MU FRTI Receives Additional State Funding for Fire Training Courses
April 10, 2012
The University of Missouri Fire and Rescue Training Institute (MU FRTI) was recently awarded additional funding through the Division of Fire Safety and the Fire Safety Education/Advisory Commission to deliver training courses. This funding will be utilized to deliver “no-cost” training to firefighters across the state. The training will better prepare firefighters to handle fires and other emergencies in their local communities.
During the FY12 budget planning process, various state fire organizations and agencies, in concert with elected officials, worked diligently to garner additional state fire training funds. They were successful in appropriating an additional $200,000 in the Division of Fire Safety’s (DFS) budget to be dedicated to training in FY12. At the beginning of the fiscal year, the state of the economy and the budget shortfalls caused budgeted general revenue funding for fire training to be withheld. Governor Jay Nixon released the $200,000 in general revenue for state firefighting training after the state experienced economic improvement in March. In response to this, MU FRTI submitted a comprehensive statewide proposal for delivering essential training courses to fire departments through their field extension training program. MU FRTI was awarded a significant portion of the available funding by the Fire Safety Education/Advisory Commission through DFS to support the Institute’s training initiative.
MU FRTI Director, David Hedrick, said, “The Institute is highly appreciative to have received this additional funding support. This funding resource will enable MU FRTI to provide over 60 additional courses that will help fire departments meet their training needs. MU FRTI looks forward to continuing their work with DFS and the Fire Safety Education/Advisory Commission to improve the fire service in the State of Missouri through education and training.”
MU FRTI is an Institute of the University of Missouri Extension and is charged with the responsibility of providing comprehensive continuing professional education training to Missouri’s fire service and emergency response personnel. Last year over 243,000 student instructional hours were delivered in training emergency first responders.
MU FRTI Announces the Appointment of a New Industrial and Specialized Programs Coordinator
February 27, 2012
Director David E. Hedrick of the University of Missouri's Fire & Rescue Training Institute (MU FRTI) has announced the appointment of Dean Martin to fill the position of Industrial and Specialized Programs Coordinator for the Institute. Mr. Martin is a resident of Columbia, Missouri. MU FRTI is a unit of Extension at the University and is charged with the responsibility for providing comprehensive continuing education training to Missouri's fire service and emergency response personnel. MU FRTI delivers approximately 240,000 student instructional hours of training each year to firefighters and emergency responders.
Mr. Martin has been an adjunct instructor for the Institute since 1998, and was MU FRTI's Instructor of the Year in 2009. He retired from the City of Columbia Fire Department July 5, 2011 after 21 years of service. He held the rank of Division Chief with the department and was responsible for overseeing the training division, fire marshals division, and the EMS program. Mr. Martin currently works with the Columbia Area Career Center on their public safety career program for high school students that include Fire and EMS education. Dean has an Associate's Degree in General Studies and a Bachelor's Degree in Fire Science. He is also a certified Paramedic and a certified Fire Investigator in Missouri.
Regarding Martin's appointment as the Industrial and Specialized Programs Coordinator, MU FRTI Director Hedrick said, "Dean has been a dedicated Adjunct Instructor for the Institute. He has a demonstrated history of instructional excellence, as well as a proven record of fire service experience. We look forward to Dean's continued work with the Institute in this new job position."
Coordinator Martin will officially begin the new position effective June 4, 2012. In the interim he will be working with the Institute part-time on specialized projects.
Dean Martin being awarded MU FRTI's Fire Service Instructor of the Year - 2009 |
Hedrick re-elected Vice President of NAFTD
October 18, 2011
David Hedrick, director of the MU Fire and Rescue Training Institute, was re-elected to another two-year term as vice president of North American Fire Training Directors (NAFTD) during the organization's annual meeting in September 2011. Director Hedrick has served as a member of the NAFTD Board since 2007.
The NAFTD is an international organization that promotes the common interests of providing a quality fire training and educational experience for firefighters. The membership is comprised of the Directors of the recognized fire service training system in each of the fifty states and each Canadian province and territory.
North American Fire Training Directors (NAFTD) Officers - (Left to right) President Eriks Gabliks (OR), Secretary John Cunningham (NS), Vice President David Hedrick (MO), Treasurer Randy Novak (IA). |
MU FRTI Names Fire Service Instructor of the Year
October 17, 2011
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri Extension Fire and Rescue Training Institute (MU FRTI) presented the 2010-11 Fire Service Instructor of the Year awards at the Institute's annual Instructor Conference on Oct. 15
This year's MU FRTI Instructor of the Year was Jon E. Trent, deputy chief with the Nixa Fire Protection District in Nixa, Mo. "Instructor Trent has a passion for providing the very best in fire service instruction and a strong belief in the need for competency-based training that will develop the new generations of people entering the fire service," said MU FRTI Director David Hedrick. Trent has been an adjunct instructor with the MU FRTI program since 1999.
Trent started his fire service career more than 20 years ago, serving as a volunteer firefighter before becoming a career firefighter with the Nixa Fire Protection District (NFPD) in the early 1990s.
Though he has been promoted through the ranks during his career, his main specialization has been as the training officer for NFPD. Early in his career, he completed the National Fire Academy Course Design and Training Program Management courses and obtained his Fire Service Instructor III certification.
Trent is married and has two children. In his spare time he is a volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America and American Heart Association and is an active instructor for the Missouri Department of Conservation Hunter Education program. Instructor Trent has taught a variety of programming for MU FRTI through its field extension program and the Institute's annual Winter Fire School and Summer Fire School.
MU FRTI also recognized the first and second runners-up for Instructor of the Year.
Second runner-up was Instructor Rusty Bradley, retired lieutenant from the Columbia Fire Department in Columbia, Mo.
First runner-up was Chief Michael Arnhart of the High Ridge Fire Protection District in High Ridge, Mo.
Director Hedrick acknowledged the important job that all fire service instructors perform. "Fire instructors have the responsibility of preparing the firefighter to competently perform skills and techniques necessary in saving lives and property of the citizens they serve," he said. "The potential impact that all the instructors can make through each class they deliver is incalculable. MU FRTI is proud of the excellence in fire service instruction provided by our faculty and their dedicated service with the Institute."
The conference and awards ceremony were held at the Resort at Port Arrowhead in Lake Ozark, Mo.
MU FRTI is charged with the responsibility of providing comprehensive continuing professional education to Missouri's fire service and emergency-response personnel. Last year, more than 243,000 student instructional hours were delivered in training emergency first responders. The Institute has a cadre of more than 200 adjunct instructors.
From left: State Fire Marshal Randy Cole; Kevin Zumalt, MU FRTI assistant director; and David Hedrick, director of MU FRTI. |
A Message From The Vice Provost's Office
February 9, 2011
In these difficult economic times, jobs are on everyone's mind. Fortunately, MU Extension is part of the solution to job growth and economic recovery in Missouri.
Every program area – agriculture and natural resources, community development, human environmental sciences, 4-H, business development and continuing education – contributes to job development and to making people and communities healthier. Community leaders reach out with confidence to MU Extension for expertise in developing local leaders, in advancing economic development plans and strategies, in creating new business opportunities, and in helping people make wise finance, food and lifestyle choices.
The 2010 MU Extension annual report highlights some of our programs that help create and sustain jobs, including:
- FastTrac NewVenture for those who want to start a business
- Pasture-based dairying, which has added 1,100 jobs to the state's economy
- 4-H aerospace camp and related science, engineering and technology activities, which are shifting 1,500 Missouri youth annually into science-related jobs
- Family financial education, which helped 11,250 wage-earners make better use of dollars earned through improved money management, saving and investing
- Urban workforce development projects, such as one in Springfield, which is partnering with local organizations to enhance the quality and quantity of health-care employees in the workforce.
This year's annual report also emphasizes programs delivered in the South Central Region, such as the Healthy Dent County Initiative, connecting children and adults with the food they eat through community gardens. In a cost-saving measure, this report is brought to you via technology at:
http://extension.missouri.edu/main/annualreport/2010/index.aspx.
Please take a moment to view our statewide annual report on the Web, and enjoy the embedded video clips. Be sure to share what you learn in this year's report with local stakeholders and friends.
Sincerely,
Michael D. Ouart
Vice Provoist and Director
University of Missouri Extension
