Passing Out celebrations for LJLA’s first Firefighter Cadet Placements

Passing Out celebrations for LJLA’s first Firefighter Cadet Placements

Three young people from South Liverpool have today celebrated completing the first part of their Firefighter Cadet training with Liverpool John Lennon Airport’s (LJLA) Rescue and Firefighting Service with their ‘Passing Out’ ceremony in front of their families and colleagues.

Over a hundred applicants from the area applied to join the Airport’s Firefighter Cadet Placement Programme earlier in the year, which is the first of its kind in the UK. In April, successful candidates Della Kadiri-Rawlings, Jade Lambert and Arran Moore were given the opportunity to spend 12 months working within the Airport’s Rescue & Firefighting Service.

Since joining the Programme, the cadets have all successfully completed a variety of practical tests including hose running, hydrant drills, ladder drills and learning Internal Breathing Apparatus firefighting skills with internal fire scenarios, working in confined spaces and hot environment’s.

The three cadets will now progress to the next phase of their time at the Airport, spending a further 10 months working within the Airport’s Rescue & Firefighting Service, assisting the firefighting watch on duty and helping to maintain an effective firefighting response service at LJLA.

Once the Cadets have successfully completed the 12 month programme, they will have received the training and qualifications to hopefully pursue a career as an Airport Firefighter should a position become available at Liverpool or other UK airports.

This latest initiative forms part of the Airport’s Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy, helping to provide more opportunities for communities local to the Airport and follows on from the success of other schemes including the Airport’s Apprenticeship and Traineeship programmes.

Neil Gyllenship, LJLA’s Fire Service Manager commented, “These cadets from our local community have all worked incredibly hard over the past 8 weeks to successfully complete this part of their training with us. Their commitment and determination to make the most of this fantastic opportunity has been exemplary and they and their families will be rightly proud of what they have achieved so far.”

Firefighter Cadets give a demonstration ahead of their Passing Out ceremony, as they tackle an aircraft fire at LJLA’s fire training rig.

(L to R) Crew commander Rob Ramsey and Fire Service Training & Compliance Manager Emma Sandys present Arran Moore, Jade Lambert and Della Kadiri-Rawlings with their Airport Firefighter Cadet Passing Out certificates.