Hornet Fire Training donates guidon holder in memory of J Muller to Fire Officer Academy

October 16, 2023

The Officers Section hosted its third Fire Officer Academy: The Company Officer in early October. The first-ever graduating class of the program, 22-01, joined forces shortly after their graduation and decided to give back to the program that reignited their passion for the job and gave them an extended family. The guidon pole that they gifted is stunning and carries with it the significance of alumni remaining active in the ever-growing alumni network.

Emergency services and the military have many similar themes intertwined in their cultures. The Fire Officer Academy has roots in the military, specifically the Noncommissioned Officer Academy (NCO). The NCO Academy is the second level of Enlisted Professional Military Education and prepares those enlisted with managing and leading units. The design and intentionality of the FOA draws inspiration from the NCOA. The tradition of a guidon also stems from the military.

The guidon pole donated by 22-01 follows each Fire Officer Academy class from place to place throughout the week. On the pole is the actual guidon, a flag that companies carry to identify their unit. Each class has had a guidon that details their graduating year and class number. Each classmate signs the guidon at the end of the week, and this is gifted to the recipient of the David Lee Crenshaw Leadership Award. The guidon is important to the culture of the Fire Officer Academy.

Jonah Smith, Battalion Chief at Charlotte Fire and man behind Hornet Fire Training, is an integral piece of the Fire Officer Academy puzzle. Chief Smith has taught for the Association on numerous occasions, and the South Carolina fire services loves his Hand in Hand Enjin course. The Hornet Fire Training cadre has been part of the Fire Officer Academy since its first program, bonding with the students and other instructors.

Jonah and his cadre taught J Muller, graduate of FOA 23-01. J was killed in the line of duty on May 26, 2023, just a few short months after his time in the Fire Officer Academy. To attempt to put into words the impact J’s life and legacy have had on the program is futile; there are just simply not enough catchy phrases and no words meaningful enough to do it justice. Losing J not only impacted his fellow FOA 23-01 classmates, but the instructors he met throughout the journey, too.

When it was time for FOA 23-02 to do engine work, the Hornet Fire cadre donated a guidon holder in memory of James “J” Michael Muller, FOA 23-01.

Jonah shared on social media about the donation, stating, “The last time this class was offered, a man named James Michael Muller was in class. As many know, he was killed in the Line of Duty a few short months later…Through the generosity of Elkhart Brass and Jamie Fulk, we were able to create an awesome remembrance and gift to honor J,” he wrote.

“It was a true honor for our cadre to present this remembrance to the staff and facilitators of this excellent school,” Jonah concluded.

The gift from Hornet Fire Training is a testament to J's impact on everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him and is a physical reminder of his lasting legacy on the foundation of the Fire Officer Academy.

Thank you, Jonah and cadre, for your continued brotherhood and support of the Fire Officer Academy and the Association.

Applications for FOA 24-01 are open until 11:59 p.m. on October 31, 2023.