Nine recruits were sworn in to the Bowling Green Fire Department on Friday.

The swearing-in ceremony took place upstairs in Bowling Green City Hall, followed by a pinning and certificate ceremony downstairs in the lobby.

Before the swearing-in ceremony, Deputy Chief Dustin Rockrohr leaned two rows up and adjusted the shirt collar of one of the recruits before Chief Greg Johnson took the podium.

Johnson said BGFD received about 200 applicants to become firefighters, but the nine recruits stood out above the rest.

“These guys were really the best of the best in the process,” Johnson said. “They had to excel in everything to get here.”

The recruits recently completed a 13-week training, totaling 400 hours, before graduating, according to BGFD Training Capt. Jason Sowders, who spoke at the podium after Johnson. Training consisted of 26 categories, including hazardous materials, ventilation and ladders.

Bowling Green Mayor Bruce Wilkerson, who swore in the nine men in front of a few BGFD personnel and a handful of family members, remarked on the high quality of BGFD as a fully accredited fire department.

Before giving the oath, Wilkerson asked one thing of the future firefighters.

“There’s one thing about it: You can’t giggle about the oath,” Wilkerson said, drawing smirks from the recruits.

The Kentucky oath of office, part of the state’s constitution, requires everyone taking the oath to swear that they have not fought a duel with a deadly weapon nor accepted or sent a challenge to fight a duel.

After Wilkerson, Commissioner Rick Williams and BGFD personnel shook hands with and congratulated each recruit, the group migrated downstairs for the pinning and certificate ceremony. Each new firefighter got his picture taken receiving the certificate from Johnson and then sported his “brass” on the left side of his shirt.

Johnson said it’s hard to choose new firefighters because of the great potential BGFD sees in applicants every year.

“We’re fortunate to have a large pool of very good candidates of people who’d like to be firefighters in the city of Bowling Green,” Johnson said after the pinning ceremony.

Eric Smith of Bowling Green said he started considering a career with the fire department about six years ago. Smith was in the U.S. Marine Corps and wanted something that would offer the camaraderie, challenge and physical fitness that the military did.

Smith said BGFD training helped him brush up on skills he learned in the military, but the training was still different.

“The trying-out process is pretty hard,” Smith said, remarking that the written test portion was the most challenging for him.

Chris Britton of Bowling Green said he checked BGFD’s website every day after he met the age requirement to become a firefighter – 21 – to see when they were taking applicants.

“I’ve always wanted to be in the fire service,” Britton said. Helping others and giving back to the community fueled Britton’s desire to be a firefighter.

Although Smith and Britton are done with training, they know hard work lies ahead. Being aware of new training techniques and updated technology are two important things both men said they wanted to stay on top of in their job.

“Things are constantly changing in our world,” Britton said.

“I think the biggest thing is never be complacent,” Smith said. Thinking that “your way is the only way” is bad for the individual firefighter, the department as a whole and the community.

Because BGFD gets about 200 applicants every year and typically selects about six or seven of those, Smith had something to say for those who aim for the title of firefighter.

“Don’t give up on it if that’s what you really want to do,” Smith said. “Even after you do get on, it’s not going to be easy, but it’s definitely going to be worth it.”

— Follow police and crime beat reporter Monica Spees on Twitter at Twitter.com/BGDNcrime or visit bgdailynews.com.