7 Firefighters Earn Their Badges Tuesday

It's a long road to earn a spot and serve on the Menomonee Falls Fire Department, and on Tuesday seven fire fighters travelled that road and earned full membership with the department.

Before they earn their badge, every new member goes through a yearlong probationary period, which is a year filled with physical and mental training. On Tuesday, seven fire fighters celebrated that reaching that accomplishment with friends, family, and fellow fire fighters and police officers during a badge ceremony.

"Family members and fellow firefighters understand what these men have gone through over the past year," said MFFD Chief Jeffrey Hevey.

Family and relatives of recruits pinned the badges over their heart during the ceremony.

The following men earned their badges:

• Brandon Draves, Station #1
• Tyler Maechtle, Station #1
• Brian Murphy, Station #1
• Shane Sundquist, Station #1
• Ron Bernitt, Station #2
• Josh Diehl, Station #2
• Nortell Brown, Station #3

Hevey said municpal departments have been tasked to do more with less. However, he said members of the fire department will never be asked to do less - but to do more, and do it better. Though full membership is a milestone, all seven new members will continue to train, learn, and develop their skills as they progress in careers as firefighters.