Petty Officer First Class Brodey Fleming, a 16-year-old member of the Clermont Battalion of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, was one of only 20 cadets selected from across the country to participate in a Special Operations Rope Rescue Training held in Signal Mountain, Tennessee.
Over the course of nine intense days, Brodey and his fellow cadets tackled a physically and mentally demanding curriculum designed to mirror real-world emergency response training. The program covered everything from knot tying and rappelling to high-angle litter rigging and patient extractions, all under the rigorous standards of the National Fire Protection Association.
By the end of the training, Brodey had earned two nationally recognized NFPA certifications, and a new love for repelling and saving lives.
Brodey has been a dedicated member of the Clermont Battalion for four years. The rope rescue course was made possible through partnerships with seasoned professionals from organizations like Walden’s Ridge Emergency Services, the Lebanon Fire Department, Smith County Rescue Squad, Sparta-White County Rescue Squad, and Mountain Ropes Safety Courses. These mentors brought real-life expertise to the training, guiding cadets through challenging scenarios and emphasizing teamwork, safety, and split-second decision-making.
Officials noted that cadets were trained under the same NFPA 2500 and 1006 standards followed by professional emergency service personnel, ensuring each graduate is capable of performing at a high level in emergency situations…