The FDNY Celebrates National Mentoring Month

In recognition of National Mentoring Month, join us below in meeting members of the FDNY Firefighter Candidate Mentorship Program. This initiative pairs Firefighter Candidates with Fire Officers or Firefighters who serve as their Mentors throughout the hiring process. If the Mentees become Probationary Firefighters, the Mentors also provide them with guidance during the Fire Academy and the early part of their career.  

Meet Mentor Lieutenant Abdelrahman Abdelaziz from Special Operations and his Mentee Ladder 112 Firefighter Cesar Sosa

  “I was the first in my family to become a Firefighter, and back then I wish I had someone to show me the ropes. I wanted to become a Mentor because there were senior guys who helped me along the way and guided me and I wanted to do the same for others,” said Abdelaziz. “Firefighter Sosa and I grew up around the same area and hit it off right away. I was there for moral support when he needed it and I wanted him to be successful. When he asked for help, I was glad to assist whether it was moral support, questions about exams or even extra help with tying knots.”

“I’m a first-generation Firefighter myself and the Mentorship Program definitely contributed to my success,” added Sosa. “I didn’t know what a Halligan was until I was in the Academy. To have someone to reach out to and answer questions, or even there for moral support helped me through. Learning about the fire culture can be overwhelming. The Fire Academy was one of the most difficult things I had to get through. Lieutenant Abdelaziz would check in and answer his phone whenever I had questions. We also met up a few times to make sure everything was on track. Him being there was extremely beneficial.”

Meet Mentor Ladder 37 Lieutenant Fares Delvalle and his Mentee Ladder 46 Probationary Firefighter Manuel Paulino

“When I came on the job 16 years ago, I didn’t have anyone in my family who was a Firefighter, nor did I have a Mentor. There were hurdles that I had to get through and I learned from my own mistakes. I became a Mentor because I wanted to help others who wanted the helping hand I didn’t have,” said Delvalle. “I remember when Probationary Firefighter Paulino came to the firehouse while still serving in the Marines and said he wanted to become a New York City Firefighter. Eventually I became his Mentor and I assisted him through the hiring process as a veteran and I spoke to him multiple times a week. He is the epitome of an awesome Firefighter Candidate and Mentee. He was engaged and resourceful and he utilized a lot of the resources that were available. I encourage all my Mentees and potential candidates to read, as well as prepare physically. The Department offers materials online, start reading now, so you can become familiar with the language, the tools and the training. Preparation is important.”

“I was a Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps and transitioning into a para-military environment was a learning process,” added Paulino. “My Mentor was extremely helpful by giving me helpful links, videos, and reading materials as study guides. He also followed up with me after every appointment I had during the hiring process. As a first-generation Firefighter, it was great having that extra support.”

Mentor Engine 74 Lieutenant Michael Orosch and his Mentee Engine 302 Probationary Firefighter Christopher Farrell

“Prior to becoming a Firefighter, I was a teacher and I decided to become a Mentor because it was something I loved doing. I like helping people, teaching, and any way I can give guidance I try to do so,” said Orosch. “I was the first in my family to join the Department 17 years ago. The program is a great tool for candidates and those in the Academy. To have someone in your corner and who can give insight on what to expect mentally and physically is important. My Mentee was extremely motivated and open to learn, and it was great watching him grow and thrive.”

“The Academy gave me a general view of everything and trained us hard. It was beneficial to have someone on the job with an inside view to help me prepare for the CPAT, the Academy, and to help me learn what to expect after graduation when I entered my firehouse,” added Farrell. “Having a Mentor taught me more of the culture and about adjusting to the firehouse. I didn’t have family on the job, so he was the first person I would contact in regards to getting help. He was very inspiring and would check in regularly. It was a great addition being a part of this program because it helped prepare me for my career.”

Meet Mentor Engine 226 Firefighter LaShawnda Brinson and her Mentee Engine 257 Firefighter Alexandria Sevorwell

“I became a Mentor because I wanted to provide guidance the same way I had and help ensure that my Mentees were well prepared,” said Brinson. “My Mentee Alexandria learned all the information presented to her. It’s a wonderful experience when your Mentee wants to learn and is not afraid to ask questions. It has been great connecting with her and whatever she needed. I was excited to help out whether it was academically, advice on workouts or just moral support.”

“Having Firefighter Brinson as a Mentor was a game changer. She was extremely supportive and hands-on with anything I needed help with,” added Sevorwell. “As a woman, there were also things she understood when it came to physical fitness that I was having challenges with and she provided me with guidance to overcome those challenges. Whenever I needed assistance, she would be right there and sometimes she even connected me with other people who were knowledgeable in certain areas to further assist me. This is an excellent program and it’s definitely worthwhile.”

Meet Mentor Engine 42 Firefighter Matthew Johnson and his Mentee Ladder 52 Probationary Firefighter Andrew Lesce

“I was a Mentee myself while training in the Academy and it was a great experience. I became a Mentor because I wanted to give back and return the favor,” said Johnson. “When I was an EMT, I worked with Lesce at EMS Station 3. He was a Medic then, so we started a friendship and being able to become his Mentor in this program was great. My Mentee was willing to learn all of the information I had to share. This is not just a job, the people in your firehouse become your family and its own community.”

“During the Academy, some days were harder than others. It was a roller coaster ride emotionally, psychologically and physically. My mom passed away from Stage 4 cancer and she was a great inspiration for me to push through,” added Lesce. “My Mentor was not only there for me to help with training and fitness, but he knew what I was going through and gave me encouraging words that we must celebrate small wins. He always told me to take it day by day, sometimes hour by hour. We communicated once a week and it would be to just check in with me or provide words of encouragement. We also met up to practice for a ropes test, which was very helpful when I was in the Academy. The Mentorship Program is essential.”

Meet Mentor Engine 298 Firefighter Benjamin Chou and his Mentee Ladder 140 Firefighter Andrew Dolgin

“I was a Mentee in the Mentorship Program as a Proby. I benefited a lot from the program during that time and I think it’s a great program,” said Chou. “Once I got the chance, I became a Junior Mentor first, and eventually leveled up to having my own Mentees as a Mentor. Andrew was my first Mentee out of five Mentees to graduate from the Fire Academy. He was very motivated and that made mentoring him easy. He really wanted to get on the job, so I tried to help him as best as I could and it went great. Being a Mentor is very rewarding. You see your Mentees in the beginning stages from the hiring process, then the Fire Academy and then to see them walk across the stage at graduation is a great feeling.”

“I was an EMT since 2016 and then I was sworn in as a Probationary Firefighter in 2018. It was helpful to have a Mentor along the way,” added Dolgin. “I had friends on the job who told me what to expect, but my Mentor would give me pointers with workouts and he provided extra reading materials that helped me in the Academy. He also offered his help anytime, was easy to communicate with and he offered a visit to his firehouse to show me what life is like once you become a Firefighter. The Mentorship Program was very valuable for me being a first-generation Firefighter. The top three things that got me through the Academy were reading, working out and communicating with my Mentor.”

Meet Mentor Ladder 120 Firefighter Devon Philips and his Mentee Engine 231 Probationary Firefighter Lane Williams

“I grew up in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn and was the first in my family to become a Firefighter in 2014. I was a Mentee myself and gained a wealth of knowledge in the Mentorship Program. I didn’t know what to expect walking into the firehouse years ago. I became a Mentor because the program was beneficial to me and I wanted to help out young men and women from my neighborhood in the same way,” said Phillips. “Lane was one of my first Mentees. He is a Brooklyn native, so we had an instant connection. The process was long and there were some hurdles along the way, but he didn’t lose hope. I made sure to keep in touch with him and keep him motivated. Whenever I’m assigned Mentees, I like to meet them in person because I like to engage with them, get to know their personality, interests and goals. Lane and I connected because we were very similar. I invited him to my firehouse a few times to show him around. It’s different when you can see certain tools, as opposed to just reading or looking at illustrations. I always want to attend Family Day and graduations with my Mentees because it’s a lot of hard work they put into this and they dedicate their lives to the program. Once they graduate, they are living the dream. It’s a great feeling working in the neighborhoods we grew up in. It’s a different connection to the community and I’m excited to see more of it.”

“I was an EMT at Station 59 before graduating the Fire Academy in September in 2021. Growing up in East Flatbush/Brownsville, I wasn’t surrounded by many Firefighters and I am the first in my family to become one,” added Williams. “While I was in elementary school, a firefighter visited my class for Career Day. He spoke of the job, the benefits, the lifestyle and I was intrigued. Once I met with Devon, he was a big help from the beginning. We met in person and he understood everything I was going through because he went through it himself not too many years prior. He gave me great advice and communicated with me when I needed. Devon gave me tips regarding my workout, encouraged me to stay up to date with paperwork, dress the part and provided me with information to study. He was very relatable. The Academy was one of the hardest things I ever completed, and one of the greatest things was ending up in the same firehouse as my Mentor.”

Meet Mentor Engine 313 Firefighter Robyn Summerlin and her Mentee Engine 320 Probationary Firefighter Michael Stango

“When I became a Firefighter four years ago, I was a Mentee myself and Firefighter Jackie-Michelle Martinez was my Mentor. Jackie-Michelle is an excellent Mentor. She helped me build confidence, she taught me a lot about this career, she helped me stay motivated and I wanted to give back the same way once I became a Firefighter,” said Summerlin. “Michael was my very first Mentee to go through the Fire Academy. He made it easy for me to be his Mentor because he was ready and able, focused, and he took any information I would give him and apply it. I am very proud of him.”

“When I graduated the Academy in 2021, I was excited to begin my new career,” added Stango. “My Mentor always steered me in the right direction and she was a tremendous help. There is a lot of information to absorb during the Academy where some people may get overwhelmed with the academic load and physical tests. While preparing for the Academy, she let me know what areas I should really focus on. Although I wasn’t her only Mentee, I felt like she devoted her time and focus to assist me whenever I needed. Any questions that I had, she was always available and reachable.”