16 weeks of training complete, Covington pins badges

on nine new members of its Fire Department

COVINGTON, Ky. – In a pinning ceremony laced with history and tradition, nine recruits were sworn in Friday at City Hall as full-fledged Covington firefighters.

It was a 16-week journey … a journey that – according to the recruits’ instructors and trainers – was long and strenuous by marked by growth.

They pushed the recruits to the edge of their mental and physical breaking points. They forced them to stop thinking as “individuals” and more as members of a “team.” They committed to “muscle memory” the completion of tasks under duress both small and large. They made them forget the way they had been trained by former employers and indoctrinated them in “the Covington way.”

In short, they transformed the “ducks” – the Covington firefighting world’s slang for unpolished recruits – into uniformed First Responders who could be counted on in times of stress and danger by both the Covington public and their fellow firefighters.

That transformation – the need for it, the urgency of it, and the difficulty of it – was the theme that ran throughout the remarks of the Fire officials and Covington’s vice mayor who spoke not only to the recruits but also their families who attended.

“You have just completed one of the most challenging and demanding fire training programs in Northern Kentucky,” Fire Chief Corey Deye said. “You have pushed through the physical exhaustion, mental strain, and countless hours of hard work.”

Lt. J.P. Navin, who was the duck class’s unforgiving physical instructor, praised the evolution of the class and pointed out that it was the only training class to ever have beaten a team of current firefighters on the Promontory Hill “Challenge.”

“This class set many records, some of which will likely stand for a long time,” Navin said. “We had only one rule: Just don’t quit. … (They came to realize) that it’s not about them, it’s about the people they serve and the people they serve with.”

The 16 weeks occurred at a variety of locations, including “classrooms” at the now-closed City Heights housing complex at the top of Benton Road to parking garage stairwells. In addition to physical training, it included everything from how to lay out hoses in a tight urban environment to fire behavior to ladder use to different kinds of fire suppression.

“We had 16 weeks to turn people of various past life experiences into firefighters,”

Jimmy Adams, Covington’s Deputy Chief of Operations and the lead instructor for the class. “I feel without a doubt (that) this task has been accomplished. As of today, you have earned the right to wear ‘Covington’ between your shoulder blades.”

But Covington Mayor Pro Tem Ron Washington, who gave the nine recruits the oath of office, pulled from his background as a police officer to give them one final lesson, this one about Covington itself.

“Our city is a vibrant mosaic of cultures, backgrounds, and traditions. As firefighters, you will be serving a community that is as diverse as it is dynamic,” Washington said. “You’ll be interacting with people in their most vulnerable moments, and your ability to show empathy, cultural sensitivity, and understanding will make all the difference.

“Whether it’s a medical emergency, a fire, or another crisis, the people of Covington will look to you for help, regardless of their background, language or beliefs,” Vice Mayor Washington said. “You are the guardians of safety and security in this community, and that means taking care of everyone with the same dedication and compassion.”  

The nine:

• Cameron Barrett graduated from Dixie Heights High School and earned a degree in marketing from Morehead State University, where he played football. He has since worked on his family’s real estate team and coached high school football. He enjoys spending time with friends, traveling, and training. 
• Andrew Burk graduated from Scott High School and served in the U.S. Army, where he deployed seven times to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He started a firearms training and security consulting company and for the last 3 years worked for CSX railroad.
• Allen Frank comes from a family of firefighters (his father retired as a fire chief and his mother is an EMT) and has degrees in Criminal Justice and Fire Science from the University of Cincinnati. Hobbies include working out, watching movies, playing video games, and spending time with friends.
• Jacob Hughes served four years as a military police officer in the U.S. Air Force while stationed in North Dakota. He is married and recently welcomed his first child. He is an avid sports fan who enjoys playing softball and golf.
• William Louis graduated from Newport Central Catholic High School and went to Thomas More University to play soccer before joining Southgate Volunteer Fire Department. Hobbies include lifting weights, golf and watching football.
• Caleb Madison graduated from Dixie Heights High School and earned a degree in Fire Protection Administration from Eastern Kentucky University. He previously worked full-time at Travis County (Texas) Fire Rescue and part-time for the Colerain and Springdale (Ohio) fire agencies. Hobbies include playing basketball, watching sports, having game nights with my fiancé and family, working out, traveling, golfing, and going to concerts and comedy shows.
• Jacob Metcalf graduated Elder High School in Cincinnati and studied Fire Science at Cincinnati State. He worked in construction for 10 years. He is married and has a daughter.
• Natalie Neufelder graduated from Bishop Brossart High School and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Northern Kentucky University, where she was a cheerleader. Hobbies include exercising, traveling, and spending time outdoors.
• Dylan Sabie was an electrical lineman (who worked on telephone poles). Hobbies include fishing, playing basketball, and hanging out with friends.

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Covington’s newest firefighters, from left, Allen Frank, Andrew Burk, Jacob Hughes, Natalie Neufelder, Jacob Metcalf, Dylan Sabie, Cameron Barrett, Caleb Madison, and William Louis.