After the Awards Ceremony
The Seal on the Training Tower
In front of the KCFD Fire Academy
Tiller Truck Tractor
Tiller Cab
From the South
To the West
Toward the NW
And Below the Crown Plaza
Chief Walker and Brandon's Family
Dragging Rescue Randy in the CPAT
Equipment Carry
The CPAT begins with the Stair Climb
Finishing up the Axe Raise
Figure 8 on a Bight in 6 secs. 
The Confined Space Crawl
KCFD Academy From the Structural Collapse Training Area
The Ladder and Pike Pole Push - Pull events
Engine Co. and 6 Story Tower and Burn Building
Briefing and CPAT walk Through
Let the Written Test Begin
The Welcome signs outside Bartle Hall and the Techspo
The street is becoming full of the more than 16,000 atendees
Where to begin? This has been a very interesting year with Skills USA. Attending the NC Career and Technical Education Conference last summer to learn all that could be learned about Skills USA, Starting a new Chapter, attending the Camp Dixie Fall Leadership Seminar, entering 3 recruits for the Regional and State Competitions, being asked to serve as the State Chairperson (Coordinator) for the State Firefighting Competition, having recruits place 2nd, 6th, and 7th in the state contest, getting the call to have Brandon Blackwelder represent North Carolina at the National Conference, Training with Brandon at Concord Fire and Life Safety Station 3 in the CPAT, securing funds to make all this happen, and finally - Flying out to Kansas City after just returning from the Southeastern I-Chief's Conference in Montgomery, Alabama the night before and settling in for the week long conference and competition.In the National Competition Brandon was one of 36 contestants including 25 High School and 11 Post Secondary or College contestants. Brandon received maximum points for the CPAT, Donning of Structural Turnout Gear, Ropes and Knots, and had a great CPAT time of 8:52 mins. Overall Brandon placed 19th out of the 25 High School competitors with a score of 91.80%. The areas that kept him out of the medals was the Written Test and the Interview. We will know what we will need to work on for next year with him and all of our other recruits. On the way home from the State Competition in April the goal was set to have at least the top 5 places in NC on the stage next year and that means a repeat to the Nationals as well.
The written Test was held in Bartle Hall at the main Skills USA conference site on Tuesday morning. On Tuesday after the written Test, Chief Barlow and Brandon drove the 140 miles to Joplin, MO to survey and document the Tornado damage. (Next Blog Entry) The other portions of the competition were held at the Kansas City, MO Fire Academy in North Kansas City on Deramus Road beginning on Wednesday morning.
The Training Division of the Kansas City Fire-Rescue Department could not have been more professional and accomodating. The stations for the Turnout Gear donning, Rope and Knot skills, and Interviews were set up, numbers were drawn to determine the order of testing and because Brandon's Mother, Brother, and Grandfather were flying in to see the event, Brandon was permitted to be the last candidate to complete his CPAT.
When it was realized that his family would be arriving later than expected due to delayed flights, Chief Tommy Walker - Chief of Training, arranged for a Fire Department car to pick the family up at the airport and bring them directly to the Fire Academy and got a member of the Fire Department media staff to videotape Brandon's CPAT for him. Brandon's family was able to see him run his CPAT and became good friends with the members of the Training Division especially Chief Tommy Walker. Chief Walker invited Brandon and the family to return on Friday and drive the rear of the 100' Tiller Truck. You will be able to see in the photos just how wonderful these fine professionals are.
When it was realized that his family would be arriving later than expected due to delayed flights, Chief Tommy Walker - Chief of Training, arranged for a Fire Department car to pick the family up at the airport and bring them directly to the Fire Academy and got a member of the Fire Department media staff to videotape Brandon's CPAT for him. Brandon's family was able to see him run his CPAT and became good friends with the members of the Training Division especially Chief Tommy Walker. Chief Walker invited Brandon and the family to return on Friday and drive the rear of the 100' Tiller Truck. You will be able to see in the photos just how wonderful these fine professionals are.
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