Nashville swears in 53 recruits from Battalion 92 at graduation ceremony

Fifty-three recruits were sworn in as members of the Nashville Fire Department at a graduation ceremony held at Madison Church of Christ, where department leaders and the mayor praised the new firefighters’ training and community service.

Lisa Spencer, chief meteorologist at WSMV 4 and the event’s master of ceremonies, opened the program and framed the graduates’ training as a test of character. "Storms reveal character," Spencer said, urging the crowd to celebrate the class’s dedication and sacrifices.

Moses Jeffries, the department’s chief of training, recognized more than 400 combined years of service among instructors and thanked partner agencies, including the Metro Nashville Police Department, for their role in the recruits’ training. Jeffries said the class’s training included emergency shelter operations during an ice storm in January, which he described as "the most important part" of their preparation.

Jeffries presented class awards and performance metrics: valedictorian Paul Mitchell earned a combined EMT-and-fire GPA of 96.9; Lamantasia Blair received the physical transformation award; and Damon Hodge received the leadership award. Jeffries also said the recruits lost a collective 533 pounds and gained 115 pounds of lean muscle during the six-month program, figures the department tracked in partnership with the YMCA.

Director Chief William Swan congratulated the graduates and urged them to carry their training into service. "The badge you are about to pin on your chest is not just a license to fight fire. It is a promise to your neighbors," Swan said.

Mayor Freddie O'Connell administered the firefighters' oath, asking recruits to pledge to support the U.S. Constitution and to execute their duties faithfully for Nashville and Davidson County. O'Connell told the class the city continues to invest in public-safety resources: "We funded a new ladder company in South Nashville last year," he said, and noted funding for heavy fleet purchases, a new headquarters and multiple fire stations in the pipeline.

Program staff read the graduates' names as each recruit came forward for a certificate. The ceremony also recognized three officers from the Metro Nashville Police Department who completed the EMT portion of the course: Officer Dalton Crum, Officer Brandon Simpkins and Officer Benjamin Tasto.

Chaplain DeShield offered a benediction to close the ceremony. Event organizers encouraged attendees to visit nashville.gov for program information.

The recruits are expected to begin assigned duties soon; Jeffries said their operational work could begin "as early as next week."