Nine young men achieved their dreams of becoming firefighters yesterday after they were honoured for completing 21 weeks of training.

The Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service welcomed the recruits, most of whom were in their twenties, into the fold during a ceremony filled with dozens of loved ones.

The recruits trained in Newcastle, England, for nine weeks before completing their training in Bermuda.

Recruits offered a demonstration of some of the skills they learnt through training during the ceremony at the Hamilton Fire Station.

The men were given a scenario where a car crashed into a residence and started a fire, requiring them to extract the driver, put out the flames and save several people from within the home.

The recruits used their skills regarding operation of the fire trucks and equipment, site management and search and rescue with flying colours.

Meanwhile, the ceremony was filled with the recruits’ families and friends, from parents and siblings to wives and children.

For Cole Hepburn, 27, it was the realisation of a childhood dream.

He said: “I’ve had some role models growing up who were firefighters and it was just something I’ve always wanted to do.

“It actually took me a couple of times to apply and I got it on my second time here, but I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.”

Mr Hepburn was speaking after being recognised as the most academically successful and giving the best overall performance.

The Devonshire native said his training help him find his inherent leadership skills and learn how to silence “the outside noise” in the midst of an emergency.

He explained: “When you show up to a scene or you’re doing a high-pressure drill, you would think you would starting thinking about things around you, but you kind of just lock in and focus on the task at hand.”

He added: “It’s important to remember that you’re not always doing this by yourself.

“I think I found a little bit of natural leadership that I didn’t know I had. Throughout the course, when things went quiet or something, I found myself being the one to speak up.”

Mr Hepburn credited their sergeants for teaching them how to act “both on the truck and off the truck”.

He added the experience taught him the value of teamwork.

Mr Hepburn said: “It’s funny, you come in with all these recruits and you don’t know anybody and I call these guys my brothers now.

“I’m beyond close with them. I haven’t laughed with anybody as much as I do with them in a long time and there’s this sense of brotherhood within the service. You always have somebody who has your back.”

Jaylon Bather, a father of two, was greeted by his three-year-old son, Jaycier, after the ceremony, who ran to his father while wearing a toy firefighter’s hat and hugged him around his knee.

Mr Bather, the oldest of the recruits at 33, called the ceremony the “exciting” conclusion of several attempts to join.

“I’m excited,” he said. “I really wanted this job and I really pushed for it. This is my third time trying and I finally got it, so I’m happy for it.”

Mr Bather, from Southampton, said the position played into his physical strengths and allowed him to work with his hands while helping his community.

The former Bermuda footballer added that his training reminded him how much mental fortitude he had.

Mr Bather, who featured in the national team under Kyle Lightbourne that hit the heights at the Concacaf Gold Cup in 2019, explained: “There were a few training sessions that we had that were really physically taxing. We all hit walls, but we all pushed through and got to the finish line.”

He encouraged young people considering a career in the fire service to apply, explaining the BFRS needed volunteers to replace ageing firefighters.

Mr Bather added: “This is a really good career. This career is for anyone who feels like they want a challenge and help the community.

“I would encourage anyone to try to do this job if they have any desire to help the community and challenge themselves.”

Ryan Robinson Perinchief, the Minister of National Security, congratulated the recruits on passing their extensive training.

As a former EMT, said he understood how overwhelming an emergency scenario could get and reminded the men of the importance of focus.

Mr Robinson Perinchief also told the young crowd: “As you start what I hope to be long and successful careers in the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service, I want you to remember that age should be no barrier to your ability to succeed.

“If you work hard, if you’re committed and you’re dedicated, you will be successful.”

The Ministry of National Security listed 146 members within the BFRS’s ranks during the 2025-26 fiscal year.

It predicted to have 164 officers by the end of this fiscal year. The recruits will soon start their 16-week EMT training before entering active service.

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