From the Classroom to the Frontlines: Justin & Tyler’s EMS Journey

Justin, 25, once worked in sales but knew he was meant for something more. Tyler, 20, grew up in a family of firefighters, raised on stories of service and sacrifice. Both were searching for purpose and found it through the EMS Corps program, developed by the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County (WDBCCC) and Mt. Diablo Adult Education.

With the help of WDBCCC, tuition was covered using Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) federal training funds. Mt. Diablo Adult Education provided the classroom and instructional foundation that gave Justin and Tyler the skills to pursue EMT certification.

Building on that foundation, an Employment Development Department (EDD) specialty grant awarded to the EMS Corps transformed the program into a full-time, immersive experience. Justin and Tyler received $7,500 in direct financial support, trained through VR emergency simulations that placed them in the moment, and learned through a newly incorporated flipped classroom model that challenged them to show up prepared and accountable.

Through Rubicon Programs, Justin and Tyler received case management and career coaching, support that kept them grounded, focused, and moving forward even when the path demanded more. Combined with mentorship through the EMS Corps and the guidance of instructors Troy Hess and Gary Giusti, both found not just direction, but belief in what they were capable of becoming.

With a clear pathway from EMT training to paramedic apprenticeship, something shifted. This was no longer just a program; it was a future. Justin and Tyler committed fully, turning effort into discipline and opportunity into action.

Today, Justin and Tyler work at AMR, the largest ambulance provider in Contra Costa County and WDBCCC’s employer partner, offering a direct pathway to the Board’s paramedic apprenticeship—where their journey continues, not as a job, but as a calling.

When training aligns with opportunity, careers are built, communities are strengthened, and stories like Justin and Tyler’s become the blueprint for what’s possible.