Climbing up ropes with visions of protecting the country, senior Michael Best and sophomores Anthony Amalfitano and Matt Dooley are future firefighters in training. The boys have been apart of the Troy Fire Department’s Junior Explorer Program, a program aimed towards kids who want to pursue a career in public safety.

The boys shed light on the experiences they have had.

“It is really rewarding that we get to learn valuable firefighting skills as well as information. My dream is to do something for public safety,” Amalfitano said.

The boys attend meetings every few weeks and occasionally go to fire stations to train and work with Troy firefighters and learn various areas of the field, including medical procedures, search and rescue and working on cars.

“I want to go to Lake Superior State next year and get a degree in fire science and associate degree in paramedic technology and become a firefighter paramedic. I love that firefighting is like a brotherhood. It is less like coworkers and more like brothers,” Best said.

The program is designed to connect firefighters to the explorers and begin to build relationships.

“My biggest accomplishment happened last year when we had a woman fall at our showing of South Pacific.[Michael, Tony and I] happened to be the first person on scene so [we] helped the woman. I was awarded for it and I am very proud of that. My dream is to be a captain in Chicago. I love helping people and would love to do it for the rest of my life,” Dooley said.

They all agree that being an explorer has taught them life skills that they will use in future professions. The three friends all share a passion for learning and helping people and are proud to be explorers.

If interested in fire science or public safety and want to join the explorer program please contact any of the boys for more information.

Contact Information:

Anthony Amalfitano: [email protected]

Michael Best: [email protected]

Matt Dooley: [email protected]