O n Thursday, April 18, 2019, Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro presided over the graduation ceremony for 187 Probationary Firefighters.
Among the graduates is Probationary Firefighter Aric Tegtmeier, who followed in the footsteps of his father, Firefighter Paul Tegtmeier, one of the 343 FDNY members killed on September 11th.
“After my father passed away, the firehouse took care of my family and me. My father loved this job. He always came home happy.” said Probationary Firefighter Tegtmeier. “I know he would be proud of me and that’s all I could ever hope for. He is my inspiration and he keeps pushing me forward every day.”
“It’s clear that Paul Tegtmeier instilled the notions of bravery and service in his son,” said Commissioner Nigro. “With his graduation, he’s made his father, and all of us, incredibly proud.”
This latest graduation class included five women Probationary Firefighters. Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro, left, First Deputy Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, second from left, and Chief of Department John Sudnik, right, as well as members of the United Women Firefighters (UWF) congratulated the “Probies” for their historical career achievement during the ceremony. There are currently 92 women serving as Firefighters in our Department.
During their time at the FDNY Training Academy, the class was extensively trained in all aspects of their job as Firefighters, including fire suppression and medical response, hazardous materials, collapse and confined space rescue training, auto extrication, building inspections, and procedures for engine and ladder operations.
In addition, this graduating class also represents the growing diversity of the Department. The class includes five women and people of color comprise 34 percent of the class, with 11 percent identifying as Black, 17 percent as Hispanic, and five percent as Asian. There are currently 92 women serving as Firefighters in the FDNY, the largest total in Department history.
“I attended almost every single fitness training provided by the Department before I entered the Academy. They were right to the point. It gave me an opportunity to speak to the members about the job they have been doing for years. I was welcomed and felt like I had a handle on the fitness part of the Academy before I even arrived. It was a wake up call too, because they made me realize it was time to get even more serious about my training,” said Probationary Firefighter Alexandria Sevorwell, one of the five women graduates who also completed the Office of Recruitment and Retention’s free Fitness Awareness Program (FAP) when she was a candidate. “I loved everything about the Academy and I can’t wait to get to my firehouse and begin helping the city.”
To date, 1,200 Firefighter Candidates have trained with our Health and Fitness Unit during FAP to become a step closer to working in their dream career. Watch highlights from our fitness sessions here.
View more photos from today’s graduation ceremony here. Watch highlights from the ceremony here.
