Two Thomasville Fire Rescue trainees recently graduated from the Georgia Fire Academy in Forsyth, Georgia. One of the recruits, Kaitlyn Brinson, was presented with the most prestigious award a graduate can receive, The Pinnacle Award.
Brinson and fellow graduate Jacob Johnston graduated from the Basic Firefighter Training program through the Georgia Fire Academy on May 10th. “Completing this training program is quite the accomplishment. It truly defines one’s ability as they enter into this profession, which requires honorable character and the desire to support their community and fellow firefighters,” said Thomasville Fire Rescue Chief of Training Craig Dukes.
The Pinnacle Award is the highest honor a graduate can receive. “The Pinnacle Award is given to those who exemplify a high level of self-sacrifice and the desire to work for, and with, others to achieve a common goal,” Dukes said, “Such a trait is invaluable in a firefighter and cannot be taught; it’s something an exemplary individual like Firefighter Brinson is born with.”
The Basic Firefighter Training program, offered through the Georgia Fire Academy at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, is the top firefighter-training program in the state of Georgia. Graduates who complete the 345-hour program, which includes both classroom-based lectures and practical skills building sessions, earn state certification as a firefighter. Once completed, Thomasville Fire Rescue recruits them to enter a two-week, 80-hour internal training program. Once that is completed, they will earn National Professional Qualifications (NPQ) Firefighter II certification through the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications.
