CAMP DARBY, Italy – On January 23, 2025, the USAG Italy Camp Darby Fire Department hosted their inaugural rookie firefighter graduation ceremony.
The academy was formed in 2022 when U.S. Army IMCOM authorized USAG-Italy to hire an additional 55 personnel to align with Department of the Army staffing requirements and enhance response capabilities. According to USAG Italy Assistant Fire Chief Richard Jones, hiring was divided into two phases: the first in fiscal year 2022 and the second in fiscal year 2024. The new positions included crew leaders, dispatchers and rookie firefighters. The newly formed Firefighter Academy was designed to ensure that new hires were well trained.
Throughout the Academy, USAG Italy rookie firefighters completed certifications mandated by both Italian and American standards. Italian certifications included High Risk, Working from Heights, Emergency Medical Responder, CPR, and Firefighter Respiratory Protection.
Obtaining the necessary American certifications was significantly more challenging because they were in English. “This did not deter our firefighters,” Jones said. “Instead, it fueled their determination to complete the training despite the language barrier. They approached each subject and certification level with increasing focus and commitment. This dedication not only underscores their commitment to their training but also highlights their eagerness to serve their community.”
As a result, graduates earned internationally recognized certifications in Hazardous Materials Awareness, Hazardous Materials Operations, Firefighter Level I and Firefighter Level II. Each graduate completed over 660 hours of classroom and practical training.
The first three DMC firefighters to graduate from the academy were Pasquale Micciche’, Lorenzo Nicotera and Renzo Palamidessi. Nicotera was additionally recognized as Camp Darby’s distinguished graduate for achieving the highest average test scores throughout the course.
The Firefighter Academy graduation ceremony provided an opportunity to recognize their commitment, honor their accomplishments and welcome them into the Darby Military Community.
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