Honor Guard course takes off in Ocala

The first of many offerings of the Honor Guard: Team Building and Standards classes was a mighty success. Expressly designed to assist fire service and public safety organizations in developing and enhancing their organization's honor and color guard units, students lead by engaging instructors were driven to excel within proper drilling movement, proper techniques, leadership enhancement, and team confidence building.

The lead instructor for the course was Jim Byrd, who retired from Miami Dade County in August 2005 after serving 22 years in Florida’s Fire Service. Jim was instrumental in coordinating and commanding the Miami Dade Honor Guard section where they won many competitions because of their unity and unwavering stature. Recognizing his talent and attention detail, Jim was asked by organizations throughout the years to judge honor guard competitions in Florida.

After serving at the National Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Emmitsburg, MD, Jim was asked to command the Statewide Honor Guard Representation during the first Florida Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Ocala, in 1993. Commander Byrd, using only a 24-hour window, was able to coordinate honor guards from fire departments all over Florida as a unified section during the ceremony to honor fire departments and families of those firefighters that made the ultimate sacrifice. Jim continued that service for many years.

Additional instructors included: Ronald Ferguson, Robert Osteen, Michael Driggers, Pamela Driggers, Jules Bouckhuyt, Mike Alsup.

Students from across Florida participated in the inaugural class representing Ocala, Fort Myers, Williston, Osteen, Lake Mary, Pompano Beach, Winterhaven, Cape Coral, Longwood, Mount Dora, and Green Acres.

Because of the varied organizational policies and procedures, this class was designed and intended to offer a unique training environment including off-site funeral home visits, curriculum to cover basic military drill and ceremony, church and casket protocol, developing department SOPs for honor and color guards, public safety officer benefits, flag etiquette, proper military courtesies, honor guard commander leadership, various types of funeral services, and history of honor and color guard.

Photos courtesy of Pam Driggers

Firefighter Memorial Fundraiser

The Joint Council of Fire and Emergency Services along with the Division of State Fire Marshal are proud to announce the addition of engraved pavers to the Florida Fallen Firefighter Memorial courtyard in Ocala. All funds will be used to enhance and maintain the perpetuity of the Florida Fallen Firefighter Memorial honoring the firefighters that made the ultimate sacrifice. Order forms with samples and prices are available here. Donations start at $50 for an engraved red brick 4" X 8", $100.00 for engraved granite brick 4" X 8", and $500.00 for a granite plaque 8" X 16" that can include basic logo or seal for extra cost.

Trident from Titusville has nothing to do with the ocean

Titusville Fire & Emergency Services, last week delivered a Trident ambulance that they have donated to the Florida State Fire College as it neared the end of it's life cycle within their department.

The "new to us" unit will give students of the fire I and II program hands-on experience with emergency medical transport units and help prepare them for EMT and Paramedic programs. That many will enter soon after their fire training.