Four officers from the Department of Corrections, four from Guam Customs and Quarantine, and one from the Marshals, make up the third cycle of Special Operations Response Team training.

Led by Operations Commander Captain Joey Pocaigue, the seven-week program is designed to test every limit, physically and mentally.

To even get here, officers must first pass a rigorous set of pre-requisites.

KUAM caught up with the team in week four, inside cell extraction training in Mangilao, where precision, control, and trust are everything.

“When it was a chance to help my captain out, he asked me, and I was looking for an opportunity to jump in as well,” said Cadre Ramon Quinata.

For some, it’s about answering the call. For others, it’s about becoming better.

“When I was on the line as a line officer I always looked at special operators so I could learn all the tactics,” said Tarvis Melsior.

And those tactics are constantly evolving.

“Every week has been a different type of training. We started off with procedures, we went into firearms, close quarter combat and also cell extraction and tactical handcuffing,” added Quinata.

From firearms to close quarter combat to hands-on control, this training is built around one core principle: Self defense and de-escalation.

Now, at the halfway point, the physical demands are matched by something else: Purpose.

For Deputy Marshal I from the Judiciary of Guam, Raymond Concepcion, he had previously worked with DOC for about four years.

“With Capt. Pocaigue's knowledge and training of sort operations made me want to try and give this sort operations training a try,” said Concepcion.

For Customs Officer Gino Crisostomo, the decision came from working side by side with SORT in the field.

“We've always had that good rapport with the agency and every time we were called to respond to the compound, the SORT operators were always there and it got me intrigued with the special ops,” said Crisostomo.

But the road hasn’t been easy.

“As we got into our training, going on 4 weeks, I believe our brotherhood has gotten more sacred and stronger than it's been before,” said Concepcion.

A brotherhood, forged through pressure, built on trust, and strengthened by shared experience.

“Its been a blessing to work with other agencies, seeing their backgrounds and where they've come from. Seeing their different tactics, and putting it all in one motion as a team,” added Melsior.

For those thinking about following in their footsteps, Crisostomo says, “I highly recommend you apply. Growing up in law enforcement on the island everyone only knows SWAT or SET, and SORT is a different animal when it comes to special operations, and you'll learn different tactics.”

With three weeks still to go, these officers know the hardest part is still ahead but so is the mission, to be ready when it matters most.

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