By EMS1 Staff
CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. — A free EMT certification class will be offered to military veterans by the Saratoga County Emergency Council this fall.
The Saratogian reported that the aim of the class is to prepare students for a career in EMS while fostering personal growth. The free program will also include counseling and support referrals, local veteran resource access and career consulting.
Saratoga County Emergency Medical Services Council instructional coordinator Russell Coonradt said the program has made a positive impact on veterans transitioning into civilian life.
“The first course went really well,” he said. “The students performed extremely well in the practical skills stations. That’s unheard of. We had 14 that got certified. Some of them volunteer with Clifton Park and Halfmoon Emergency Corps, some work in the field and others are in law enforcement and use their skills there.”
“Learning in this environment, with our shared military service, has given me a comfort that I wouldn’t feel elsewhere,” program alumni and U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Pierre Brown said. “I’m driven to succeed because I haven’t felt such a strong sense of purpose since leaving the military.”
Registration for the classes can be found here.