SI Advance

The 265 probationary firefighters - about a third of them from Staten Island - successfully completed an 18-week training stint at the Fire Academy on Randalls Island, the first to undergo the five extra weeks of training.

The class that starts next month will have 23 weeks of training.

Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta praised the new training procedures, calling the firefighters in his department the "best-trained in the world."

"You learn from the best, you become the best. You are the FDNY," said a proud Scoppetta.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg joked about the fact that he noticed both "a Chuck and a Larry" on the graduation roster, poking fun at the latest Adam Sandler blockbuster, but got down to serious business when he lauded the heroic history of the FDNY.

"We go about our lives, safe and secure, knowing someone like you will go running into danger while we're running away from it," said Bloomberg.

There were 19 former members of the armed forces among yesterday's graduating class, including Bobby Shannon, 25, of Annadale, a former police officer who served in the U.S. Air Force.

"When the FDNY called I decided to switch over. It was the best decision of my life," said Shannon, clutching his graduation plaque. He will be assigned to Ladder Co. 9 in Manhattan.

Mike Ricca, a probie from New Springville, joins the long history of firefighters in his family. His father, a retired fire marshal, also served with Ladder Co. 224. His brothers, Joseph and Pat, are fire marshals in Manhattan, and his sister-in-law, Aisha, who is married to Pat, is assigned to Ladder 224.

"I've always wanted to be with the FDNY. My father was a big influence on that," said Ricca, who will be based at Ladder Co. 163 in Westerleigh.

But as Chief Salvatore Cassano pointed out, firefighting isn't about where you come from, but rather who you are.

"Firefighting isn't in your blood, it's in your heart," said Cassano.

Class Valedictorian Sal DeNigris praised the instructors at the Fire Academy for teaching that excellence is a habit.

After the last name on the graduate roster, Joseph Zorlenzan, was called out, the probies leapt to their feet, roaring in approval -- and quickly signaled that they couldn't wait to get out on the job.

"It's been a long 18 weeks, but I'm looking forward to getting started," said Mike Roche of Bay Terrace, who will be reporting to Ladder Co. 244 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. "I'm the first person from my immediate family to become a firefighter," said James Morton of Westerleigh, who is headed to Ladder Co. 169 in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. "I've wanted to do this my whole life."