The Springfield Fire Department may begin registering new firefighters into the U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Program. In September, Springfield City Council voted to approve an agreement between the Springfield Fire Department and the U.S. Department of Labor. The fire department sought out the program to provide opportunities for firefighters to earn credit while accomplishing their formal fire academy and fire service-related on-the-job training. Assistant Chief Olan Morelan says the goal of this partnership is to help with the recruitment and retention of firefighters. ”It gives the firefighters credit for what they’re already doing and the training they’ve received,” Assistant Chief Morelan says.” SFD has registered 46 firefighters as apprentices in their new program. The program consists of 6,000 hours of on-the-job training for firefighters new to the fire service. Assistant Chief Morelan says that takes about three years to complete.