On Nov. 10, the Illinois Fire Service Institute will host the inaugural “Veterans in the Fire Service Day: An Opportunity for Firefighters Past, Present, and Future.” It is a professional development opportunity for U.S. Armed Forces veterans who also have served, are serving or may be interested in serving as firefighters.
Attendees will learn about the culture, community and career opportunities in the fire service and participate in live fire-training scenarios. The training will expose them to essential firefighting skills.
Veterans currently working in the fire service industry also will attend and complete a series of firefighting challenges. During the afternoon sessions, they will work cooperatively with the less experienced attendees to execute multiple live fire training exercises.
The event is free and will include the participation of statewide veteran support agencies during the program luncheon. For more information about the event, contact Jill Sauer at jillks@illinois.edu or 217-300-6036.
The Illinois Fire Service Institute is the oldest continuous fire-training institution in the United States. Located in Champaign, the main IFSI campus offers a 28-acre training ground with class-A live fire props and training equipment. Courses are delivered on campuses, at state regional training centers and local fire departments across the United States and internationally.