As football season comes to a close for seniors at Kimball Area Public Schools, one player will tell you he?Äôs not the best player, but it?Äôs still his favorite sport.
?ÄúI play corner back and running back,?Äù says Tom Lochen.
With football freshly behind him, Lochen is looking forward to finishing high school, celebrating his one-year anniversary in the Minnesota National Guard, and attending Advanced Individual Training at Fort Gordon, Ga.
Last summer, Lochen knocked out Basic Training. ?ÄúIt was worth it ?Äì better than trying to find work,?Äù he said. ?ÄúBasic was like a down
payment on my future, I hope to go to AIT (Advanced Individual Training) next summer.?Äù
Lochen says he?Äôs not the only senior at Kimball Area High School in the Minnesota National Guard. In his class of 45 students there are currently two National Guard Soldiers and another student planning to join before the holidays. Part of the reason Lochen joined is his relationship with his National Guard Recruiter, Sgt. First Class John McCann. ?ÄúJohn has taken care of me like I was one of his children, I can?Äôt imagine joining without him,?Äù he said.
Lochen and his National Guard peers will qualify for the Montgomery G.I. Bill and Minnesota State Tuition Reimbursement when they go to college next fall.
To learn more about the education and career benefits of the Minnesota National Guard, visit NationalGuard.com.