Donation from VFW provides new training radios for Fire Service Technology program

Academics, Community, Students

Mar 3, 2023

Reporting by Richard Curtis - Photo by Brittany King

Fire Service students John Davidson and Jake Blackburn, Fire Service Lab Manager Drew Tenhundfeld, VFW Surgeon Ray Schaffer, VFW Sr. Vice Commander Colleen Wiley, VFW State Commander Jon Greene, VFW Chief of Staff Roy Tenhundfeld, Fire Service student Andrew Shannon, Dean of Health & Public Safety Jenna Beck, Fire Service student Artie Machado, Fire Service Program Chair Bill Mehbod — Fire Service student John Davidson (Marine Veteran), Fire Service student Jake Blackburn (Army Veteran), Fire Service Lab Manager Drew Tenhundfeld, VFW Surgeon Ray Schaffer, VFW Sr. Vice Commander Colleen Wiley, VFW State Commander Jon Greene, VFW Chief of Staff Roy Tenhundfeld, Fire Service student Andrew Shannon (Marine Veteran), Dean of Health & Public Safety Jenna Beck, Fire Service student Artie Machado (Marine Veteran), Fire Service Program Chair Bill Mehbod

Cincinnati State’s Fire Service Technology program received funding for 18 new training radios, when a check for $12,640 was presented by officials representing state and local members of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

The presentation took place on February 17 at the Fire Service program’s auxiliary training center in Winton Hills that houses fire trucks and other training equipment.

“As a first responder, your radio is your lifeline,” said Colleen Wiley, senior vice commander for the VFW Department of Ohio, who is also a retired Van Wert County Sheriff’s Deputy and U.S. Army Veteran.

“You practice as you work, and you practice a lot, so when it comes to an actual emergency situation, you will know what you need to say,” she added.

“We are very happy to be able to help these students. Part of our VFW charter is to put the funds we have back in our communities.”

Fire Service students will use the radios during training as they prepare for their Ohio Firefighter Certification.

“We appreciate the VFW’s support to enhance experiential education for our Fire Service students,” said Cincinnati State President Monica Posey.

Each year Cincinnati State graduates about 60 students from the certificate and associate degree programs in Fire Service Technology. Students in the program receive training at Clifton Campus as well as the auxiliary training center, and at the Cincinnati Fire Department’s Training Facility.

“The demand for our graduates is very high,” said Bill Mehbod, Fire Service Technology Program Chair. “We are hoping to expand the program to help meet the needs of our local fire departments.”