Village of Robbins Fire Department Uplifts Community with Cadet Program

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Both young men and women are encouraged to join the cost-free Village of Robbins Fire Department Cadet Program.
Both young men and women are encouraged to join the cost-free Village of Robbins Fire Department Cadet Program.

The Village of Robbins Fire Department has established an on-going cadet program tailor-made for its residential youth. Led by firemen, Anton Sykes and Lt. Steve Wilson, the program's curriculum allows youth to volunteer for several community "help" projects.

"Anything for the kids, I look at it as my way of giving back to the community, giving them a way out from the things that's going on around them," said Sykes, who in addition to being a fireman, has been an Illinois National Guard for the past six years.

Sykes told the Chicago Citizen Newspaper that he created the cadet program after Robbins Fire Department Chief, Charles B. Lloyd, Sr., approached him about developing a youth mentoring project. Sykes happily took on the assignment and the Robbins native even serves as the cadet program's Program Coordinator.

However Sykes has a lot of built-in help because the entire Robbins Fire Department will assist with the program, lending hands-on training and instruction for the students.

The current eight member roster of new cadets include Jasmarihae Ratliff, Dai Jerne' Slater, Dantzler Newell, Lawrence Mullins, Dai Treona Doty, Torriano Russell, Raymond Anderson, and Turon Windham all of whom are under 17-years-old. Ratliff, who is the Company Officer, told the Chicago Citizen Newspaper that the motto of the cadet program is, "Robbins Cadets, learning to put fires out the way they put work in."

The students hail from Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory, Kolmar School, Hillcrest High, Alan B. Shepard High School, Eisenhower High School, and Harold L. Richards High School.

In addition to participating in several extracurricular activities via the program, all of the young cadets are working towards a similar goal; going away to a college or university.

The cadet program meets three days a week, Tuesday and Thursday from 6pm - 9pm, and Saturdays from 8am - 2pm. Interested applicants must meet certain criteria in order to join the program including but not limited to the following:

*Must be a Village of Robbins, IL resident.

*Must be between the ages of 15 to 18.

*Must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA.

Both young men and women are encouraged to join the cost free program.

Parents, too, are encouraged to get involved by assisting with fund-raising and by offering essential support and encouragement to the participating youth.

"I love this program, I'm glad they took the time to mentor these kids. They really need it...some of the kids are into sports, [ROTC] and other things and can use these different outlets," said Lashawn Russell, a cadet parent.

The Robbins Fire Department Cadet Program is sponsoring a Stepper's Set fundraiser. It will be held on Friday, May 31 at the Robbins Elks Lodge located at 13600 S. Sawyer Ave., Robbins, Il at 8 pm. For additional information please call 708-385-8940.

By Lee Edwards

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