National Award Won by 2009 Graduate
Robert Jones is now the National Champion in the United States for the 2009 SkillsUSA National Student Leadership Conference, Secondary (High School) Division Firefighting contest, held in Kansas City last week.
July 03, 2009 — He finished with the highest written score, and he aced the skills testing and the interview. His composite score was a 98.20 percent.
He posted the highest score among all competitors including the post-secondary students. The winner in the post-secondary competition posted a composite score of 98.1 percent. All competitors took the same test. The competition included state champions from 35 states.
He completed a 50 question SkillsUSA leadership test, a comprehensive 75 question firefighter basic knowledge and operations test, an oral interview, and a firefighting skills test. The firefighting skills test included ropes, knots, and hitches, donning personal protective equipment, and an eight part Candidate's Physical Ability Test (CPAT).
The CPAT is the industry entry standard physical test comprised of an endurance test, raising a ladder, rescue skills, forcible entry skills, fire hose drag, 60 pound tool carry, 180 pound dummy drag, search and rescue maze, and salvage and ventilation skills.
His prizes included a Cairns Firefighter helmet, several fire and rescue tools as well as firefighting industry clothing from Carhart Corporation.
