41-year-old Saredah Mohd Salleh with the certificate for completing the basic Storm training course. - Bernama
MARANG: A 41-year-old female firefighter, Saredah Mohd Salleh, has proven that age is just a number by being named the best trainee for the Basic Course for the Special Operations, Tactical and Rescue Team of Malaysia (Storm) by the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Series 1/2024.
Saredah, who is attached to the Fire and Rescue Station in Precinct 14, Putrajaya, outperformed 32 younger male colleagues and two females aged between 20 and 30 years old.
Speaking to reporters after the graduation ceremony, the mother of two said her interest in performing challenging tasks motivated her to undergo the basic training for Storm, which is considered JBPM's elite rescue unit.
Despite enduring intense training for a month, the Melaka native remained focused.
"Age has never been a barrier for me because I genuinely enjoy challenging work. My goal in joining this course is to serve in crucial disaster operations and also in humanitarian missions abroad.
"The most arduous training was an 18km hike on rugged terrain while carrying a load of 70kg. It took me over three hours to complete that test," she said at the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Academy for the East Region in Wakaf Tapai.
Saredah expressed her gratitude for the support and encouragement from her husband, a firefighter at the Kajang Fire and Rescue Station in Selangor.
Meanwhile, infg noted that there are only nine female Storm members in Malaysia and those selected have undergone rigorous physical and mental training.
"We have 594 Storm members across Malaysia as of now. Therefore, I strongly encourage more members and officers to join this course to enhance the quality of fire services," he added. – Bernama
JBPM Fire and Rescue Operations director Nordin Pauzi placing the Storm 'patch' on Saredah's uniform after the completion of basic training.
