First responders and military personnel are facing challenges when it comes to recruiting. That’s according to agency representatives who participated in a first responder and military recruitment program at SUNY Orange.

Carlos Padilla is a first-year student at SUNY Orange who said he feels the call to serve his community. He came prepared with questions for first responder and military recruiting staff who set up shop on campus.

“You learn a lot from each individual department,” Padilla said.

Padilla graduated from Orange-Ulster BOCES in 2020 and is in his first year as an education major. He’s the treasurer of the school’s Criminal Justice Club and may add that as a second major.

Padilla said he’s always wanted to be a teacher or a police officer.

“It’s a little bit more meaningful because you want to help your local neighbors,” Padilla said.

Nancy Boylan, associate director of academic advising at SUNY Orange, assisted the Criminal Justice Club and Student Veterans of America Club with coordinating the expo in which military, local police, fire and EMS agencies showcased what they’re about.

“A lot of students were very interested in the different opportunities that are here in the county,” Boylan said.

She said area fire and rescue departments are looking for volunteers. It’s a need she knows well: Her son is a volunteer firefighter.

“The whole fabric of the community is held together by people who are willing to get up and leave their dinner table at a moment’s notice to help their fellow man, and that’s how the county survives and thrives is really on the backs of the volunteers, so to introduce that concept to other people and to give them the opportunity to also be part of it is major,” Boylan said.

Padilla said he feels that. He’d like to be a teacher during the day and is thinking of being a volunteer first responder when he has the time.

“It’s tough working a 9 to 5 job, but afterwards when you’re relaxing, there’s a call, you definitely respond, so it’s a little tough; however, it’s manageable,” Padilla said.

It’s not just fire and EMS needing to bolster their ranks. Law enforcement agencies are also looking for good people.

Trooper Briana Martinez is a recruiter for the New York State Police. She said it’s been tough finding people. The pandemic and public perception, she said, have made it even more challenging.

“Meet and greets like this, where you come to the college, and you meet me. You come, you sit down and talk to me or I come to do a class presentation, that’s the biggest part of it. I am your first interaction, so you can see what we do,” Martinez said.

As Padilla continued to visit tables and talk to recruiters, he eventually came across a potential police officer opportunity in New Windsor.

“It’ll definitely be a little tough because you do have some people who are against; however, there’s a big, larger predominant people who care for the police and want their help, and it would be nice to give the help,” Padilla said.

Organizers hope to host an expo like this again, potentially making it annual.