GCC certifies Bus Driving Boot Camp graduates

14 graduates from the Guam Community College's Bus Driving Boot Camp received their certification Thursday afternoon. There were 14 people that earned their certification and graduated from the Guam Community College's Bus Driving Boot Camp I, on Thursday afternoon, after 19 weeks of commitment.

Nash Rivera, a GCC Bus Driving Boot Camp graduate, described his experience in the program to all in attendance at the Mangilao campuses' multipurpose auditorium.  "For me the program was a success. The experience was a bond we all share together as a memory that not only just us 14 will remember. Every Saturday we would come together and support each other during the exams and even though we weren't supposed to," he said.

It's a first of its kind -  a boot camp geared towards the bus driving industry, which was designed by Guam Department of Labor, Department of Public Works, Kloppenberg Enterprises Inc. and GCC. Participants received a bus driving lecture and lab, training in work ethic, WorkKeys, OSHA-10, Passenger Assistance, as well as on-the-job training.

GCC Bus Driving Boot Camp I Graduate Glenn Bejerana shared with KUAM News lessons learned from the program.  "We learned how to transport the kids in a safe matter. We learned a lot about bus driving skills and everything mostly that deals with safety," he said.

"It's been a good experience. I learned a lot. Overall it was worth it."

The boot camp funded all requirements to work in the transportation industry such as participants' physicals, PPEs, drug tests, D permit, exam and license. A Class "D" License is a chauffeur license that allows a person to transport 15 to 90 passengers on school buses and tour buses.

Of the 14 graduates, 10 are employed with the DPW but are earning a paycheck through GDOL, and will eventually transition to limited-term employees. There are four employed as bus drivers and dispatchers with KEI.