Building California’s Future Fire Service: CAL FIRE Graduates New Peace Officers and Leaders

The CAL FIRE Ione Training Center is proud to announce the graduation of the 63rd Regular Basic Course (RBC 63) class on Friday, June 12, 2026. This ceremony marks the successful completion of a highly intensive 22-week program for 19 recruits. The RBC is a unique, once-a-year opportunity within the Department, certifying these individuals as peace officers under the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) program.

The Regular Basic Course is a hallmark of CAL FIRE’s specialized training requirements, demanding a minimum of 664 hours of rigorous POST-developed instruction and testing. Throughout the 22-week academy, RBC 63 recruits have been immersed in an “all-risk” training curriculum that encompasses advanced weapons training, patrol procedures, emergency vehicle operations, and sophisticated arrest and control techniques.

A defining element of the RBC program is its emphasis on physical performance and resilience. The course culminates in the Work Sample Test Battery which is a rigorous physical ability assessment that confirms every graduate possesses the strength and stamina required to manage the unpredictable, high-pressure environments of the fire service. By passing every written, skill-based, and physical test, these graduates have proven they are ready to protect California’s communities. 

Joining the 19 RBC graduates in Friday’s ceremony are 29 new leaders from Company Officer Academy (COA) 26-07. The graduation of these cohorts on the same day underscores the breadth of the Department’s professional pipeline; as the RBC 63 graduates step into their roles, the COA 26-07 graduates assume vital command-level leadership positions, ensuring that CAL FIRE maintains both tactical expertise and authoritative command across the state.

As these graduates head to their respective Units, they do so with a certification that bridges the gap between technical classroom instruction and real-world field readiness. This POST-certified cohort represents the future of CAL FIRE’s law enforcement and emergency response capabilities, committed to the department’s mission of safeguarding the people, property, and natural resources of California.

For more information on CAL FIRE’s training programs and career opportunities, please visit fire.ca.gov.