SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio —
Transitioning from military to civilian life can be difficult for some veterans.
The Career Skills Program offered through the U.S. Army helps soldiers learn how to prepare for a job once they finish their service. It works like an internship, where soldiers can train somewhere to get experience before trying to start a career.
Brian Bethel, a northwest Ohio native, is using the program as he prepares to be a civilian in January.
He is stationed at Fort Cavazos in Texas but has been in Springfield Township for the past few months learning how skills he has from the army can be adapted for service with the township's fire department.
Bethel, 26, has been a combat medic and healthcare specialist since 2021 and said he is "very well prepared."
Like other soldiers, he said he had no idea what being a civilian was like. But, transitioning from one service to another has been easier through the program.
Bethel has been training and learning what fire and emergency services operations are like at the Springfield Township Fire Department since July.
"My goal from this is just to learn what a fire department is like and how it works and what being a firefighter, EMT, paramedic all entails," he said.
Whether it be country or city, giving back runs in the family. His father, Bob Bethel, was a volunteer firefighter for Springfield Township for five years.
"I love seeing him follow that interest," Bob said.
Bob says Brian's brothers served in the Army National Guard, the Air Force and the Marine Reserves.
Brian is already an emergency medical technician and is currently in fire school working to get his fire certificate.
"Coming back to my community and being able to serve them and help them just makes me happy," he said. "That's all I can ask for is to help one person a day or however many. I just want to help people."
He added that he is planning to apply to the Springfield Township Fire Department once he gets his fire certificate.