Portland’s fire department has just welcomed eight new firefighters to its ranks this past Friday.

In a graduation ceremony that was held at Portland high school, the new cadets received their badges.

CBS 13 reports that the firefighters’ certifications come after nine weeks of intense training in tackling fires as well as EMS.

One graduate, who was originally from southern California, gave a quote to CBS 13 that the key to the training was staying present and collaborating as a team.

“The biggest thing that we kinda stood on was staying where your feet are. If you’re at work, you’re at work. If you’re with the guys, you’re with the guys. It’s a matter of keeping your mindset still and focusing on the task at hand. That’s kind of what kept our camaraderie around and helped us get through nine weeks,” Justin Shields, a new Portland firefighter, said.

The new firefighters first shift begins on Monday.