“Never settle.” This was the motto that drove Nick Anderson, Ashley Jennings, and Alex Schnetz every day during their eleven week training to become Rocklin’s newest Firefighters.

Through early morning lectures, grueling workouts, and endless hours of pulling hose and throwing ladders, they strove to gain confidence and skills, to better themselves mentally and physically, and most importantly, to never settle.

Anderson, Jennings, and Schnetz training culminated with a special socially-distanced badge pinning ceremony on Dec. 4 to honor their accomplishments and officially welcome them as Rocklin Firefighters.

“I am always impressed with this department, because when most people run away from a dangerous situation, you run towards it,” said City Councilmember Ken Broadway in a speech during the ceremony. “You help people during the most challenging times in their lives and you do so in a way that provides comfort and support, and looking in front of me today, I can clearly see that we selected the right people.”

Academy Training Supervisor Acting Captain Alton Tate said the new men and woman exemplify the Rocklin Fire Department’s values of hard work, humility, and job excellence. Tate is confident their extensive training with both Roseville and Rocklin’s fire academies taught them the skills necessary to endure physically and mentally exhausting tasks, and prepared them for the challenges of real-world calls.

As Rocklin’s first full-time female firefighter, Ashley Jennings’ hiring marks an especially significant moment in Rocklin Fire history.

“I take being Rocklin’s first female firefighter as an incredible opportunity and honor, but the job is the same even though I’m a different gender,” said Jennings. “I will do everything I can to be the strongest, kindest, and best firefighter, regardless of gender, and hopefully other young women will see that and know that it is attainable.”

For Anderson, joining Rocklin Fire is realization of a goal he set nearly 10 years ago.

“When I went to my first fire class, I immediately fell in love with it and fell in love with the culture and family atmosphere,” said Anderson. “I look forward to keep building this family, keep training, and keep building my skill set and improving myself so I can better the community.”

The three new firefighters will continue to learn the Rocklin way and are already serving on engines throughout the city, helping to make Rocklin the safe place residents know and love.