Meet Miami-Dade's Newest Firefighters

MIAMI, FL — Miami-Dade Fire Rescue welcomed 34 of its newest firefighters on Friday. Members of Recruit Class 133 completed the agency's rigorous 14-week training program and will receive their first shifts as firefighters in the New Year. A graduation ceremony was held at the agency's Training Center Auditorium in Doral.

"Three traits you must embrace to be a Miami-Dade firefighter: duty, commitment, and professionalism," Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Dave Downey told the recruits. "You have a duty to protect and serve. You must place service above self."

Training Capt. Maria Chin said that the intensive program is designed to promote teamwork.

“Such teamwork doesn’t happen by accident," she explained. "It requires commitment and effort, a willingness to accept the uniqueness of others and an appreciation for diversity."

Miami-Dade is one of the 10 largest fire-rescue departments in the United States with more than 2,300 employees, including almost 2,000 uniformed firefighters.

The agency's Erika Benitez told Patch that the graduates are ready for their first field assignments.

"The training was both physically and mentally difficult and it required these men and women to be challenged beyond their expectations," Benitez said. "To these 34 men and women, becoming a firefighter was their life-long dream and now, it’s finally a reality."

Meet the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue's newest firefighters below:

Photo and video courtesy Miami-Dade Fire Rescue