Since October of 1960, the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company Cadet Program has provided the opportunity for young adults between the ages of fourteen and eighteen to serve their community, build lifelong friendships, and learn leadership skills by being part of the fire service. Today, the Cadet Program is made up of twenty four members, all of whom reside in the Ocean City Fire Department’s response area, and is led by Cadet Captain Seth Goggin. A senior, at Stephen Decatur High School, Goggin also attends the Worcester Technical High School’s Fire-Rescue program. Recently, he travelled to the Anne Arundel County Fire Training Center to compete against other Fire-Rescue students from across the state as part of the Skills USA Firefighter Challenge Program, and took first place. The competition consists of several events that test the student’s knowledge and practical skills in their trade. Beginning with a twenty question written test on the principals of firefighting and the science of fire, the competition also includes practical events in donning and doffing personal protective equipment, the use and maintenance of breathing apparatus, effective ladder use, knot tying, and hose line operations and fire streams. Goggin’s outstanding performance at the recent state-level competition has earned him a place at the Skills USA National Competition in Kansas City, Missouri in June, where he will be the sole representative of the State of Maryland. Goggin has been a member of the Cadet Program in Ocean City since the age of fourteen, and will be applying for full membership in the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company in June of this year. During his time in the program, Goggin has served as the President, Vice President, a member of the Board of Directors, and was appointed the sole Captain of the program by the panel of instructors that oversee it. After graduating high school, Goggin states that he plans to attend Wor-Wic Community College’s Paramedic Program in the Fall of 2011 and hopes to make a career as a Firefighter-Paramedic with the Ocean City Fire Department, or as a Flight Paramedic with the Maryland State Police. He did state, no matter where his career takes him, he will always be an Ocean City Volunteer Firefighter.