Junly 17, 2006 -- Thirty Customs and Border Protection Patrol trainees were sworn in on Monday.

Twenty-seven men and three women are hours away from possibly the most challenging federal law enforcement academy there is.

"I've been training five days a week for months. I've always been a weight-lifter and I've been running. I'm just ready to get going," said Florida native Antonio Aedo.

The class is headed to the Border Patrol academy in Artesia, N.M. The U.S Border Patrol is slated to get 500 new border patrol agents this fiscal year.

"This is part of the 500 agents this fiscal year, that will go to the academy, and will come back and supplement our forces here in the El Paso sector," said Senior Patrol Agent Michell LeBoeuf.

The academy is approximately five months long. Once they graduate they'll be on the front lines.

"I don't think you could ever be completely prepared but hopefully I'm prepared enough to do the job," said Aedo.