All eight recruits received their badges at today's ceremony symbolizing their official title as firefighter.  Rapid City Fire Chief Mike Maltaverne says, "It's an opportunity for us to welcome them into the family, you know, there's been a lot of impressions formed, you know, them looking at the fire department and in terms of what family they're joining or what organization they're joining and then also impressions that we form on them. Are they going to fit in, are they going to gel with the crews already and we're very impressed with this group of eight."   Seven of the eight recruits the department hired are graduates of Western Dakota Tech's Fire Science program.  The other is from Seattle, Washington. 

Tessa Thomas