A Navy SEAL who was passed over by the FDNY because of his age is fielding offer to work at other fire departments across the United States.
Shaun Donovan—37-year-old decorated SEAL who earned valor medals during four combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan—was told he was ineligible to become a New York City firefighter because of civil service age restrictions. Despite scoring in the top 1 percent out of the 43,900 people who took the written exam in October and meeting the job's physical requirements in January, Donovan discovered that FDNY regulations stipulate that candidates cannot turn 28 by the start of the application process. Military service can add up to six years to that period, but Donovan still missed that mark by a little more than six months,
The FDNY slamming shut the window on becoming a New York City firefighter has opened the door to possibly becoming a firefighter in another city, however. More than a dozen fire departments around the county have reached out to Donovan to encourage him to apply for their openings, the New York Post reports. Some of the interested departments include Denver and San Francisco.
“We believe that if someone has the physical and mental prowess to perform the job, they should be given the respect and the opportunity to be a firefighter,” Greg Pixley, DFD's lead recruiter and a veteran himself, told the Post. Denver's only age requirement is that candidates must be at least 21.
"If the hiring process that Shaun is going through is not going to honor his service and recognize his capability, I want him to know that we will. That’s the kind of person we want," he added.
Despite the offers, Donovan, who will complete his military service next year, is still intent on appealing the FDNY's decision with the New York City Civil Service Commission, and a ruling should come by late summer.
"(Donovan) is committed to his goal of joining the FDNY," attorney Kevin Carroll, who is representing Donovan pro bono, told the Post.
The FDNY's age requirements are some of the toughest in the country compared to other large departments, according to the Post. The Chicago Fire Department has a maximum age of 37, while Houston and Boston set the limit at 36 and 32, respectively. There are no maximum age limits for the Philadelphia, Miami and Los Angeles fire departments.
