Sixteen new firefighters are set to join the ranks in Covington.
The recruits, also known as ducks, recently completed a 16-week basic training session designed to test their mental and physical fortitude.
“You have just completed one of the most challenging and demanding fire training programs in Northern Kentucky,” Fire Chief Corey Deye said in a press release announcing the recruits. “You have pushed through the physical exhaustion, mental strain, and countless hours of hard work.”
The new firefighters are:
- Cameron Barrett
- Andrew Burk
- Allen FrankÂ
- Jacob Hughes
- William Louis
- Caleb Madison
- Jacob Metcalf
- Natalie Neufelder
- Dylan Sabie
Covington Vice Mayor Ron Washington, who gave the nine recruits the oath of office, emphasized the importance the new firefighters will have in the community.
“Our city is a vibrant mosaic of cultures, backgrounds, and traditions,” Washington said. “As firefighters, you will be serving a community that is as diverse as it is dynamic. You’ll be interacting with people in their most vulnerable moments, and your ability to show empathy, cultural sensitivity, and understanding will make all the difference.”