Junior Firefighter Program

(Cadet Program)

Challenging yourself while serving your community

The Brighton Area Fire Authority Junior Program is open to young men and women ages 16 through 18 years old with an interest in learning more about careers in the field of Fire, Prevention & Emergency Services.

The Junior program is a hands-on program that exposes participants to many career experiences, leadership opportunities, and community service activities. The primary goals of the program are to help young adults choose a career path within fire and emergency services and to challenge them to become responsible citizens of their communities and country.

Participants get to experience firsthand what it’s like to be a volunteer or full-time Firefighter through training and fifth rides during real emergencies.

Many Junior program participants become:

• Fire Fighters
• Emergency Technicians or Paramedics
• Inspectors

Through the program participants will develop strong leadership skills, new personal skills, and respect for firefighters.

Through the process junior firefighters will learn:

• Emergency call protocols
• Firefighting policies & procedures
• Team Building
• Proper Equipment Usage

Apply today and see where becoming a Junior can take you.

IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A FIRE CADET, PLEASE CONTACT US OR COMPLETE AN APPLICATION.

Brighton Area Fire Department
615 West Grand River
Brighton, MI 48116-2322
(810) 229-6640

Anne Campbell

Human Resources Director

810-229-6640
Email: acampbell@brightonareafire.com

HISTORY

During World War II, the young people of Brighton displayed an unprecedented movement of support to help their country win the war. Acting on insight, the department decided to form a junior fire department to try to harness some of this energy. When the post-war boom declined, though, so did the junior department and it disbanded in the late 1940’s.

With the dawn of a new decade, the department revived the junior department. This department’s purpose would be to allow people from the ages of 16-21 to assist in menial tasks related to the fire service. They would operate under the same directives and By-Laws set forth by the senior department. In 1951, the Brighton Junior Fire Department was reestablished and is now the oldest junior department in the State of Michigan.

In 1996, the juniors were restructured to only include people between the ages of 16-18. Recently, the junior department was renamed as the cadet program to better describe what it is these members do to serve their community.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
This program provides an excellent start for those looking at a career within the fire service or emergency medical systems field. Former cadets now work as career firefighters with the following fire departments: Brighton Area, Ann Arbor City, Sault Saint Marie, Bloomfield Township, Taylor, Ann Arbor Township, Melvindale, and more.

BENEFITS

• Free training that would cost $100’s at a community college
• Scholarships
• Emergency experience
• Team work
• Work with great people
• Serve your community
• Prepare for a career

• Live in the City of Brighton, Brighton Township, Genoa Township, or within five miles of a BAFD fire station
• Be between the age of 16-18
• Maintain a “C” average or better in all classes
• Physically fit
• Good driving record
• Commit to at least eight hours of time per week