U.S.
Army Sgt. Daniel Ligarzewski When he was 19, Sgt. Daniel Ligarzewski, an Army Reserve soldier, wanted desperately to become a New York City fireman. Ligarzewski grew up in East Rockaway, Long Island, with his extended family. Upon graduation from high school, he was unsure what career field he wanted to pursue. Working part-time jobs, his brother suggested he take the fireman exam. “My older brother is a fireman, and when I turned 19 he told me I should take the first part of the fireman test. That’s how it all started,” Ligarzewski said. After completing the written examination, he then proceeded to take the physical exam. Ligarzewski passed both tests and was given a “list” number. The list number is given to all the men and women who successfully pass the first two exams. Ligarzewski then waited patiently for his number to be called. However, in March 2001, he grew anxious and enlisted in the Army Reserve. “I joined the military for a challenge and to serve my country,” he said. “I knew it took a while for the fireman process to become complete, so I joined the Army.” Returning to New York after completing basic training and advanced individual training to become a 42L (administrative specialist), Ligarzewski was assigned to the 301st Area Support Group from Fort Totten, N.Y. In May 2003, his number was called. After years of waiting, he was finally given the chance to become a fireman. First, he had to complete three more tests including a background check and two separate psychological tests before being accepted to the New York City Fire Academy. At 23, Ligarzewski attended the fire academy, where he went through extensive firefighter training. He said the academy’s 17 classes, which include fire investigators’ course, fire suppression and control, and confined-space rescue, reminded him of basic training. “Every day we conducted physical training,” he said. “We trained hands on, and we all worked together to complete the tasks. And when you’ve made it this far, no one is willing to give up.” Upon completion at the academy, Ligarzewski was assigned to Ladder 18 in lower east side Manhattan. He began serving as a fireman, and found a new type of excitement. Ligarzewski said he knows he’s capable of doing whatever must be done to save a life when he is running into an apartment with other firemen and performing search and rescue. “I know I am doing something the average person cannot or will not do,” he said. “Where everyone’s running away from the situation, I am running toward it. It’s an incredible feeling.” With 15 months into his new career, he was mobilized. Ligarzewski deployed with the 301st in September 2004 to Iraq. Ligarzewski’s mission in Iraq is force protection. He is the noncommissioned officer in charge of security for the KBR truck lanes. He has also volunteered to be a door gunner for an aviation unit. When he returns to New York, he plans on taking a couple of months off to relax and possibly attend college. He said he plans on going right back to the job he really loves, being a New York City firefighter. Sent in by Heather read archived articles | submit an article for review
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
