After six months of intense training, 14 men and one woman who make up the 24th Fire Cycle graduated on Saturday โ ready to serve and protect as the islandโs newest firefighters. 15 recruits. Six months of grueling training. One shared goal โ to earn the badge and title of firefighter with the Guam Fire Department. Recruit Adrian Herrera said, “During the training it gets really tough and there’s a thing the cadre would say, is to remember your why. And my why is to help my family and the island of Guam because the island has helped me a lot.”
For many, their why comes from personal experiences โ like Recruit Brent San Nicolas, who found his calling in moments of fear and faith. “A big part was my father he was in and out of the hospital and every time the fire department showed up, there was a sense of security and a sense of hope, and i wanted to give that back,” he said. From early morning PT to late-night lessons, the 24th Cycle forged their resilience through sweat, exhaustion โ and what one recruit calls โtrauma bonding.โ “Through all the hardships, faced all the long runs, all the teeth biting, we’re definitely a family now,” said Recruit Logan Concepcion.
