NEWARK — When Lance Cpl. Jason Crowell deployed to Iraq in 2008, he knew 200 other Marines in his unit had his back.

Now, co-workers wearing a different uniform have his back.

Since his return to the States, the Newark resident didn’t have the easiest road transitioning to civilian life. For about two years, Crowell, a 32-year-old former tech support manager, struggled to find work and replace his old support network.

Listing his military credentials on his resume didn’t seem to help. "Because I didn’t have current job experience, it was almost impossible," he said.

Today, Crowell found his new group as part of the Newark Fire Department’s latest batch of 30 recruits, all of whom are recent military veterans.

The Marines have "always been one family. I’m sure the fire department’s going to continue (that)," Crowell said.

Not since World War II has the fire department hired an all-veteran class, said Director Fateen Ziyad.

Another member of the class, Jorge Hojas, a 28-year-old Newark resident, served with the National Guard in Iraq in 2008.

It was "stressful" trying to find employment after his tour of duty and, Hojas said, he "held it together" by working for a delivery company in Staten Island to support his wife and 3-year-old daughter. Now he’s looking forward to a steady job and a new chapter with the city’s fire department.

The fire department is replenishing its ranks after major cutbacks in 2010 when budget cuts resulted in more than 70 retirements. This latest group of recruits exhausted a $7.1 million federal grant awarded last April that, overall, has helped hire about 45 firefighters since the cutbacks, said Chief John Centanni.

The department worked in conjunction with Veterans Affairs officials to select and hire the 30 men, he said.

Mayor Cory Booker lauded the men for serving their country and now the city but also set high expectations for the class.

"There are a lot of people hungry to be sitting where you are now," he said.

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