Edina Fire Department Graduates First Cadet from New Training Program
Nick Febs became the first firefighter to complete Edina's new fire cadet program, a pilot initiative designed to address staffing shortages by training promising candidates who lack full certifications.
The Edina Fire Department celebrated a milestone on November 13 when Nick Febs received his badge as a full paramedic-firefighter, marking the successful completion of the city's first fire cadet program.
The cadet program was created to help the department compete for qualified emergency services personnel in an increasingly tight labor market. Assistant Chief Sean White, an 18-year veteran of the department, explained that while the ideal hire would have all required certifications and experience, that's not always possible. "There's an increase in request demand expectations out of employees," White said. "That pool that used to be the perfect size to be able to draw from is now approximately the same size, but more people want some of those personnel."
Under the program, candidates with relevant experience but incomplete certifications can be hired and trained through a structured pathway that includes a three-week academy at the South Metro Training Facility, rotation through multiple crews, and on-shift mentorship. Febs, who previously worked as a firefighter in Los Angeles County, completed hands-on training including fire attack simulations and horizontal standpipe operations before earning his Firefighter 2 certification.
White emphasized that the program allows the department to prioritize character over credentials. "We're looking for great people who fit with our values systems and can go out and do the work," he said. "We can teach them the technicalities and the specifics. It's much harder to train somebody to have great morals, ethics, relationships, interaction, and public support."
The assistant chief said he envisions the cadet program as a long-term strategy to develop talent from within the community. Febs reflected on his journey at the badging ceremony: "It's been a long journey to get to this point, but all the hard work, dedication, the sleepless nights have gotten us to this point where I can now officially call myself a firefighter paramedic."
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Notable Quotes (6)
There's an increase in request demand expectations out of employees because of that. That pool that used to be uh the perfect size to be able to draw from is now approximately the same size, but more people want uh some of those personnel.
The cadet program is something that we have been looking at in the past. We've been discussing and then Nick came along. Nick was a perfect candidate for this process because he had had some good experience. He had most of the certifications... Our ideal situation is we go out and we find somebody with all the certifications, lensure, training, experience. But there's always going to be the reality that we're not going to be able to get that every time we want to hire somebody. So there's going to be tears as we go along. And that cadet process is going to give us the most valuable and utilizable pathway to get where we need to go.
I think the benefit of staying with the uh cadet program is what allows us to do is focus on the people instead of just the boxes that need to be checked. We're looking for great people who fit with our values systems and can go out and do the work. We can teach them to technicalities and the specifics. It's much harder to to train somebody to have great morals, ethics, relationships, uh interaction, and public support.
Me as a cadet, I would be in the back of the engine, fully geared up in turnouts. From there, we have an apartment bundle, it's called, goes on our back. It's all dry hose. We bring that up through the window through the ladder.
Really when I think about this program, uh my vision for the long term is really about building out uh an opportunity to grow people within the community, find people who share our values, professionalism, and passion for the work, maybe even if they don't have the education and technical background.
So, it's been a long journey to get to this point, but all the hard work, dedication, the sleepless nights have gotten us to this point where I can now officially call myself a firefighter paramedic.
Ordinances & Resolutions (2)
Formal program established by Edina Fire Department to recruit and train personnel who possess relevant experience but lack specific certifications. Includes three-week academy, multi-crew rotation, and structured on-shift mentorship.
Specific certification requirement completed by Nick Febs as part of the cadet program to meet Edina Fire Department standards.
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Other Topics from This Document
EMS and Firefighting Training Standards
Personnel Recruitment and Retention Challenges
Career Development and Badging Ceremony
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