In the days before organized municipal fire departments, it was understood that protecting the community from the destructive force of fire was everyone’s responsibility. All firefighting was performed on a volunteer basis. Today, volunteer firefighters are brave men and women who serve their community without getting paid. 

These civil servants can often benefit from receiving challenge coins because they signify the individual’s belonging to the group at large. Being a volunteer instead of a full-time firefighter can be alienating, and this symbol of inclusion goes a long way. 

The San Francisco Fire Department has taken volunteer firefighter service and training to a new level with NERT. Via the Neighborhood Emergency Response Team program, a 20 hour class and practical hands on experience, volunteer San Franciscans become the first line of defense in the name of disaster preparedness. NERT certified community members can render professional aid in the event of a disaster before SFFD personnel can arrive on the scene in a lot of cases. 

Farther south, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department has a similar program with Community Emergency Response Teams. Both the NERT and CERT programs provide the opportunity for firefighter training challenge coins. The men and women who go through this training do so because, like official firefighters, they have a strong desire to protect and serve their community. That kind of dedication should never go unrewarded. 

What To Expect From Signature Coins