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By Pfc. Stephanie Cassinos
Minnesota National Guard
ST. PAUL, Minn. - Local law enforcement agencies are not the only civil authorities that have asked to be backed up by the military forces of Joint Task Force Republican National Convention. Just ask Air Force Staff Sgt. Kimberly Swenson.
She's not difficult to spot when she's on duty - she is the only female firefighter in the Minnesota Air National Guard's 133rd Civil Engineering Squadron, whose firefighters are currently at Holman Field supporting the St. Paul Fire Department during the Republican National Convention.
Swenson joined the Minnesota Air National Guard in 1998 because she didn't want to go to college immediately after high school, and figured that it would be a great way to pay for school when she was ready. She also wanted to see the world.
"And I kind of have," added Swenson. She deployed to Kuwait in '03. The Air
National Guard has also taken her to Canada, Puerto Rico, and around the U.S.
Originally trained in administrative work, Swenson realized that it just wasn't her niche.
"I'm not a person who likes desk jobs," she laughed.
After she began to study nursing, Swenson decided she wanted to utilize her medical skills in her military job. She is a trained emergency medical technician, and she figured firefighting was the way to go, as all Air Force firefighters are either trained EMTs or paramedics. She was right.
Being the only female firefighter, Swenson said that at first she thought she had to prove that she could hold her own.
"But once I worked with the guys a while, they got a good idea of what I was capable of," she said.
"They're really respectful," Swenson added. "I've known them for a long time...They watch out for me when I'm on deployment."
Swenson just earned a degree in nursing, and starts her new job at the University of Minnesota soon. She is giving thought to pursuing a position as a medical officer in the Air National Guard.
But for the time being, Swenson and the other firefighters are devoting 12 hours a day to what it is they do best - working hard, having fun, and helping to ensure the safety of their community during the RNC.
| Date Taken: | 09.05.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 09.05.2008 04:47 |
| Story ID: | 23232 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 463 |
| Downloads: | 399 |
This work, Freeing Up Firefighters during the RNC, by SGT Stephanie Cassinos Way, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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