASTER OF CEREMONIES AND I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF SERVING AT THE TRAINING ACADEMY AS SUPERVISOR OVER THIS CLASS.
GOOD MORNING, I'M BATTALION CHIEF.
I'LL BE YOUR MASTER PRESENT COLORS BY THE FIRE HONOR GUARD SERVING TRAINING THE SINGING OF BANNER BY LIEUTENANT AMANDA BENNETT.
PLEASE RISE AS YOU'RE ABLE FOR THE PRESENTATION OF COLORS BY THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT, HONOR GUARD AND THE SINGING OF THE STAR SPAN BANNER BY LIEUTENANT AMANDA BENNETT.
CAN YOU SEE AND THE I WILL NOW ASK AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT CHAPLAIN NATHAN ROBERTSON TO DELIVER THIS MORNING'S INVOCATION.
EVERY HEAD BOWED, EVERY EYE CLOSED.
HEAVENLY FATHER, AS WE COME ON THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY TO CELEBRATE THESE CADETS, TO CELEBRATE THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENT, WE THANK YOU.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE STRENGTH TO ENDURE.
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THE PATIENCE IN THE PROCESS AND WE PRAY TO HEAVENLY FATHER THAT NOT ONLY DO YOU BLESS THESE CADETS IN THEIR FUTURE WITH THE DEPARTMENT, BUT BLESS THEIR FAMILIES, BLESS THEIR LOVED ONES, BLESS THOSE THAT THEY COME IN CONTACT WITH.WE ASK NOW THE HEAVEN, FATHER, THE HOPE THAT'S IN THEIR EYES, THE POTENTIAL THAT WE SEE.
WE PRAY THE HEAVENLY FATHER THAT YOU BRING IT OUT IN THEM.
AND THEN HEAVEN, FATHER, WE PRAY THAT YOU SPEAK TO THEM IN THEIR TIMES AS THEY HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO HELP REMIND THEM THAT THERE ARE OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO HELP THEM AND WE ARE HERE FOR THEM AND WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT 'EM.
AND SO WE PRAY RIGHT NOW THAT YOU'LL BLESS THIS CEREMONY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE BE SEATED.
ON JANUARY 29TH, 2024, THE DIVERSE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS OF CLASS 1 37 CAME TOGETHER TO UNDERGO THE INTENSE TRAINING REQUIRED TO BECOME AN AUSTIN FIREFIGHTER.
28 WEEKS LATER, THEY HAVE SUCCEEDED IN THEIR GOAL.
THESE 32 GRADUATES HAVE MET OUR RIGOROUS PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND ETHICAL STANDARDS AND NOW HAVE THE PRIVILEGE AND RESPONSIBILITY TO OF SERVING AS AN AUSTIN FIREFIGHTER.
ON BEHALF OF AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT AND CHIEF JOEL G BAKER, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS VERY SPECIAL OCCASION.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXTEND THE SPECIAL THANKS TO GREAT HILLS BAPTIST CHURCH AND THEIR STAFF FOR THE USE OF THIS FACILITY AND THEIR SUPPORT OF OUR CEREMONY.
TODAY IS A CELEBRATION OF HARD WORK, DEDICATION, AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF MEN AND WOMEN.
SEATED HERE TO TODAY IS ALSO A TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FAMILY MEMBERS AND THE FRIENDS WHO HAVE PROVIDED THE CARE AND SUPPORT THAT HAVE BEEN CRITICAL TO MAKING THESE CADETS DREAMS BECOME AN AUSTIN FIREFIGHTER, A REALITY.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE MEMBER OF OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM.
PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL THEY'VE ALL BEEN INTRODUCED.
FIRE CHIEF JOE G. BAKER, ASSISTANT CHIEF ANDRE DE LAZO, ASSISTANT CHIEF JEFF KENNEDY, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR DR.
RONNELL PAULSON, ASSISTANT CHIEF THERE.
SMITH, ASSISTANT CHIEF TOM VOKEY, DIVISION MANAGER.
JENNIFER HEALY, DIVISION CHIEF ANDRE JORDAN, DIVISION CHIEF EDDIE MARTINEZ, DIVISION CHIEF LES MCKAY, DIVISION CHIEF WAYNE PARRISH AND DIVISION CHIEF DAVIS SCOWLER.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE HONORED GUESTS WHO'VE JOINED US TODAY.
NEXT INTERIM ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER BRUCE MILLS, COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE CHELA OF DISTRICT FOUR COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTAR, DISTRICT FIVE, COUNCIL MEMBER PAIGE ELLI, DISTRICT EIGHT.
ALSO WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF EXECUTIVE STAFF FOR THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS. COULD YOU PLEASE STAND? THANK YOU.
I WANT TO THANK THE REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE AUSTIN FIREFIGHTERS, AUSTIN FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION, THE AUSTIN HISPANIC FIREFIGHTERS AND THE AUSTIN AFRICAN AMERICAN FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATIONS WHO, WHO HAVE JOINED US TODAY.
ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE MILITARY AND PUBLIC SAFETY MEMBERS FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS CELEBRATING WITH US.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, OUR ACADEMY WOULD NOT RUN WITHOUT THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF OUR CIVILIAN STAFF, WHETHER IT BE IN TRAINING, ADMINISTRATION, LOGISTICS AND FITNESS.
WE HAVE A WIDE, WIDE RANGE OF SUPPORT STAFF THAT PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN GETTING THESE CADETS TO THIS DAY.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO BEHIND THE SCENES TO EVERYONE HERE TODAY.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENDANCE TO DEMONSTRATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THESE MEN AND WOMEN AS WE WELCOME THEM INTO THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
NOW I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ASSISTANT CHIEF TOM VOKEY WHO OVERSEES OUR TRAINING DIVISION TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT CLASS ONE 30 SEVEN'S TEAM LEADERS.
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THANKS CHIEF.SO THE TEAM LEADERS ARE OPERATIONS FIREFIGHTERS WHO VOLUNTEER TO BE MENTORS TO THE C CADET CLASS AND ARE ASSIGNED TO THE TRAINING DIVISION FOR THE ENTIRE 28 WEEKS.
UH, BECAUSE OF THE EXCEPTIONAL WORK OF THE TEAM LEADERS, THESE CADETS ARE READY TO BECOME MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT TEAM LEADERS.
WILL YOU PLEASE JOIN ME ON THE STAGE FOR A SPECIAL FOR A SPECIAL PRESENTATION AS I CALL YOUR NAMES SENIOR TEAM LEADER FIRE SPECIALIST BEN LINER, FIRE SPECIALIST PAUL BENJAMIN, FIRE SPECIALIST RACHEL WILLIAMS, FIREFIGHTER CONNOR BUCK, FIREFIGHTER JUAN M. HERNANDEZ AND FIREFIGHTER ERIC REEDER.
AS A SMALL TALK OF OUR APPRECIATION FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS CLASS AND TO THE MISSION OF DEEDS, NOT WORDS FOR THE FROM THE ENTIRE TRAINING DIVISION IS MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS PLAQUE.
THANK YOU FOR THE TEAM LEADERS AND THE TRAINING STAFF.
NOW I'D LIKE TO INVITE CHIEF BAKER AND DIVISION CHIEF MCKAY AND LIEUTENANT JUDD HEDBERG TO JOIN ME ON STAGE FOR THE CADET AWARDS AND PRESENTATIONS.
ALL RIGHT, SO OUR FIRST AWARD IS OUR HAMMER AWARD AND THIS IS VOTED ON BY THE TEAM LEADERS.
UH, THIS IS FOR THE CADET WHO EXHIBITS OUTSTANDING EFFORT AND DEDICATION TO THE JOB PERFORMING AT THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL AT ALL TIMES EACH AND EVERY DAY.
LEMME GET THIS AND THE WINNER OF THE HAMMER AWARD WILL BE MR. FERNANDO JAY QUEZ.
NEXT AWARD IS OUR MOST PHYSICALLY FIT AND THIS IS COMPRISED OF TWO RELATED CONCEPTS, GENERAL FITNESS, WHICH IS A STATE OF HEALTH AND WELLBEING AND SPECIFIC FITNESS, WHICH IS TASK ORIENTED DEFINITION BASED ON ABILITY TO PERFORM SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF THE OCCUPATION.
THE WINNER OF THE MOST PHYSICALLY FIT AWARD FOR CADET CLASS 1 37 IS KYLE CUMMINGS.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP IS BESS ALL AROUND CADET.
THIS IS CHOSEN BY THEIR FELLOW CADETS AND THIS IS THE CADET WHO BEST EXEMPLIFIES THE COMBINATION OF THE SKILLS AND QUALITIES THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO OUR TRAINING PROGRAM AND A FD AS A WHOLE.
UH, THESE INCLUDE LEADERSHIP, INTEGRITY, PROFESSIONALISM, INITIATIVE, HARD WORK, DEPENDABILITY, OVERALL PERFORMANCE AND EXCELLENCE.
UH, BUT BEFORE I ANNOUNCE THE WINNER OF THIS AWARD, I'D LIKE TO INVITE SPECIALISTS, SENIORS, TEAM LEADER BEN LINER.
IF YOU GAVE RETIRING FIREFIGHTERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ONE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT WITH THEM WHEN LEFT THEIR DEPARTMENTS, THEY WOULD CHOOSE THEIR HELMET.
IT IS A UNIVERSAL SYMBOL OF THE FIRE SERVICE.
THOSE WORN BY THE EARLIEST AMERICAN FIREFIGHTERS WERE MADE OF LEATHER, BUT THEIR LIKENESS WITH THE TRADITIONAL HELMETS ENDS THERE.
THE FIRST FIREFIGHTER HELMETS WERE STOVE TYPE STOVE PIPE TYPE HELMETS.
USED UNTIL 1836 WHEN A NEW YORK CITY
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FIREFIGHTER BY THE NAME OF HENRY OP CHANGED THE WHOLE DESIGN, A HAT MAKER BY TRADE.HE INVENTED WHAT WE NOW KNOW AS THE TRADITIONAL AMERICAN FIRE HELMET.
IT WAS SNAPPED UP BY FIREFIGHTERS AS SOON AS IT HIT THE MARKET.
IT BECAME COMMON TO JUDGE THOSE WHO DIDN'T WEAR GRATA CAP AS SIMPLY NOT DOING THE JOB.
SINCE THAT TIME, CHANGES IN INNOVATIONS TO THE ORIGINAL DESIGN HAVE BEEN RATHER MINOR MANUFACTURERS HAVE TRIED ALUMINUM, PLASTIC AND EVEN RUBBER.
BUT IF YOU ASK FIREFIGHTERS WHAT KIND OF HELMET THEY PREFER, THEIR ANSWER WILL MOST LIKELY ALL BE THE SAME LEATHER AS A SYMBOL OF THAT COMMITMENT TO DOING THE JOB.
THE WINNER OF TODAY'S BEST ALL AROUND AWARD WILL TAKE HOME THIS MOST TREASURE TO TROPHIES A LEATHER HELMET.
LIEUTENANT HEDBERG, WOULD YOU PLEASE DO THE HONORS? THANK YOU.
SEE SENIOR TEAM LEADER BEN LANNER.
OUR FINAL AWARD BE THE VALEDICTORIAN FOR THE CADET CLASS 1 37.
THIS AWARD IS GIVEN TO THE CADET WITH THE HIGHEST OVERALL GRADE POINT AVERAGE BASED ON BOTH EMT AND FIRE EXAMS AND THE VALEDICTORIAN FOR CADET CADET.
CLASS 1 37 IS CADET TRAVIS BURNS.
I'D LIKE TO START OFF BY TAKING A MOMENT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TO CELEBRATE WITH US TODAY WE ARE JOINED BY MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, OUR CHIEFS AND OTHER SENIOR OFFICERS ACADEMY STAFF, FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND OF COURSE OUR BELOVED TEAM LEADERS, EVEN TL BENJAMIN IS HERE TODAY.
28 WEEKS AGO, 39 OF US GATHERED IN A PARKING LOT ON A FRIGID JANUARY MORNING HOLDING OVERSIZED BOXES OF MISCELLANEOUS UNIFORM ITEMS WITH NO IDEA WHAT THE COMING MONTHS WOULD ENTAIL.
WE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT ONE ANOTHER.
MOST OF US KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE FIRE SERVICE AND NONE OF US WERE EXPECTING OUR ACADEMY TO START HOW IT DID OUR FIRST FEW WEEKS WEREN'T EASY.
WE MADE MISTAKES, OUR UNIFORMS WEREN'T PERFECT, OUR ORDERS WERE SOMETIMES MISINTERPRETED AND NOT ALL OF US MADE THE BEST FOOTWEAR CHOICES ON RIDE OUTS AND THINGS DIDN'T GET ANY EASIER.
AS WE WENT ON, WE FOUND OURSELVES OUT ON THE DRILL FIELD IN THE BRUTAL TEXAS SUMMER HEAT WITH NOTHING BUT POP-UP TENTS AND DRIP DROPS TO KEEP US GOING.
WE ENDURED THROUGH LADDERS, FORCIBLE ENTRY, HOSES AND STREAMS. WE GRINDED THROUGH LONG PT SESSIONS EVEN WHEN WE HAD SENIORITIS WORKING OUR WAY THROUGH COMPLEX EXERCISE MOVEMENTS NONE OF US HAD EVER HEARD OF BEFORE.
WE FACED ADVERSITY DAY AFTER DAY, EXPERIENCING SOME OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES ANY OF US HAVE EVER TAKEN ON, BUT WE PAID OUR DUES, WE LEARNED FROM OUR MISTAKES, WE TOOK OUR WORK HEAD ON AND NOW HERE WE ARE HAVING MADE IT TO THE END WITH OUR SHIRTS RIGHT SIDE OUT.
WE'VE GONE FROM NOT KNOWING ONE ANOTHER'S NAMES TO KNOWING MORE ABOUT EACH OTHER THAN WE PROBABLY SHOULD.
I CAN SAY WITH GREAT CONTENT THAT YOU ARE ALL SOME OF THE BEST FRIENDS I'VE EVER HAD AND ALTHOUGH IT DISHEARTENS ME TO KNOW THAT I WON'T GET TO SEE YOU ALL EVERY DAY, I CANNOT WAIT TO BE OUT THERE SERVING OUR WONDERFUL CITY ALONGSIDE ALL OF YOU.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE, TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK ALL OF OUR ACADEMY STAFF WHO WORKED SO INCREDIBLY HARD TO GET US HERE.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN FOR PUTTING THEIR FAITH IN US.
I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL THE FIREFIGHTERS AND OFFICERS WHO TOOK THE TIME TO COME DOWN TO THE ACADEMY AND TEACH US OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS.
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I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR SUPPORTING US THROUGH THIS ENDEAVOR.I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS TO HAVE YOUR LOVED ONES AWAY SO MUCH THE LAST 28 WEEKS, BUT WE ARE GREATLY APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR SUPPORT.
WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT YOU.
I'D LIKE TO THANK LIEUTENANT HEDBERG FOR MOTIVATING AND INSPIRING OUR CLASS EVERY DAY FOR BEING AN INCREDIBLE LEADER AND FOR PERFECTING OUR BURPEE FORM.
YOU EXEMPLIFY LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE AND YOU HAVE SHOWN US ALL THE TYPE OF FIREFIGHTER AND PERSON WE SHOULD STRIVE TO BE.
I'D LIKE TO THANK CAPTAIN MARTIN AS WELL.
ALTHOUGH CIRCUMSTANCES PULLED YOU AWAY FROM OUR CLASS WEEKS AGO, YOUR LEADERSHIP AND DEMAND FOR PERFECTION MADE ALL OF US BETTER.
AND LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR TEAM LEADERS.
THESE SIX INCREDIBLE FIREFIGHTERS STEPPED AWAY FROM THEIR POSITIONS ON A FIRETRUCK TO COME DOWN AND LEAD US THROUGH THIS ENTIRE ACADEMY.
DESPITE MANY SLIP UPS AND MANY DIFFICULT DAYS, THEY NEVER LOST FAITH IN US.
THEY'RE INCREDIBLE MENTORS AND EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE AND NONE OF US WOULD BE HERE WITHOUT THEM.
I HOPE WE CAN MAKE YOU PROUD, ALTHOUGH MY MORNINGS WILL FEEL A LITTLE EMPTIER NOT STARTING THEM IN THE TOWER WITH YOU.
I'M EXCITED FOR WHAT IS TO COME.
THIS IS THE START OF AN INCREDIBLE CAREER AND I CAN'T WAIT TO BE OUT THERE WITH YOU ALL.
CAPTAIN MARTIN, CAN YOU PLEASE JOIN ME ON THE STAGE AND NOW IN THE MOMENT, THESE CADETS HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS FOR THE PAST 28 WEEKS THE PINNING OVER THEIR AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT BADGE AND THE OATH OF OFFICE MEMBERS OF THE 130 SEVENTH CADET CLASS.
IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS, YOU WILL OFFICIALLY BE SWORN IN AS MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT AND BEGIN THE NEXT PHASE OF YOUR CAREER.
OUR BADGE SHOULD ALWAYS BE BORN WITH COURAGE, RESPECT, AND AND A DEEP HUMILITY.
YOUR ACTIONS THROUGHOUT THE REST OF YOUR CAREER WILL BE A REFLECTION ON THIS BADGE AND ALL THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THIS DEPARTMENT, RETIRED ACTIVE AND FUTURE WHERE WITH PRIDE, DEFEND IT WITH HONOR AND ALWAYS SEE IT FOR WHAT IT IS.
ASSEMBLE OF THE SACRED TRUST BETWEEN YOU AND THE COMMUNITY YOU SERVE.
I'D LIKE TO ASK THE CITY MANAGER, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS COME TO THE STAGE.
PLEASE COME TO THE STAGE WITH THE PERSON OR PERSONS YOU HAVE SELECTED TO PIN YOUR BADGE.
OWEN ALETO, PINNED BY HIS MOTHER, JOEL ALETO AND FATHER RICHARD ALETO.
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JUSTIN ALLEN PINNED BY FIANCE COVE YOUNG AND SON, ARCHER ALLEN.ZACH TER, PINNED BY WIFE FAITH ER AIDEN AVILA, PINNED BY MOTHER TIFFANY AVILA AND FATHER JEFF AVILA.
KEVIN BABER, PINNED BY FATHER VERNON DOTSON AND MOTHER TANYA DOTSON.
DANIEL BUREN PINNED BY MOTHER MARIA MORALES AND FIANCE INDIA COST
BYER BEING BY FATHER RETIRED DALLAS FIRE RESCUE CAPTAIN KENNETH BYER AND MOTHER MAGLIE BYER.
TRAVIS BURNS, PINNED BY MOTHER STACEY BURNS AND FATHER
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STEVE BURNS.BRIAN CANTU PIN, MY WIFE CHRISTINE CANTU.
AVERY CORONA PEN BY BROTHER MITCHELL CORONA.
KYLE CUMMINGS, PINNED BY BROTHER KENNETH CUMMINGS AND MOTHER NOREEN CUMMINGS.
LINDSAY DEMETRI, PINNED BY AUSTIN FIREFIGHTER MARGARITO ZAPATA II RONALD ELIZONDO IMPENDED BY FATHER RON ELIZONDO AND MOTHER CHRIS ELIZONDO.
ALEC HARTMAN, PINNED BY GRANDMOTHER FRANCIS GERLICH AND AUSTIN FIREFIGHTER JASON O'NEILL.
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KYLE HESTER, PINNED BY WIFE KELSEY HESTER.FATHER RETIRED AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SERGEANT ROBERT HESTER AND CHILDREN ALLISON AND HAYDEN HESTER.
PEN BROUGHT BROTHER AON FIREFIGHTER FERNANDO MUNOZ AND AKIL JOHNSON.
PINNED BY MOTHER ANISA UNDERWOOD AND STEPMOTHER, COLETTE JOHNSON.
RICHARD KENNEDY PINNED BY FIANCE ELLEN LEARN.
GARRETT CROSS PINNED BY MOTHER SHANNON CROSS AND FATHER PETER CROSS.
JAMES LINCOLN PINNED MY WIFE, JUSTICE RAMOS.
CODY MCKENZIE, PINNED BY FATHER, RETIRED AUSTIN FIRE,
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LIEUTENANT JAKE GREER AND WIFE JESSICA MCKENZIE.JOSH NORTH PINNED BY BROTHER DANIEL NORTH CHASE OSTERMAN PINNED BY WIFE, KERNAN OSTERMAN, JUSTIN RACINE AND MY MOTHER AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SENIOR PATROL OFFICER ANDREW COLEMAN AND FATHER BRUCE RACINE, AUSTIN RICHARDSON PEN, MY BROTHER AUSTIN FIRE CAPTAIN JOSEPH RICHARDSON.
NICK SPER, PIN BY FATHER PAUL SPER AND MOTHER CARUM.
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TY SNYDER.BROTHER SETH SNYDER AND SNYDER.
PINNED BY FATHER AUSTIN FIRE LIEUTENANT BRIAN THOMPSON AND MOTHER LISA THOMPSON.
BRYCE VPA, PINNED BY SI SISTER RICKY RUSH, BRAYDEN WALKER PEN BY FATHER DOUG WALKER AND MOTHER JODY WALKER.
PING WAYNE PIN BY FATHER VICTOR WANG AND MOTHER JESSICA Z
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THANK YOU CITY MANAGER.COUNCIL MEMBERS CHIEF BAKER WILL NOW ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE CADETS.
PLEASE STAND AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND ON YOUR HONOR.
WILL YOU BE LOYAL TO THE FIRE SERVICE, THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT, YOUR COMMUNITY, AND YOUR FAMILY I'LL? WILL YOU COMMIT TO UP UPHOLDING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF INTEGRITY AND CHARACTER? I WILL.
WILL YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO HOLD YOURSELF AND OTHERS ACCOUNTABLE AND RESPONSIBLE FOR HEALTH, SAFETY, TRAINING, FITNESS AND LEADERSHIP? I I'LL WILL YOU DISPLAY THE COURAGE TO BE SAFE.
I'LL WILL YOU UPHOLD THE LAWS, RULES, REGULATION OF THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE COMMUNITY YOU SERVE.
I'LL ON BEHALF OF OUR CITY MANAGER, TC BRUNETTE, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN, AND ALL OF THE HERO, BRAVE WOMEN AND MAN OF THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU CHIEF BAKER AND CONGRATULATIONS.
WE HAVE SOMETHING FROM A SPECIAL GUEST WHO REGRETTED NOT BEING ABLE TO BE HERE TO JOIN YOU IN PERSON FOR THIS CEREMONY, BUT WANTED TO SHARE A CONGRATULATIONS.
BRAD STU, A FINALIST FOR THE MUHAMMAD ALI SPORTS HUMANITARIAN AWARD IN 2022 AND 2323.
AWESOME FIRE DEPARTMENT GRADUATING CLASS.
I AM THE GOALKEEPER FOR AUSTIN SC.
I JUST WANTED TO SEND A QUICK NOTE TO CONGRATULATE YOU ALL ON YOUR GRADUATION TODAY.
I WISH I COULD THERE IN PERSON TO CELEBRATE THIS TREMENDOUS ACHIEVEMENT, BUT JUST KNOW THAT UH, WE ARE ALL SO THANKFUL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON AND JUST WANT TO SEND MY HEARTFELT THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS AMAZING ACHIEVEMENT TODAY.
CONGRATULATIONS LIEUTENANT HEADBERG.
WOULD YOU PLEASE LEAD CLASS 1 37 IN RECITING THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT'S
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MISSION, VISION, AND VALUES.WHAT IS OUR MISSION? THE AUSTIN FIRE CREATE SAFE BRAZILIAN COMMUNITIES PREVENTION RESPONSE.
WHAT IS OUR VISION? WE LOST FIRE SERVING INNOVATION.
EMBRACE INCLUSION, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, ALL.
WHAT ARE OUR CORE VALUES? INTEGRITY, RESPECT, OWNERSHIP, DISCIPLINE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BEFORE WE GO, WE HAVE A SHORT VIDEO TO SHOW YOU WHAT OUR NEWEST FIREFIGHTERS HAVE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST 28 WEEKS.
PLEASE SIT BACK AND ENJOY THIS INSIDE LOOK UNTIL LIFE OF AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT CADET FIREFIGHTING IS THE MOST RISKY OF ALL DEAD END JOBS, YET ALSO THE ONE WHERE MOST WORKERS ARE MOST LIKELY TO PUNCH IN EARLY.
IT'S HARD ENOUGH TO BELIEVE THAT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO EXPLAIN IT.
FIRE AND ICE ARE UNCOMFORTABLE SEPARATELY OR TOGETHER.
KIDS LOVE THE NOISE, FIRE AND ICE.
ANY DAY AT THE FIREHOUSE, THE BELL PUTS THE DISPATCHER ON THE HORN WITH ITS ADDRESS INTO BUNKER PANTS, RUBBER TURNOUT COAT, GRAB THE MASK AND GO.
YOU'LL NEED ALL YOU CAN CARRY THE FOUR POUND AX, A SIX FOOT HOOK, THE HALLIGAN PRY BAR, THE CEILING CONCEALING THE SMOLDERING HAS TO COME DOWN AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE STUBBORN TIM ONES IN THE SCARY PART.
WITH HEAT EATING YOUR EARS, YOU ARE GOUGING OUT AND TEAR LOOSE AND PULLING APART GULPING AIR AND TASTING BLACK.
YOUR WIND PIPE IS CLOSING AND YOU'VE LOST TRACK OF WHICH WAY IS OUT.
IS IT REALLY WORTH IT? YOU HAD MINUTES OF EXHILARATION ON THE BOUNCING WHEEL MOUNT OF THE SCREENING HUNDRED FOOT SEA WAVE HOURS OF USING ALL YOU'VE LEARNED AND LEARNING MORE.
NOW YOU'RE BACK AT THE STATION HOUSE AND YOU'VE UNSTUFFED YOUR NOS.
NEXT COME THE TEDIOUS HOURS AS YOU AND OW GANG UP ON THE TOOLS.
ANOTHER ENGINE COMPANY GETS THERE.
THE AIRCOM AGAIN, THIS TIME'S A WAREHOUSE, A BIG MULTIPLE BLAZE, PROBABLY TORCHED ONSITE ENGINE BREAK WITH ICICLES LAGGING.
A THREE QUARTER PRE CONNECT THROWS HOSE ARE WAITING FOR YOUR BIG LINE LADDER.
CAN'T MAKE THE BUILDING WITHOUT YOU SEARCH RESCUE VENTILATE.
YOUR SMOKE'S MARCHED AND SLEEPLESS AND OUT.
BUT THIS ONE YOU WON BEHIND GRAFFITI FOULED WALLS.
BUT THE RAGING PLAYS THAT WANTED TO CONSUME ADJACENT BUILDINGS DID NOT BECAUSE YOU WERE THERE BACK AT THE FIREHOUSE BEFORE CLEAN UP.
YOU AND THE GUYS SIT HAVE FELL TIRED BUT STIMULATED DRINKING COFFEE, LAUGHING, FEELING GOOD ABOUT ONE ANOTHER.
NOBODY OUTSIDE YOUR WORLD CAN EVER KNOW THIS FEELING.
AND YET THERE IS NO THIRD WAY THAT YOU'D EVER LEAVE THIS JOB.
MOST OF THE GRIME AND SOME OF THE CYNICISM ARE DOWN THE DRAIN.
WHEN YOU HEAR A STRANGELY FAMILIAR VOICE SAYING IT IS WORTH IT.
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COMING.COMFORT IS THE ENEMY OF GROWTH.
IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE, YOU ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION.
WHEN WE TRAINED, WE TRAINED UNTIL WE DID IT RIGHT.
IF YOU DIDN'T, WE DID IT AGAIN.
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PHIL JOHNSON, WAL WISCONSIN, AVERY CORONA, HOUSTON, TEXAS, RONALD ELIZONDO YA, PHIL CALIFORNIA.
BRIAN, NEW YORK, AUSTIN RICHARDSON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
JUSTIN ALLEN, RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA.
RICHARD KENNEDY, WACO, TEXAS TEAM LEADER.
AUSTIN, TEXAS, KYLE HESTER, EVERY TO GO TEXAS.
CHASE, OSTERMAN, HOUSTON, TEXAS.
CODY MCKENZIE, PURINA, TEXAS TEAM LEADER.
HI, MS. HERNANDEZ, TRUCK 17 A MATT THOMPSON, CIBO, TEXAS.
ALEC HARTMAN, ZEL, TEXAS, KYLE CO.
BRYCE
LINDSEY DMITRI, GREATER NEW TEXAS.
BRADLEY WILL, CEDAR PARK, TEXAS.
TEAM LEADER WILLIAMS ENGINE 21 SEA SHIFT.
BRIAN CANTU, NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS.
KEVIN BER, CEDAR PARK, TEXAS, BRADEN WALKER, BURON, TEXAS.
DANIEL BUREN, BAYVILLE, ARKANSAS.
OWEN ALEDO, LEANDER, TEXAS, FIREFIGHTER KENNEDY.
WILL YOU PLEASE LEAD OUR NEWEST FIREFIGHTERS IN 1 37 AND THE TRAIN TRAINING DIVISION'S MODELS, THEN DISMISS THE GROUP.