Four months in, we first met them tired, tested, and determined. Now—after months of pressure, discipline, and sacrifice—15 recruits are just weeks away from crossing the line from trainee to officer, ready to take on one of Guam’s toughest jobs.

The men and women who make up the Department of Corrections BCOT-25-02 are a couple of weeks from graduation and are spending the next several days completing Peace Officer Standards & Training certification requirements and also their firearms course. Recruit Zyra-Lee Nacario says the POST certification has really enhanced their abilities and made them more competent in doing their duties

"It actually encourages us to have more advancement and continuous education,also post certification gives us the skills to enhance our communication , how we present ourselves to the community, and to understand other people. It gives us a sense of knowledge about the law and ethics, it helps us to perform our duties," she told KUAM News.

Recruit James Quitugua says he's learned a lot from training about this job, saying, "It's all about mental discipline. Lot of communication, yes the physical training be physically fit, to get through this job is communication."

With the finish line in the horizon, has it started to sink-in for these recruits? "Honestly? We've been through the struggles and hard times; I say it's been very exciting and amazing that we finally finish it off and enjoy the rest of our career," shared recruit Robert Toves

And Quitugua added, "It's been a bit of excitement, relief, it's been a hard cycle - intense, grueling, and relentless training. But we got through it. And we're ready to get in there and actually be on the job and do work."

The recruits are expected to graduate February 26 with gratitude for their cadres Santos and Melsior. Quitugua said, "My cadres, thank you for the opportunity, for the training, and the discipline, and motivation and everything you've taught us. I'm ready to take it in there and perform."

"Thank you for all that you've taught us and everything we've been through," said Toves, with Nacario adding, "They are my mentors, I am who I am right now because of them...for my team, they are a big part of me being a correctional officer, I wouldn't have gone through all the hardship without them."