Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department graduated nine new members from the Volunteer Basic Orientation Course (VBOC) 18-04 on Friday, December 7, 2018. VBOC is taught at the Montgomery County Public Service Training Academy (PSTA). The graduation was held at the Public Safety Headquarters in Gaithersburg.

SSVFD members graduating were  Steven Getz, Juliana Melo, Brittany Hawkins, Rachel Stewart, Siu Chung, Alex Sunier, Collin Froelich, Saleem Izadjoo, and Carla Perez Cook.

These 9 were among 30 graduates from 10 of the County’s 19 volunteer fire and rescue departments.  SSVFD had by far the largest number of graduates in this course.  VBOC is but the first step into the volunteer Fire and Rescue service.  Many other fire, rescue, and emergency medical services classes are offered at the Academy. The free training offered at the PSTA is but one benefit of volunteering.

In attendance at the graduation were family members of the graduates, fellow volunteers, as well as leadership of the SSVFD including President Johnie Roth, Jr., Vice President and Capt. Brendan Bonita, Dep. Chief Mitch Dinowitz, and Capt. Mark Brown.

The VBOC graduation was hosted by the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association (MCVFRA). The ceremony began with a bag pipe procession by Mr. Kevin Walker of the McMillan Dunn Pipe Band of Rockville, Maryland, followed by the presentation of the colors by the Civil Air Patrol Honor Guard.  The National Anthem was sung by Esmerelda Mathieu followed by an invocation by Michael Kay, the President of the Bethesda Fire Department.  Jacqueline Delpi, the VBOC Lead Instructor, offered opening remarks and swore in the graduates.  Satchel Kornfeld, Recruitment and Retention Officer with the MCVFRA, recognized the PSTA and Local Fire and Rescue Department (LFRD) instructors.  The graduation ceremony closed with a benediction and blessing of the Firefighter/Rescuers by BFD President Michael Kay.  The graduates, their family, friends, fellow volunteers, and leaders gathered after the graduation at the PSTA for a reception and light refreshments.

The Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department is always looking for dedicated individuals interested in volunteering to serve their community. More information can be found at https://www.ssvfd.org/recruiting/