FY2016 Arlington Fire Department Annual Report FY 2016 | Page 17

AFD/TCC/AISD Fire Academy AISD Firefighter/EMT Academy The AISD Firefighter/EMT Academy, a cooperative effort between the Arlington Fire Department, Arlington Independent School District, and Tarrant County College, is designed to train and certify high school students in the fields of firefighting and emergency medical training. The AISD Fire Academy, a dual credit program, graduated its fourth glass in June 2016. Quality instruction and coordination by AFD instructors has been essential to this program’s continued success. Training is based on the Texas Commission on Fire Protection Basic Fire Suppression (TCFP) and Department of State Health Services (DSHS) curriculum. This program accepts students from six different high schools, affording graduates the potential to immediately enter the workforce as a Firefighter/EMT. To date, 10 AISD Academy graduates have been offered positions as Arlington Firefighter Trainees, while many others have been hired by other fire departments and ambulance companies. In the spring of 2017, AFD will make its first promotion from the 10 AISD Academy graduates hired. AISD Career and Technical Center On April 7, 2016, the Arlington Independent School District broke ground for the new Career and Technical Center. The Center will serve junior and seniors from all AISD high schools and will house the school district’s nationally recognized and award winning Firefighter/EMT Academy, along with 16 other dual credit programs that offer skill based training and college hours that can be applied to a specific degree program with certification. The $46 million dollar, 169,800 square foot facility is part of the district’s $663.1 million bond program approved by voters in 2014 and is scheduled to open in August 2017. DUTY / HONOR / COMPASSION 16 / EXCELLENCE