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VFA mentioned in Becoming a Firefighter segment
Added on 03.16.23
The VFA was mentioned yesterday during the FCTC 'Becoming a Firefighter - Recruitment in the Spotlight' series which featured our sponsoring agency GFD.
It was live yesterday on YouTube. You can click on the link below to watch the recording. Several VFA Cadets were in attendance and asked lots of questions.
You can see the recorded episode
All 343 names were honored and their bios mentioned, at the end all pictures of the fallen with their bios were posted
on the drill tower for the duration of the training day.
Then the cadets listened to the tones from Verdugo Fire Communications honoring the fallen, with a moment of silence after.
You can see the video here.
VFA Cadets explained how the Verdugo Fire Academy paved a path into the fire service,
requirements needed to graduate, components/function of both SCBA and PPE’s, and finally how
great their experiences have been.
They gave students handouts on the Verdugo Fire Academy and informed them on the information
seminars held at Fire Station 21.
Class XXI Block Awards are in for Block II and one of
our female cadets, has obtained both the highest academic
award and the top cadet award for both Block I and II.
Cadet Koebnick is the recipient of both Highest Academic and Top
Cadet awards. She is a Glendale Fire Department sponsored cadet.
Congratulations Cadet!
The Top Cadet award goes to the cadet with the highest score
accumalated throughout the academy. This cadet carried this honor every block of instruction throughout
the year, and just missed the highest academic award by fractions of
percentage points. This cadet truly was the top performing cadet of Class XX. Cadet
Giselle Mendieta was sponsored from the San Gabriel Fire Department
and she will have a bright future in the fire service. Congratulations
Cadet Mendieta! Job well done.
All 35 cadets received certificates of completion
of the program. In addition 6 special awards were given out these awards
were for perfect attendance, best physical fitness, highest community
service hours volunteered, highest academic score, and top cadet.
Congratulations go to all 35 cadets for a job well done.
This year there was a first for the academy, a cadet proposed to his
longtime girlfriend during a first aid EMS demo. The unsuspecting girlfriend was persuaded to volunteer as a victim
to demonstrate the EMS portion of a fire service career. After all was said and done she said YES! Congratulations cadet may
you have a long and happy marriage.
Although this type of activity is highly recommended by the VFA this is all volunteer time on the cadets. Thank you Cadets. The cadets participate in many events on campus turning each into a recruitment event, and show and tell. We
try to get as many students interested in the program. Many students at Glendale Community College have no idea that Verdugo Fire Academy is available on campus.
Over the past year, cadets have spent 900 hours preparing themselves physically and academically. Sponsored by the Glendale Fire
Department and Glendale Community College, the academy covered every skill a firefighter would need from climbing ladders to extracting
people trapped in vehicles — in addition to extinguishing fires. These cadets have successfully completed the California State Fire Marshall requirements for certification as a Firefighter I. Congratulations.
The flag was lowered and then raised to half staff, while a
moving tribute over the radio was read by Verdugo Fire
Communications. After the radio tribute there was a short moment of silence, then
the flag was raised to full staff. Verdugo Fire Academy will always
remember and never forgot the nearly 3000 people killed including
343 FDNY firefighters.
VFA Cadets Pay Tribute to 343 Fallen 20 Years Later
On Saturday, September 11, 2021 on the 20 year anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center
National Night Out
A few VFA Cadets and an Instructor attended the annual National Night Out at
The Royal Canyon Property Owners Association. They set up a booth for academy recruitment
and assisted the association with the event.
GCC and Glendale City Hall Event Last Night
On Wednesday, September 12, 2018 a career day was held in GCC’s Civic Center. VFA Cadets
set up a table for displaying their equipment.
BLOCK AWARDS ARE IN FOR CLASS XXI BLOCK II
The VFA recognizes the hard work and dedication of the cadets by
awarding insignia that can be worn on the cadets uniform while in
class. The awards are for Highest Academic, Leadership, and Top
Cadet. These are awarded at the end of each block of instruction.
First Female In VFA history Receives Top Cadet Award
For the first time in the history of the Verdugo Fire Academy, a
female cadet receives the highest honor of all cadets.
VFA HOLDS GRADUATION FOR 35 CADETS
Sunday January 7th was a good day for the 35 graduating cadets of
Class XX. After 12 long months of classroom, drill ground, physical
fitness, and testing the VFA held the graduation ceremony. Family
and friends of cadets, school dignitaries, local fire officials and
representative agencies of sponsored cadets, filled the room to
capacity.
Cadets invite Family to observe skills learned.
Class XX Verdugo Fire Academy Cadets invite family to attend annual Family Day on the last day of academy.
Cadets attend a Blood Drive for Children's
Hospital
Several Class XX Cadets helped out at The City of Vernon Fire Department as it held it's annual Blood Drive for LA
Children's Hospital. Over the past year of class the cadets
have attended and participated in numerous volunteer, fund raising, and blood drives. Here Cadet Mendez is shown as he gives blood for a good cause.
Cadets attend a Recruitment Event on Campus
Class XX Verdugo Fire Academy Cadets attend a back to school event on
the campus of Glendale Community College.
VFA Class XIX Graduation
Class XIX graduates 26 cadets.
Cadets Show respect for Anniversary of 9/11
Class XIX Verdugo Fire Academy Cadets show respect for the 343 fallen and
all victims of the terror attacks of 9/11, by attending a
tribute in front of Pasadena Fire Department station 36.