After enduring 45 grueling days to earn their badges, the 11 firefighters who graduated from the Alexander City Fire Department’s Recruit School on Friday were declared ready to serve and sacrifice their lives if necessary.

“On March 24 I looked up and this is what I saw,” ACFD training officer Capt. Jeff Brewer said. “It was a sad bunch. Tonight, we graduate 11 firefighters. Forty-five days, nine weeks, 360 hours of training. They’ve got through a lot.”