Fire department swears in six, promotes two

By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press 

The Copperas Cove Fire Department now has six new firefighters along with a newly promoted lieutenant and captain after a pinning and swearing-in ceremony on Monday afternoon. 
Trey Policarpio, Joshua Jentsch, Dalton Keuhn, Mitchell Magee, Jeremy Albright, and Logan Willenborg were all sworn in to the Copperas Cove Fire Department. 
Monte Priest was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, and Stephen Clendenen was promoted to captain. 
Priest has been with Copperas Cove Fire Department since January 2008, and Clendenen has been with the Copperas Cove Fire Department since July 2003.
It was a competitive process for the lieutenant and captain positions, Fire Chief Michael Neujahr told those assembled in the room. 
Deputy Chief Young swore in both the new lieutenant and new captain for their respective positions, followed by the oaths of office for the new firefighters. 
Each were presented with the fire chief challenge coin by Chief Neujahr. 
“Whenever we promote somebody or especially when we bring in a new hire, we give out the challenge coin. These date back to medieval times and were carried throughout the wars. Whenever a unit needed to recognize themselves, they were given a trinket or something of value that would let everybody else know who they represented,” Neujahr explained. “This is our fire department challenge coin, to signify that they belong to the Copperas Cove Fire Department family.”
He also shared a few words about the newly promoted and newly hired. 
“I’ve had the opportunity to see (Clendenin and Priest) in action and as leaders, and they are tremendous leaders, both of them,” Neujahr said. 
Of the newly hired firefighters, Neujahr added, “These young men are awesome firefighters. I can’t wait to see what they’ll produce when they get out of paramedic school.”
After the ceremony, refreshments were served, and Neujahr extended an invitation to the family and friends of the newly hired and promoted to check out the fire station and its equipment 
“Our house is your house,” said Neujahr.