[Austin AFD 138th Graduation Ceremony ]
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DOWN LEFT, RIGHT DOWN, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT, LEFT, LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT, LEFT, LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT DOWN.
I'M BATTALION CHIEF DONNIE WATSON.
I'LL BE YOUR MASTER OF CEREMONIES AND I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF SERVING AS A TRAINING ACADEMY SUPERVISOR OVER THIS CLASS.
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 CLASS 1 38 CADET ETHAN WEISMAN.
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OH, SEE, OKAY.CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWNS EARLY LIGHT WHAT SO PROUDLY WE AT THE LAST GLEAMING WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARTS THROUGH THE FIGHT, ALL THE RAMP WE WANT WERE SO STREAMING THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR GAVE THROUGH THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT A FLAG WAS STILL THERE.
WHO SAY THAT STAR SPANGLED THE LAND OF THE AND THE OF.
I WILL NOW ASK AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT CHAPLAIN JJ WICK TO COME DELIVER THIS MORNING'S INVOCATION.
WHAT AN HONOR IS TO BE WITH YOU THIS AFTERNOON AS WE CELEBRATE THIS CLASS.
WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR THIS TIME TOGETHER.
WE THANK YOU FOR CADET CADET, UH, CLASS 1 38.
WE THANK YOU FOR THEIR PERSEVERANCE, FOR THEIR COMMITMENT, FOR THEIR SERVICE TO OUR CITY AND SOME OF THE MOST CHALLENGING TIMES THAT FAMILIES GO THROUGH, WHETHER IT BE A FIRE OR AN ACCIDENT.
LORD, WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR THESE CADETS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO SERVE THOSE AROUND US IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND SO LORD, WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR KC AND AUSTIN AND JACKSON AND ISAAC FOR MORGAN, ANDREW, CALEB AND JUAN, FOR KYLE AND LOUIS LUIS RUSSELL, ALEXANDER, ETHAN, JAKE COHEN, AND ETHAN.
GOD, WE ASK THAT YOUR PROTECTION UPON THEM AS THEY SERVE OUR CITY FOR THEIR FAMILIES, UH, THAT, UM, CAN SOMETIMES GO LONG HOURS WITHOUT THEM AS THEY ARE IN SERVICE FOR, UH, 12 HOURS AT A TIME.
SO BE WITH THEM EACH AND EVERY DAY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE BE SEATED.
ON APRIL 22ND, 2024, THE DIVERSE INDIVIDUALS OF CLASS ONE TO 38 CAME TO TOGETHER TO UNDERGO THE INTENSE TRAINING REQUIRED TO BECOME AN AUSTIN FIREFIGHTER.
28 WEEKS LATER, THEY HAVE SUCCEEDED IN THEIR GOAL.
THESE 16 GRADUATES HAVE MET OUR RIGOROUS PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND ETHICAL STANDARDS AND WILL NOW HAVE THE PRIVILEGE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF SERVING AS AN AUSTIN FIREFIGHTER.
ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE CHIEF GE G BAKER, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THIS SPECIAL OCCASION.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXTEND A SPECIAL THANKS TO AUSTIN CITY HALL AND THE STAFF HERE FOR THE USE OF THEIR FACILITY AND TO SUPPORT THIS CEREMONY TODAY IS A CELEBRATION OF HARD WORK, DEDICATION, AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THESE INDIVIDUALS.
SEATED HERE TODAY IS ALSO TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE PROVIDED THE CARE AND SUPPORT THAT HAS BEEN CRITICAL TO MAKING THESE CADETS DREAMS OF BECOMING AN AUSTIN FIREFIGHTER A REALITY.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE MEMBERS OF OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM.
PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL THEY'VE ALL BEEN INTRODUCED.
FIRE CHIEF JOEL G BAKER, ASSISTANT
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CHIEF ANDRE DEZA, ASSISTANT CHIEF JEFF KENNEDY, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR DR.RONELLE PAULSON, ASSISTANT CHIEF THA SMITH, ASSISTANT CHIEF TOM VOKEY, DIVISION CHIEF MARK BRIDGES, DIVISION MANAGER, JENNIFER HEATLEY, DIVISION CHIEF LES MCKAY, DIVISION CHIEF DAVID SCOURING AND DIVISION CHIEF KERRY STEWART.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REC, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK OUR HONORED GUESTS FROM CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGEMENT AND THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS AND THE CENTRAL TEXAS PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE AUSTIN FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION, LOCAL 9 7 5, THE AUSTIN HISPANIC FIREFIGHTERS AND THE AUSTIN AFRICAN AMERICAN FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION WHO HAVE JOINED US TODAY.
ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE MILITARY AND PUBLIC SAFETY MEMBERS FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS CELEBRATING HERE 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, OR FITNESS.
WE HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF SUPPORT STAFF THAT PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN GETTING THESE CADETS TO THIS DAY.
THANK, 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 VOLKE, WHO OVERSEES THE TRAINER DIVISION TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT CLASS 1 38 TEAM LEADERS.
SO THE TEAM LEADERS ARE OPERATIONS FIREFIGHTERS WHO VOLUNTEER TO BE MENTORS FOR THE CADET CLASS ARE AND ARE ASSIGNED TO THE TRAINING DIVISION THE ENTIRE 28 WEEK PERIOD.
BECAUSE OF THE EXCEPTIONAL WORK OF THESE 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 PRESENTATION AS I CALL YOUR NAME, SENIOR TEAM LEADER FIRE SPECIALIST EMILIANO BENAVIDEZ, FIRE SPECIALIST DEREK DEL DEL ROSARIO, FIRE SPECIALIST AARON HOER, FIREFIGHTER RYAN NEW AND FIREFIGHTER SEAN THOMAS.
APPRECIATE EVERYTHING Y'ALL HAVE DONE AS A SMALL TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR CLASS AND OUR MISSION OF DEEDS, NOT WORDS FOR THE ENTIRE TRAINING DIVISION IS MY PLEASURE TO PRES PRESENT YOU EACH WITH A PLAQUE.
UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING TEAM LEADERS AND UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF OUR TRAINING STAFF.
WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU.
NOW I'D LIKE TO INVITE FIRE CHIEF, UH, BAKER AND CLASS CAPTAIN MATT MARTIN UP TO JOIN US ON THE STAGE FOR THE CADET AWARD PRESENTATIONS.
THE HAMMER AWARD IS VOTED ON BY THE TEAM LEADERS.
THE WINNER EXHIBITS OUTSTANDING EFFORT AND DEDICATION TO THE JOB PERFORMING AT THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL AT ALL TIMES.
THE WINNER OF THE HAMMER AWARD FOR CADET CLASS 1 38 IS CADET CASEY ANO CONGRATULATIONS CADET ARIANO.
THE NEXT AWARD IS THE MOST PHYSICALLY FIT AWARD AND IT'S COMPRISED OF TWO RELATED CONCEPTS, WHICH IS GENERAL FITNESS, WHICH IS A STATE OF HEALTH AND WELLBEING AND SPECIFIC FITNESS,
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A TASK ORIENTED DEFINITION BASED ON THE ABILITY TO PERFORM SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF THE OCCUPATION.THE WINNER OF THE MOST PHYSICALLY FIT AWARD FOR CLASS 1 38 IS CADET COHEN WATSON.
NEXT IS THE BEST ALL AROUND CADET.
IT'S CHOSEN BY THEIR PEERS AS THE CADET WHO BEST EXEMPLIFIES A COMBINATION OF THE SKILLS AND QUALITIES THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO OUR TRAINING PROGRAM.
THOSE INCLUDE LEADERSHIP, INTEGRITY, PROFESSIONALISM, INITIATIVE, HARD WORK, DEPENDABILITY, AND OVERALL PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE.
BEFORE I ANNOUNCE THE WINNER OF THIS AWARD, I'D LIKE TO INVITE SENIOR TEAM LEADER BENAVIDES TO THE PODIUM FOR A SPECIAL PRESENTATION.
IF YOU GAVE A RETIRING FIREFIGHTER THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ONE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT HOME, UH, WHEN THEY LEFT THEIR DEPARTMENTS, THEY WOULD CHOOSE THEIR HELMET.
IT IS THE UNIVERSAL SYMBOL OF THE FIRE SERVICE.
THOSE WORN BY THE EARLIEST, UH, AMERICAN FIREFIGHTERS WERE MADE OF LEATHER, BUT THEIR LIKENESS WITH THE TRADITIONAL HELMET ENDS THERE.
THE FIRST FIREFIGHTER HELMETS WERE STOVE PIPE, UH, STOVE PIPE TYPE HELMETS USED UNTIL 1836 WHEN A NEW YORK CITY FIREFIGHTER BY THE NAME OF HENRY UH, GAAP CHANGED THE WHOLE DESIGN, A HAT MAKER BY TRADE.
HE INVENTED WHAT WE KNOW NOW AS A TRADITIONAL AMERICAN FIRE HELMET.
IT WAS SNATCHED UP BY FIREFIGHTERS AS SOON AS IT HIT THE MARKET.
IT BECAME A COMMON JUDGE OF, UH, JUDGMENT OF THOSE WHO DIDN'T WEAR IT AT GATA CAP AS SIMPLY NOT DOING THE JOB.
SINCE THAT TIME, CHANGES AND INNOVATIONS TO THE ORIGINAL DESIGN HAVE BEEN RATHER MINOR MANUFACTURERS HAVE TRIED ALUMINUM, PLASTIC AND EVEN RUBBER, BUT IF YOU ASK A FIREFIGHTER WHAT KIND OF HELMET THEY PREFER, THEIR ANSWER WILL MOST LIKELY BE ALL 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 TREASURED OF TROPHIES, A LEATHER HELMET.
CAPTAIN MARTIN, WOULD YOU PLEASE DO THE HONORS? THANK YOU.
SPECIALIST EZ, THE WINNER OF THE BEST ALL AROUND AWARD FOR CADET CLASS 1 38 IS CADET CALEB CRUZI.
NOW I'D LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THE VALEDICTORIAN FOR CLASS 1 38.
THIS AWARD IS GIVEN TO THE CADET WITH THE HIGHEST OVERALL GRADE POINT AVERAGE BASED ON BOTH THE EMT AND THE FIRE EXAMS. THE VALEDICTORIAN FOR CADET CLASS 1 38 IS CADET LUIS PADRE ALVARADO.
ON BEHALF OF CLASS ONE 30 LATE.
I'D LIKE TO START BY THANKING THE PERSONNEL, THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHO HAVE TAKEN THE TIME OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS TO GET US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
MANY OF MY CLASSMATES, INCLUDING MYSELF, COME FROM NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE.
THIS IS OUR FIRST ACADEMY, OUR FIRST TIME WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I CAN SAY PERSONALLY, THE ONLY REASON I'M STANDING WHERE I AM TODAY IS THAT WE HAVE AND OUR TRULY PRIVILEGED TO BE ABLE TO SAY, BEEN TRAINED AND LED BY SOME OF THE BEST FIREFIGHTERS OUT THERE TO ALL THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS WITH US TODAY.
WE CAN'T IMAGINE THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE PUT IN TO SUPPORTING US OVER OUR TIME AT THE ACADEMY IN THE EARLY MORNINGS WHEN LEAVING AND THE LATER NIGHTS WHEN RETURNING HOME.
YOU HAVE PROVIDED THE ABILITY AND SUPPORT STRUCTURE WE NEEDED TO KEEP OUR HEADS ON STRAIGHT WHILE PUSHING THROUGH ALL WE HAD IN OUR PLATES.
SO MUCH OF OUR TIME HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON OURSELVES AND THE THINGS WE NEEDED TO GET DONE AND I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH.
OUR THANKS AND GRATITUDE TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND SACRIFICE TO HELP US THRIVE.
THIS IS THE MOTTO WE WOULD YELL EVERY MORNING AT THE TOP OF OUR LUNGS TO START THE DAY.
THREE WORDS ON A SMALL BOARD POSTED JUST ABOVE OUR HEADS AT THE BUILDING BEELINES THAT ENCAPSULATED THE ACTIONS WE NEED TO TAKE TO GET THROUGH EVERY DAY.
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TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT AS A CLASS WITH EVERYTHING WE DID REMINDING EACH OTHER ABOUT OUR SCVA AND WEIGHT LOGS.GETTING THE DRILL FIELD SET AND READY FOR THE DAY AHEAD.
SPACING EACH OTHER OUT EVER SO SLIGHTLY ON THE LINES WITH OUR GEAR AND UNIFORM AND MAKING SURE WE REMEMBER TO GRAB OUR MED BAGS AND THAT ELUSIVE A ED.
SLOWLY BUT SURELY, WE CAME TOGETHER FROM A GROUP OF 27 INDIVIDUALS ALL FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AND EXPERIENCE LEVELS TO FORM ONE COHESIVE UNIT OF 16 AUSTIN FIRE CADETS SUPPORTING AND BEING THERE FOR EACH OTHER, BOTH AT THE ACADEMY AND OUTSIDE.
WE MADE SURE NO ONE WAS BEING LEFT BEHIND THROUGH WEEKEND STUDY SESSIONS GET TOGETHERS AFTER DEMANDING WEEK OF CURRICULUM AND SKILLS FOR SOME GOOD FOOD TO ALWAYS HAVING A CAR RIDE READY TO GO AFTER SOMEONE HAD A CAR WRECK.
YES, THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES.
I CAN SAY THAT I WOULDN'T CHOOSE TO BE IN ANY OTHER CLASS AND I'M PROUD TO CALL CLASS ONE THIRTY EIGHT MY OWN.
OF COURSE, WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS ALONE.
WE OWE ALL OUR PROGRESS TO OUR FIVE TEAM LEADERS WHO ARE AT OUR SIDE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
LEAVING YOUR CREWS TO COME DOWN TO THE ACADEMY TO MENTOR US THROUGH ALL THE DIFFICULT TASKS WE HAD TO OVERCOME IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN NEVER APPRECIATE ENOUGH FROM TEACHING US HOW TO SPEAK AND BE SPOKEN TO IN OUR FIRST FEW DAYS OF THE ACADEMY, GIVING US THE PROPER MOTIVATION TO FIX ANY MISTAKES WE MAY HAVE MADE TO PROVIDING ANY AND EVERY RESOURCE POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE WE WOULD SUCCEED.
TLS WOULD COME IN AT 5:00 AM TO SET UP PRACTICE IF WE WANTED TO PULL HOSE OR THROW LADDERS AND THEY WOULD STAY LATE AFTER AN ALREADY STRETCHED 11 HOUR DAY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTION OR CONCERN WE MIGHT HAVE.
OUR TLS HAVE SHOWN US THE MODELS OF WHAT EXEMPLARY FIREFIGHTERS LOOK LIKE AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US HOPES WE HAVE MADE YOU PROUD AND DONE A GOOD JOB.
ORA SENIOR TL BETAS TOLD US MANY TIMES WE HAVE DONE JOB.
OUR TRAINING AND LEARNING ARE FAR FROM OVER.
WE'RE NO LONGER CADETS, BUT FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS AS PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTERS, WE'LL BE INTRODUCED TO EVEN MORE KNOWLEDGE AND TASKS THAT WE MUST UTILIZE TO MOLD OURSELVES INTO THE FIREFIGHTERS THIS CITY NEEDS AND DESERVES US TO BE.
BE THE FIRST ONE UP, THE FIRST TO VOLUNTEER, THE FIRST IN ANY AND EVERY ASPECT OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MEMBER OF A STATION AND THE COMMUNITY WE HAVE THE HONOR TO BE A PART OF AND GIVE BACK TO.
AS WE'VE HEARD MANY TIMES THROUGHOUT THE ACADEMY, THIS CAREER IS ONE WHERE WE CAN NEVER AND SHOULD NEVER STOP LEARNING, TRAINING AND GROWING ALL THE PEOPLE IN THIS CITY.
THE FIREFIGHTERS IN THIS DEPARTMENT AND OURSELVES DEPEND ON OUR CONSTANT DRIVE TO BECOME BETTER.
THIS OATH WE'RE ABOUT TO TAKE IS NOT A CELEBRATORY HIGH FIVE, BUT A COMMITMENT TO THAT EFFORT.
I ASK MY FELLOW CLASSMATES TO REMEMBER AND QUESTION YOURSELF THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER.
AM I THE FIREFIGHTER? I'D WANT TO SAVE MY FAMILY IN THEIR TIME OF NEED.
ALWAYS STRIVE TO BE THE ONE TO ANSWER THAT CALL.
AND NOW IN THE MOMENT THESE CADETS HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS FOR THE PAST 28 WEEKS, DEPENDING OF THEIR AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT BADGE AND THE OATH OF OFFICE MEMBERS OF THE HUNDRED 38TH CLA 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 WORN WITH COURAGE, RESPECT, 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.
DEFEND WITH HONOR, AND ALWAYS SEE IT FOR WHAT IT IS.
ASSEMBLE OF THE SACRED TRUST BETWEEN YOU AND THE COMMUNITY YOU SERVE.
CADETS, PLEASE ASSEMBLE COUNSEL, STAND OVER PLEASE.
AS I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME TO THE STAGE WITH YOUR PERSON TO PERSONS YOU'VE SELECTED TO PIN YOUR BADGE.
HOW MANY OF THE S ON THREE COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE MAYOR CAN I HAVE THE, UH, MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS COME UP TO THE STAGE PLEASE? CAN YOU TELL THEM? OKAY.
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KC ANO PIN BY BROTHER, RETIRED ATCA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRE CHIEF RAYMOND ANO AUSTIN BAYLOW, PINNED BY FATHER AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT, LIEUTENANT RANDY BAYLOW AND MOTHER CINDY BAYLOW BENNETT BASS PINNED BY MOTHER TUCKER BASS ISAAC HOGAN, PINNED BY MOTHER THERESA HOGAN AND FATHER RAY HOGAN.PINNED BY WIFE AVERY HOLT AND FATHER VERDE SPRING BRANCH FIRE BATTALION CHIEF ERIC HOLT.
ANDREW CLOTS PINNED BY FIANCE ARIANA ZAY.
CALEB CRUZI, PINNED BY FATHER AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
BROTHER AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT FIREFIGHTER GIDEON CRUZI.
HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY
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KYLE MENDOZA.PEN BY FATHER CARLOS MENDOZA AND MOTHER JOLENE MENDOZA.
LUIS PADRO ALVARADO PEN BY BROTHER VERDE, SPRING BRANCH FIREFIGHTER JOHN PADRO ALVARADO RUSSELL PINTO, PINNED BY MOTHER KATHLEEN PINTO AND SISTER LAYLA.
VERA PINTO ALEXANDER RAMIREZ, PINNED BY FATHER HOMER RAMIREZ AND MOTHER PATRICIA RAMIREZ.
ETHAN RUDICK PINNED MY MOTHER, NORA RUDICK AND FATHER JOE RUDICK.
JAKE STALLER, PIN BY FATHER, RETIRED AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
LIEUTENANT MIKE STALLER AND FIANCE, FIANCE, LEADER OV COHEN WATSON, PINNED BY FATHER AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT FIREFIGHTER RYAN WATSON AND MOTHER CARMEN WATSON.
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ETHAN WEISMAN, PINNED BY WIFE JENNY WEISMAN.CHIEF BAKER WILL NOW ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE.
CHIEF WAS, YOU'RE DOING A WONDERFUL JOB.
CHIEF WAS AROUND APPLAUSE AS WELL.
BEFORE I ADMINISTER THE OATH TO OFFICE, I GOING TO TAKE APPOINTED OF PRIVILEGE.
FIRE CHIEF AND RECOGNIZED OUR CITY MANAGER AND HIS ABSENCE.
AND AGAIN, THANK OUR HONORABLE MAYOR, MAYOR KURT WASHINGTON AND COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
COUNCILMAN EDISON ALTER OUR WONDERFUL POLICE CHIEF WHO'S BEEN HERE A COUPLE OF HOURS, BUT SHE'S DONE A FINE JOB HERE.
AND, AND CHIEF UH, UH, WES, THANK YOU ALSO FOR COMING OUT SUPPORTING.
IT'S GOOD WHEN PUBLIC SAFETY CAN COME OUT AND WE SUPPORT EACH OTHER.
SO THANK YOU THAT, UM, SO 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 WILL.
WILL YOU COMMIT TO UPHOLDING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF INTEGRITY AND CHARACTER? I WILL.
WILL YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO HOLD YOURSELF AND OTHERS ACCOUNTABLE AND RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR HEALTH, SAFETY, TRAINING, FITNESS AND LEADERSHIP? I'LL WILL YOU DISPLAY THE COURAGE TO BE SAFE? I'LL WILL YOU UPHOLD THE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AND THE COMMUNITY YOU SERVE? I'LL ON BEHALF OF MORE OF THE 1200 MEN AND WOMEN OF THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE FINE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN, WE ALL CONGRATULATE YOU ON BECOMING FIREFIGHTERS WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
CONGRATULATIONS, FIREFIGHTERS.
THANK YOU CHIEF BAKER AND CONGRATULATIONS.
LIEUTENANT WARD, WOULD YOU PLEASE LEAD CLASS 1 38 IN RECITING THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT MISSION, VISION, AND VALUES CLASS 1 38 PLEASE STAND CLASS 1 38, JUDGE.
WHAT IS OUR MISSION? THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT IS COMMITTED TO CREATING SAFE AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES THROUGH PREVENTION, PREPAREDNESS, AND EFFECTIVE EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
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VISION? THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT SETS THE STANDARD AMONG PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES SERVING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION WHILE HONORING TRADITION AND EMBRACING INCLUSION, EQUITY AND DIVERSITY FOR ALL.WHAT IS OUR CORE VALUES? INTEGRITY, RESPECT, OWNERSHIP, DISCIPLINE, PRO USE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BEFORE WE GO, WE HAVE A SHORT VIDEO TO SHOW YOU WHAT OUR NEWEST FIREFIGHTERS HAVE BEEN DOING OVER THE LAST 28 WEEKS.
PLEASE SIT BACK AND ENJOY THE INSIDE.
LOOK INTO THE LIFE OF A AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
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KC ANO ITASCA, TEXAS.[00:50:01]
AUSTIN, TEXAS.ETHAN WIMAN, SAN MARCUS, TEXAS.
BEFORE WE DISMISS YOU, IF YOU PARKED IN THE GARAGE, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU VALIDATE YOUR TICKETS AT THIS TABLE OVER HERE.
WILL YOU PLEASE LEAD THE NEWEST FIREFIGHTERS WITH CLASS 1 38 IN THE TRAINING DIVISION MODEL AND AND DISMISS THE GROUP.