Montgomery — Fourteen recruits completed a 24-week training program and were sworn in as firefighters for Montgomery Fire Rescue during the Class 2025 A graduation ceremony. Mayor Steven L. Reed and Judge Milton J. Westry Sr. participated in the ceremony, which included awards, the firefighter prayer and a class address.

Mayor Steven L. Reed, who the ceremony emcee said became Montgomery’s mayor on Nov. 12, 2019 and was elected to a second term on Aug. 22, 2023, praised the graduates and thanked interim Fire Chief Collier and the department’s instructors for their work. "It is an honor, to join you for this special occasion, the graduation of Montgomery Fire Rescue Class 2025 A," Reed said. He told graduates their training prepared them "for the heart, for the chaos, and for the pressure," and urged them to "serve with integrity. Stand firm under pressure."

The oath of office was administered by Judge Milton J. Westry Sr. Judge Westry led the recruits through the standard oath, which references support for the constitutions of the United States and the State of Alabama and obedience to the laws and ordinances of the City of Montgomery. The emcee noted that, following the swearing, the graduates recited the firefighter prayer and the department’s mission statement.

The ceremony included presentation of achievement awards. The top EMT award for Class 2025 A was presented to Caden A. Bowden. The top suppression award was announced as William C. Reeds in the award presentation; earlier in the program a name listed among the graduates appears as William C. Reeves, an inconsistency in the transcript (see clarifying details). The fire chief’s top recruit leadership award (the Robert W. Greer leadership award) was presented to Mathias J. Smith. Other graduates named during the certificate presentation included Bridal D. Goodman, Jacob W. Heath, Bridal A. Hurley, Andrew S. Martin, Nasir A. Mohammed, Kyle W. Nix, Dylan S. Sexton, Robert C. Sharp, Ronald M. Thomas, Emmanuel Tiaku, Andrew S. White and William C. Reeds/Reeves as noted above.

A class representative addressed the audience, thanking family and training staff and highlighting the academy’s emphasis on "pride, teamwork, and leadership." The speaker described the training as mentally and physically demanding and urged classmates to continue training and to put others before themselves.

Interim Fire Chief Collier was singled out by Mayor Reed for steady leadership during the department’s interim period. The emcee also asked other department leaders and local officials to join the stage for the certificate presentation, listing Police Chief Grayboys, Chief of Operations Gaunt and Chief Executive Officer Milam among those invited.

The ceremony closed with a group photograph and final remarks urging the new firefighters to keep training and to honor those who trained them. No legislative or budgetary actions were taken during the event; it was a departmental graduation and oath ceremony.