On Sunday, September 29, 2024, the County of Los Angeles Fire Department’s (LACoFD) Lifeguard Division held a Junior Lifeguard Cadet Program graduation ceremony at the Department of Beaches and Harbors Boat House at Burton Chase Park in Marina del Rey.
During the ceremony, LACoFD Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone commended all 58 cadets for successfully completing the Cadet Program.
In honor of their accomplishments, each cadet received a certificate of completion and an official Junior Lifeguard Cadet patch from LACoFD Chief Marrone, Assistant Lifeguard Chief Adam Uehara, Marine Battalion Chief Olivier O’Connell, Board of Supervisors Second District Senior Justice Deputy Sarah Clifton, and the entire training cadre.
This advanced program met curriculum requirements including, but not limited to, cardiopulmonary-resuscitation certification, a 500-meter ocean swim in under 10 minutes, completing a task book, and ocean-lifeguard training.
As part of the Junior Lifeguard Cadet Program, cadets also completed 12 hours of intern tower days with professional LACoFD ocean lifeguards at various Los Angeles County beaches shadowing ocean rescues, administering first aid, and experiencing lifeguard career demands firsthand.
Cadets also participated and completed the 20-hour Hybrid Community Emergency Response Team training program.
Over 120 Junior Lifeguard Cadet graduates have successfully pursued ocean lifeguard careers with the LACoFD and other agencies.
Junior Lifeguard Cadet Instructor Cadre
• Lifeguard Captain Daniel Truax – Junior Lifeguard Program Captain
• Ocean Lifeguard Specialist Cole McClung – Junior Lifeguard Program Administrator
• Ocean Lifeguard Coral Kemp – Cadet Program Coordinator
• Ocean Lifeguard Kira Makuta – Junior Lifeguard Program Administrative Coordinator
• Ocean Lifeguard Davis Pratt – Junior Lifeguard Program Administrative Coordinator
• Ocean Lifeguard Nathaniel Griffith – Junior Lifeguard Program Logistics Coordinator
• Ocean Lifeguard Quincy Lee – Junior Lifeguard Program Logistics Coordinator
• Ocean Lifeguard Charles McDaniel – Junior Lifeguard Program Instructor and Guest Speaker
• Ocean Lifeguard Kiana Hamada – Junior Lifeguard Program Instructor and Award Presenter
• Ocean Lifeguard Dylan Kenney – Junior Lifeguard Program Instructor and Award Presenter
