Cadet Program
PFPD Cadet Program
The PFPD Cadet Program gives young adults between the ages of 16 and 21 a firsthand look at what it takes to be a firefighter/paramedic. Cadets train alongside career personnel, gain real ride time on apparatus, and build the foundation for a fire service career — all while still in high school or college.
The program is free to join for residents of the Plainfield Fire Protection District. Whether you're exploring the fire service as a career or looking for a challenging, hands-on experience, the Cadet Program is where it starts.
Requirements & benefits
Requirements
- Ages 16 – 21
- Plainfield Fire Protection District resident
- Attend a minimum of 12 trainings per year
- Minimum ride time per month
Benefits
- Train with career firefighter/paramedics in real station environments
- 4 days of training at IFSI Cadet College
- Sponsorship for Basic Operations Fire Academy (BOF)
- Sponsorship for Paramedic School
Pathway to becoming a firefighter
The road from interested student to career firefighter/paramedic follows a clear sequence. Each step builds on the last. Start planning early — work with your high school or college advisor to build an educational plan around this timeline.
Gain Experience
Join a cadet or explorer program to get familiar with fire service operations and earn ride time. Work part-time as an EMT-B or find an intern program while in the fire academy.
Start hereGraduate High School
A high school diploma or GED is required. Create an educational and career plan with your college advisor while finishing school.
PrerequisiteEMT-B Certification
Enroll in an EMT-Basic program. This is the recommended first step — EMS calls far outnumber fire calls, and districts in this region require firefighters to work on the ambulance.
1 college semesterBasic Operations Fire Academy
The BOF Academy is a paramilitary-style entry-level course that teaches the foundational skills of firefighting. It is not all-encompassing — you'll continue learning throughout your career.
1 college semesterCPAT & Ladder Climb
Complete and become certified in the Candidate Physical Ability Test — a timed physical obstacle course required by most career departments as a pre-requisite to test.
CertificationParamedic School
Most full-time career departments in Illinois require firefighters to also be paramedics (EMT-P). This is the final educational step before entering the hiring process.
12 monthsBecoming a firefighter is hard — it's supposed to be. This is a vocation that demands the best. People succeed in the fire service because they worked for it. The Cadet Program helps you start that work early.
Types of fire service agencies
In Illinois, fire agencies are categorized as either "fire departments" (a department within a municipality) or "fire protection districts" (an independent unit of government with its own taxing authority). Both provide the same services. Here's how staffing models differ:
Volunteer
Members serve without regular pay. Most volunteer departments have specific requirements for training attendance, meeting participation, and emergency response. This is how most departments in Illinois and across the nation are staffed.
Paid-on-Call (POC)
Similar to volunteer departments, but members are paid a wage — either hourly or per-call — when they respond to emergencies. Support functions like training and community events are typically unpaid.
Part-Time
Part-time firefighters work scheduled shifts in the station and perform all aspects of the job — training, fire prevention, maintenance, and emergency response. They are paid hourly for their scheduled time.
Full-Time / Career
Career firefighters are hired through a competitive testing process (written exams, physical ability tests, interviews) and placed on an eligibility list ranked by score. When an opening occurs, candidates are selected from the list. Most testing cycles run every two years.
Contract
Some departments staff positions through a contract company. You'd work in the department and wear their uniform, but your paycheck comes from the contract organization. Many firefighters start their careers this way before being hired full-time.
Combination
A combination department uses any mix of the staffing models above — for example, full-time career staff supplemented by part-time or POC members.
Interested? Let's talk.
Cadet Program Contact
To learn more about the PFPD Cadet Program, ask questions, or start the application process, contact:
Brett Krasuski — Cadet Program Coordinator
(815) 436-5335 — PFPD Headquarters