Enrollment open for Homeland Security program

Enrollment in the Octorara Area Homeland Security and Protective Service Academy is now available to all Chester County high school students.

The program offers students a chance to learn about the skills and knowledge it takes to be a police officer, firefighter, emergency medical technician, as well as learning other safety services. Students are able to receive certifications in Emergency Medical Services, Fire Protection and Law Enforcement, and Corrections and Security. The Homeland Security and Protective Service Academy is an approved PA Department of Education Career Program of Study.

The Academy is a halfday program for students in 10th, 11th, and 12th grade. In 10th grade the student will have a focus in firefighting, then EMT in 11th grade, and then half of 12th grade will be for law enforcement with the other half open for internships. A student may start later than 12th grade, but they will be unable to finish all of the training it takes to receive all of the certificates.

The academy will be running by the Octorara schedule and disciplinary guidelines. A student from another school district needs their school’s permission to attend the academy, and that school must provide transportation for that student.

Students will receive two hours of core training everyday, and then go back to school to continue their other classes.

Mark Barto, teacher and instructor for the academy, expects good grades and teamwork from his students. “It becomes part of your life and changes who you are as a person,” he said.

Students can obtain up to 20 different state and national credentials, and some of those credentials can give the student credits in college. Students who complete the academy will be trained first responders when they graduate high school.

Beau Crowding, Deputy Director for Fire Services, said that “volunteering is a dying field,” so this academy is very important in that it offers firefighters trained volunteers. For training, the academy has live burning buildings with fake fires, a drill tower, rope training, aerial apparatus training, and much more.

“It’s a family, like a closeknit group,” said Program Administrator Lisa McNamara, especially because it is the only program in Chester County like this.

Students who are interested in joining the academy should go to the Octorara school’s website with their parent/guardian and look through the application process.