VIDEO: High school students across central Indiana are getting an early start on their future careers through fire cadet programs designed to introduce them to public service, leadership and life-saving skills. At the Liberty Township Fire Department in Hendricks County, a growing cadet program is helping students explore careers in fire, EMS, and other public safety fields while still in school.
One of those success stories is Paul Fields, who began fire training at the age of 15. โThe cadet program opened my eyes to a different kind of learning,โ Fields said.
That early experience paid off. Fresh out of high school, Fields landed a full-time position with the Oolitic Fire Department, just south of Bloomington. Despite being new to the job, he says the training gave him confidence well beyond his years.
โI feel like Iโve been doing this for 10 years already, but Iโm not even finished with my first year as a certified firefighter,โ Fields said.
Programs like Liberty Townshipโs are becoming more common across Indiana as departments look to connect young people with meaningful career paths. The Liberty Township program serves students from the Mill Creek School System, introducing them to hands-on training and real-world public service.
