San Bernardino County Fire Protection District - On-the-Job Training
Recruits train at county facilities like the Richard Sewell Training Center or partnered sites (such as fire stations). The program combines physical conditioning, classroom academics, skills drills, and live-fire/hands-on simulations to prepare them for fire suppression, rescue, EMS (as paramedics), and all-risk operations. Successful completion can lead to being hired as a Firefighter-Paramedic with SBCoFPD.
As a San Bernardino County Firefighter Paramedic Recruit in the Tower academy, the recruit’s primary job duties consist of completing an intensive, structured training program designed to develop both firefighting and advanced life support skills. The recruit engages in daily rigorous physical conditioning, classroom instruction on fire behavior, department policies, building codes, and emergency medical protocols, and repetitive hands-on drills. These include hose evolutions, ladder raises and carries, live-fire operations inside burn props (advancing attack lines through smoke and heat, conducting victim searches, performing ventilation and forcible entry), Rapid Intervention Crew Operations (RICO), SCBA emergencies, self-rescue techniques, apparatus operations, wildland firefighting preparation, auto extrication, and confined space rescue. Throughout the academy, the recruit must also integrate paramedic-level patient care training while meeting strict performance standards, passing certifications, and demonstrating teamwork and professionalism to successfully graduate and promote to the rank of Firefighter-Paramedic.
68W - Combat Medic Specialist, 18D - Special Forces Medical Sergeant, 300-ASI3P - Combat Paramedic Program, 67J - Aeromedical Evacuation Officer, 4N0X1 - Aerospace Medical Service, HM-0000 - Hospital Corpsman, HS - Health Services Technician
Pathway 1: After successful completion of the Tower the recruit will earn a California State Fire Marshall Firefighter I certificate. To be eligible for employment with San Bernardino County Fire Protection District the successful Tower recruit must also posses a California Paramedic License or National Registered Paramedic Certification in current and good standing. Pathway 2: The Skillbridge mentee will recieve on the job training at a station level and be provided with specific California State Fire Marshal Certificates of completeion for specified provided training.
Primary training site will be the Richard Sewell Training Center located at 2824 W St. San Bernardino, Ca 92408. With some additional off site training to accommodate certification missions.
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Interview prep for this program▸
- ▸ "How many of your past SkillBridge interns received full-time offers?" — a serious program knows the number.
- ▸ "Who will my day-to-day mentor be, and what does week one look like?"
- ▸ "The listing says 121 - 150 days — can that flex to my approved window if my command shortens it?"
- ▸ "Is relocation expected for a full-time offer, or can I convert where I am?"
- ▸ "You list 68W, 18D, 300 — what did interns from those specialties end up doing here?"
- ▸ Confirm the eligibility notes above — ask exactly what they need from you and when.
- ✓ Your projected start window and separation date (from your profile)
- ✓ Your command's approval status — even "packet drafted" signals you're serious
- ✓ Your civilian-translated resume bullets (generate them here)
- ✓ A written training-plan ask — you'll need it for your packet anyway