MACON, Ga. — Cue the pomp and circumstance.
A group of 15 rookie firefighters graduated at Central Georgia Technical College on July 2, marking the next step on their path to serving the community as firefighters.
"Its a great group of guys," Nicholas Moffett - one of the 15 newly-graduated firefighters - said.
Moffett will report to station 10, which serves as the Macon-Bibb Fire Department headquarters. He said there's a sense of pride that comes with serving on the frontlines of the town he was born and raised in.
"It's great to give back, and I've been in Macon all my life," Moffett said. "So just being able to do more and help out with the city is great."
Now after 12 weeks of nonstop training, he and the others are classified as class one firefighters. This means they're trained to respond to fires and medical emergencies.
The new firefighter said the milestone has been a long time coming.
"It's what I've wanted for a while," Moffett said. "I tried a little while ago but I couldn't do it and now that I can do it it's a great calling."
A few years ago, his father and Macon-Bibb County manager, Keith Moffett, answered the call to work in public service. He is the former director of Macon-Bibb County's Emergency-911 center. Keith said he's excited to work with his son.
Originally, the county had an anti-nepotism policy.
"As long as you don't report to that person, you are now able to work for Macon-Bibb County because we have great people in our families who need jobs and we have job opportunities for them," Keith said.
The county manager said he's not only proud of his son, but the entire unit.
"As I watched him over this training, he would come home and talk about his fellow firefighter recruits and I felt like I got to know them through him and so I look forward to watching them grow in their careers," Keith said.
Family and friends were allowed to join their graduate on stage during the pinning ceremony. Moffett got to share the stage with his father. As a father himself, Moffett was pinned by his daughter.
He said it will be a moment he will forever cherish.
"I'm grateful there all here. Coming home, telling them about my days. Just cheering me on knowing I could really do it. I really appreciate it and look forward to making them proud," Moffett said.