Climbing the ladder
Published 9:01 pm Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Selma Fire Department Assistant Chief Mark Walker, councilman Michael Johnson, Mayor George Evans, Sgt. Da’Ron Waters, Sgt. Chad Mitchell, Sgt. Jimmy Boswell and council president Corey Bowie pose for a photo following a promotion ceremony for the new sergeants. – Justin Averette
Four men in the Selma Fire Department were recently promoted to sergeant after going through months of training and several rigourous tests.
Da’Ron Waters, Chad Mitchell, Jimmy Boswell and Brandon Baker were all promoted following the tests in late October.
“I was happy with the outcome,” said Assistant Fire Chief Mark Walker. “All four guys I feel have been hard workers and deserve the promotion.”
Although four were promoted, 11 actually took the tests, which included a written test, pumping exercises with the fire truck and fire equipment tests.
“An outside testing company does the testing for us, but then we come in and have another type system that we plug in other factors over their career that we use to evaluate them and come up with a final score for promotion,” Walker said. “For about a month or so leading into it, they did a lot of training on the pumps and the equipment and studying the books and the rules and regulations to get ready for the written test. They did a lot of studying.”
To be eligible for the promotion, firemen must have at least two years of experience, and the test only happens around once every two years.
One of the firemen, Waters, said the test was very difficult, but through the help of his firefighter brothers, he was able to do his best and pass the test.
“The most difficult part about the test for me was the pumping scenarios, due to the many different scenarios we go through on a nightly and daily basis,” Waters said.
“I felt confident about them, but the anxiety set in heavily before performing.”
Waters said he is happy to be promoted, and he is looking forward to what is to come for him in the department.
“I worked extremely hard and with the help from my fellow coworkers, I was blessed with an opportunity to help this department move forward,” Waters said.
“I’m very excited… I want to thank everyone for the help, prayers and motivation.”
Following their promotion, the four men will now have more responsibilities, like driving the fire truck and operating it at the fire scene, among others.
