By Mark Lastinger
Special for the Effingham Herald
SPRINGFIELD – The result was unlikely but extremely welcome.
Six Effingham County Fire and Rescue recruits emerged as a cohesive unit after being tossed into a lengthy, grinding challenge.
“Y’all probably had to push through things that you probably didn’t even understand that you had the capability to do,” ECFR Chief Clint Hodges told the young men Friday during a Fire Academy graduation ceremony at ECFR headquarters.
Leander Kalloniatis, Austin Davis, Chaseton McCoy Zachary Muscunana, Chandler Brown and Holden Thames endured 16 weeks of training led by instructor Dillon Bazemore. The final 24 hours days earlier were especially grueling as the recruits encountered a variety of scenarios that tested their physical and mental limits, and left them covered in soot.
Hodges described Effingham County Fire and Rescue’s Fire Academy, which also includes classroom instruction, as “more than likely what is one of the more difficult recruiting schools in the state of Georgia if not our whole region (of the country).”
“Was it always perfect or pretty? Nope,” Training Capt. Ben Pape told the graduates. “It definitely wasn’t easy but – like I told you the other day – you have proven yourselves ready to be a part of this team and a part of this family. You have put in the work and the dedication, and you should never let anyone take that pride away from you.”
Pape said the class displayed a spirit of unity throughout the process.
“They embraced ‘team’ before they were even told they were a part of the team,” he said. “All of us were kind of thrown back by that. That’s amazing.
“… All of you have done well and all of you deserve this. You came together like a fire family, like the brotherhood that we talk about should. Never let that change.”
Chosen to speak on his classmates’ behalf, McCoy thanked Academy administrators for sharing their knowledge.
“I know that we are ready to serve this county and the people in it and do whatever we need to protect them,” he said.
After McCoy’s brief remarks, the class presented Hodges and other administrators a large flag made of fire houses for display in the department. Then they received their helmets, badges and firefighter certificates.
Pape announced the winners of three awards – Kalloniatis (Most Improved), Davis (Leadership) and Brown (Iron Recruit). They were chosen by their peers.
“The decisions were unanimous across the board,” Pape said.
Kalloniatis was tapped for A Shift, Davis and McCoy were designated for B Shift, and Muscunana, Brown and Thames were pegged for C Shift.
Effingham County Fire and Rescue’s next Fire Academy is set to start in January. Apply at effinghamcounty.org/jobs.
