They graduated Sunday at Jetty Park in Cape Canaveral after passing a 60-hour U.S. Lifesaving Association course and a 40-hour course on medical training. Now it's off to work at one of Brevard's 14 parks. The parks are along 62 miles of beach stretching from Cape Canaveral to Spessard Holland in Melbourne Beach.

Chief Lifeguard Wyatt Werneth said the class might have been small because it was rainy, cloudy and cold on the first training day. But he's hopeful the county's next training day, at 7 a.m. April 27 at Merritt Island High School's swimming pool, will draw more interest.

The classes are free to prospective hires whose starting pay is $7.25 an hour. A returning lifeguard can earn $7.50 an hour.

"We could probably attract more people if the money was higher, but many are in it because they love it," Werneth said.

There are about 140 county beach lifeguards at the start of the season on March 23. But that number may drop to 75 as people leave for other jobs or for personal reasons, he said. Some would like to see the lifeguards year-round at the beaches, but only one park -- Jetty Park -- has lifeguards on duty throughout the year.

Annette Pallowick, an instructor/trainer with the American Red Cross, agreed pay is an issue.

"It's better pay than they get in most summer jobs. It can pay their way as they go through college," Pallowick said. "But it does not encourage most people into a career in lifeguarding."

The plus side is lifeguards learn other skills such as public relations, the inner workings of the parks and recreation industry, as well as leisure services and business. Pallowick said the field gives many lifeguards a desire to go into public safety.