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by FERNANDA SANTOS
At 39, Darren Carey has fought insurgents in Iraq, sailed the frigid Nordic Sea and trained the amphibious troops who defend America at home and abroad.
Carey's age and experience, gained from 20 years in the Marine Corps, earned him the admiration and respect of his 162 classmates at FDNY's probationary firefighters school.
It also earned him a nickname: Grandpa.
"I was able to set the example for the younger guys, sort of like, 'If I'm doing this at 39, you have to be able to do it,'" Carey told the Daily News on the eve of today's probie graduation starting at 11 a.m. at Brooklyn College.
He is the oldest in his class and one of the oldest probies ever to join the Fire Department.
His class includes two brothers, five relatives of firefighters who died on 9/11, 36 who have served in the military, and a woman - the 30th to join the Bravest ranks.
All of the graduates have received their assignments. Most will report to work at 9 a.m. Saturday. Carey, who grew up in Sayville, L.I., will join Ladder 32 in the Bronx.
Carey took the Fire Department test in 1999, 16 years after he enlisted in the Marines, eager to serve his country and see the world. He lived in Okinawa, Japan, endured cold-weather training in Norway and Alaska and served in Holland before he went to Iraq in July 2003 to fight alongside 1,200 Dutch soldiers.
"After every experience, it became more exciting," Carey said. "The Marines turned out to be like my family. The brotherhood, the camaraderie - it turned out to be something I didn't want to give up."
It was only fitting, then, that after he retired on April 30, Carey would seek to join the FDNY brotherhood.
The gunnery sergeant, who applied for a job with the department after prodding by firefighter friend and fellow Marine Larry Parker, placed 20th on the civil service test.
"I know I've got to do my time as a probie for a year, but to me, it's no problem," Carey said. "I got to serve with the greatest fighting force in the world and now I get to serve with the greatest Fire Department in the world.
"I feel like I hit the jackpot. I really did."
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