KINGSLAND, Ga. — In Camden County, it's back-to-school week for kids and teachers. But, it's already graduation day for the county's newest firefighters.
Instead of graduation caps, firemen will put on their helmets as they walk across the stage after finishing firefighting school.
A school that’s seeing a drop of enrollment across the country.
Over the past 10 years, the National Fire Protection Association has seen staffing levels in most departments flatline or decrease.
The number of firefighters under 30 years old is the lowest it's ever been, at 23%.
The Georgia graduating class is only made up of nine firefighters. Although the group is small, training Captain James Maar explains how they are all committed to the call to serve.
"I got really blessed for me to have nine good guys that from day one," Maar told First Coast News. "Normally, week I can cut at least one or two, but these all nine guys are very solid group of guys, probably one of the best whole group of guys that I've had the pleasure of working with."
One of them, Chris Patterson, is becoming a first responder for the job stability and his willingness to help others during the worst days of their lives, as he hopes more people will answer to the call not only countywide, but across the country.
“They have to eliminate, I guess the doubts and the negative thoughts about it when it comes to personally because some people may be thinking that they're strong enough, they're not fast enough, they're not big enough, smart enough, you know, all those type of things," Patterson said. "But, this is actually one career that none of that matters."
If you’re interested in seeing the firemen's graduation or hearing more about their 10-week fire school, graduation will be held Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Camden County High School Fine Arts auditorium.