For those in Emergency Medical Services, the path to becoming a Paramedic is one of sacrifice and unwavering dedication that demands virtually everything you have to earn the certification. 

Long shifts on the ambulance lead to sleepless nights of studying. Days off become hours of sitting in classrooms, clinical rotations, and skills labs. Meals are skipped, holidays with family are missed, and personal time becomes a luxury as the grueling schedule taxes you emotionally, mentally, and physically, bringing you to the edge of total exhaustion. 

It tests your limits, but it also sharpens your purpose. 

Daniel Allen and Michelle Bartlett began this exact journey together in July 2022, enrolling in the very first EMT training class taught at the Jackson Parish Ambulance Service District (JPASD) Training Center. After completion, the pair then enrolled in the Advanced EMT Program before signing up for the Paramedic Program in 2024. 

Today, the two stand at the finish line of the “Road to Gold” having recently been awarded the coveted GOLD Paramedic Patch by the National Registry of Emergency Technicians (NREMT), and with it the distinction, honor, and responsibility that comes with being a leader in pre-hospital emergency care. 

Congratulations to Daniel and Michelle on earning your GOLD Patch and to the Jackson Parish Ambulance Service District in Jonesboro for providing the means to allow these two to achieve this standard.