The Philadelphia Fire Department welcomed nearly three dozen new members to the PFD family on Sept. 22 with the graduation of Firefighter Cadet Class 193.

Fire Commissioner Adam K. Thiel administered the oath of office during the ceremony at the University of Pennsylvania’s Irvine Auditorium. Thirty-four cadets trained for the PFD, while another two went to work for the Upper Darby Fire Department.

“What we do, the way we make it work here in the City of Philadelphia and in the Philadelphia Fire Department, is by doing it together — getting the job done together as a team,” Thiel said. “And you are all part of that team.”

Many proud friends and relatives attended the ceremony, and some of the new firefighters are joining family members already on the job — including James Kelly and Nicholas Barile, who now wear passed-down PFD badges. Kelly received badge #1787, previously worn by his father, Capt. James Kelly; Barile received badge #3923, previously worn by his brother, Lt. Ernie Barile. (PFD officers do not wear numbered badges.)

Cadets Kendra Mendez and Patrick Clemens offered their classmates words of praise and gratitude during the ceremony. Class 193 had trained together at the Philadelphia Fire Academy since April 10.

“I now have an understanding of that [PFD] family I heard so much about,” Mendez said. “We have all struggled at one point or another. And when you feel as though … you can’t go anymore, you have a brother or sister to your left, you have a brother or sister to your right, you have somebody behind you and — more importantly — you have somebody in front of you that refuses to leave you behind.”

PFD officials gave out awards for Academic Excellence, Physical Fitness, Spirit, Commissioner’s Leadership, Fellowship and the Eugene Janda Instructor’s Service Award.