The Future First Responders of America (FFROA), a youth first responder development non-profit organization, graduated nine individuals that earned the title of Cadet after completing a three-day academy. The organization, a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity teaches, educates, trains and gives experience to youth ages 13 to 18 about being a first responder of all types; firefighter, EMT/paramedic, law enforcement, corrections, dispatcher, US forestry, search and rescue, military, game and fish, rangers, and more. A year-round program allows youth to experience all types of career fields and trains in all the different aspects of first response. Youth are certified in various related training as well as provide community service as volunteers to practice that training and prepare for a possible career in their chosen field. “A win-win for all agencies,” said Jeff Hanna, executive vice president of the organization. “We basically pre-train, prepare the youth, and provide any agency a potential employee. Once the individual ages out of our program [at 18], the receiving agency gets a recruit that is less likely to wash out of their own academy, as well as gains a potential employee that already knows what the career field is like, thus ready for the challenge of that position,” said Hanna. With public safety agencies already at a deficit, and having problems trying to find potential applicants that are able to obtain the minimum requirements of that agency, the Future First Responders program helps eliminate most of the issues of public safety agency applicants who cannot be vetted or don’t pass the academy. All cadets are vetted, background checked, and must pass interviews in order to be accepted into the program. “They really have to want to be a cadet, and not just their parents telling them they are going to participate,” said Lauri W. Founder and President. The success rate of this organization is currently at 100% with two recently becoming EMTs and coming back to their community to serve in those positions. Another win-win for both the community as well as the receiving agency having pre-trained personnel who will spend their well-earned credentials serving the community they started in. To become a recruit, or for more information to apply, go to www.FFROA.org.
