SCBP lifeguard Jason Katz endured the ‘tough pill’ of rookie training

On vigilant watch. On guard. On the stand. On their toes.

Photo by Julia Sutton

Sea Colony Beach Patrol lifeguard Jason Katz recalls the challenge of his rookie training. The oldest first-year guard on the patrol that summer, he called the experience “a tough pill to swallow.”

“I honestly didn’t think I would make it through all of that training,” said the 30-year-old lifeguard. “That was the hardest training and conditioning I’ve ever done in my life. Our rookie class made up a majority of the patrol, and I believe that’s what made us all grow closer together. We all went through tough times and came out on top.”

The challenges of becoming a beach lifeguard came as a surprise to the then-rookie.

“I honestly didn’t know what I was getting into until rookie training started,” he said. “I started to realize how important it is to stay fit for duty. The stakes are always high, and you never know what’s going to happen when you clock in for work. Things can go from zero to 100 in a blink of an eye, and that’s what makes it fun.”

Sea Colony Beach Patrol

The Sea Colony Beach Patrol, which oversees half a mile of private beach, is a United States Lifeguard Association Advanced Certified Agency consisting of 21 guards who are each certified in American Red Cross Lifeguarding, CPR for the Professional Rescuer and Emergency Medical Response.

Each of the six lifeguard stands are located in front of the Sea Colony high-rise condominiums near Bethany Beach. SCBP lifeguards respond to land and water emergencies, and they provide information and education about hazards in the sun, weather and ocean. SCBP beach lifeguards train daily to prepare for any situation on land or in water, and they constantly strive to exceed their high standards of open water safety.

An EMT who takes the stand on his days off

Born and raised in White Plains, New York, Katz has been an EMT for nearly five years.

“I started working in Yonkers — one of the busiest cities in Westchester County, New York state,” said Katz. “My wife, our three kids and I moved to Frankford two years ago. I work fulltime as a firefighter and emergency medical technician [EMT] at Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company, and I am a lifeguard on my days off.

“I had no background in swimming or aquatics but would label myself a decent swimmer who could get by,” he added. “But never in a million years did I see myself capable of doing this type of job. I trained really hard for swimming during the fall, winter and spring leading up to my first season on the stand. My first season was really difficult, trying to keep up with everyone during swim workouts. I was usually always last, but it gave me more motivation to improve for this upcoming season.”

Being a lifeguard was more than he ever thought it would be

Nothing is easy about being a lifeguard, Katz insisted.

“If anything, I believe the equipment check in the morning before setting up your stand is the easy part,” he said. “Taking your time to go through your medical kit and making sure you have all of your other gear is the least stressful part of the day.

“The most difficult part about this job is having the energy and alertness to be prepared to take action when necessary,” he added. “Our patrol works out together as a group in the morning before we start our day, and then two to three more times on our own or with other guards who are on the same break as yourself. It’s tough to remain vigilant while also making sure you’re fit for duty.”

Being a beach lifeguard is so much more, Katz said, than he ever thought it would be.

The SCBP is one of the smaller teams locally, “and it brings a family-oriented vibe to the table. It never really feels like work, because I’ve been able to make some of the memorable friendships with people in such a short amount of time.”

Katz credited two of his supervisors with having the biggest impact on his career on the stand.

“Capt. Dave Griffith — who we call ‘G-Man’ — and Lt. Cindy Fajardo gave me an opportunity to try out. Just by the look of them, I knew this was the place I wanted to be,” said Katz. “After my first summer, I was always in awe of how ‘G-Man’ and Cindy would be so fast in the water during swimming, paddling or on the surf-skis. Whatever they did, they always made it look so effortless. And that’s how I always strive to be when I train.”

Katz’s main goal is to become more proficient as a firefighter.

“It’s something that is entirely new to me, and I have a lot to learn about it,” said Katz. “I also want to become better at [water]crafts. Until I started being a lifeguard, I had never touched a paddleboard before in my life. I got decent with it during my first year, but I would like to improve a lot more.”

Article by Mike Stern, Coastal Point, July 10, 2025

SCBP lifeguard Jason Katz endured the ‘tough pill’ of rookie training | Sports | coastalpoint.com