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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Tuesday's graduation ceremony was long overdue for the latest academy class of the Colorado Springs Fire Department. Their original ceremony was postponed because of the Waldo Canyon Fire.

The class was scheduled to graduate on June 29 after completing a 14 week long training academy but with one week to go the Waldo Canyon Fire erupted forcing the class to jump into action.

"They did fantastic. They went right out the door from training and went right out and ended up fighting fires with our crews up in Mountain Shadows," Lt. Bill Hull, a CSFD training instructor, said.

Before even being sworn in the class proved that they were ready and willing to serve.

"It gave me a sense of pride that I was able to be a part of that and to play a small part. It definitely cemented the fact that this is where I want to be and this is what I wanted to do," Clint Mestas, a new firefighter, said.

Hull said the fire department needed every able body that was available and the trainees wasted no time getting to work.

"Most of the crews that were up there on the hill had worked together in the past and these trainees had never met any of the crews, so for them to go up there and just transition to a new crew and work with people they haven't even met they did fantastic," Hull said.

"We were one big team out there that night," Mestas said.

Now nearly two months later Mestas and his fellow classmates are finally getting the chance to celebrate after officially becoming Colorado Springs Firefighters.

"It feels good. It feels really good. We should have done this six weeks ago so it feels good to be here," Mestas said.

With a start to their career like no other the new class said they are proud to be joining one of the best fire departments in the country.

"It's something I've wanted a really long time and worked really hard for," Jason Jones, a member of the Class of 2012-1 said. "It's been my dream to be here since I was a little kid so it means the world to me."

CSFD said they received more than 1700 applicants and only 22 received badges.