Twenty-two Fort Wayne firefighters-to-be were welcomed by Mayor Tom Henry and Fire Chief Eric Lahey on Monday morning.
Between bouts of completing paperwork and hearing about the city's benefit package, the members of the city's 92nd recruit class – 20 men and two women – stood at uniformed attention as the two city dignitaries entered a classroom at the Public Safety Academy at Ivy Tech's South Campus.
The 22 are the second class of recruits this year to begin formal training.
They will graduate Dec. 19 and join the city's current fire corps, which stands at 353 members.
The 91st class of 10 members graduated in June.
“Over the next 22 weeks, you're going to be mentally and physically challenged,” Lahey told the class, reminding them that city taxpayers were funding their education “so that you can save lives.”
Henry reiterated that theme.