Just one of the guys

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Devin Boyer
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
Even though she's the only female in her fire protection apprentice class, Airman 1st Class Brooke D. Hunt is treated like one of the guys.

Hunt is originally from Medford, New Jersey and joined the Air Force in 2013. She is with the 177th Fighter Wing New Jersey Air National Guard in Atlantic City, but is currently training at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy on Goodfellow to become a firefighter.

The Fire Protection Apprentice Course is divided into six blocks, ranging from first responder training to extinguishing aircraft fires.

"It's a lot different than what I'm going to college for, and that's why I picked it," said Hunt, who majors in hospitality and tourism management.

When asked about being the only female in her class, Hunt had a positive response.

"At first I wasn't sure about it because I thought I was going to get treated differently," she said. "But the instructors treat me the same, and the guys treat me like I'm one of them."

Firefighting can be a rigorous task, but that does not stop the young Airman from getting the job done.

"Since I got here, I go to the gym every day with my classmates," said Hunt. "Especially being as small as I am, if I don't lift weights, I can't do this."

She continued to shine light on the difficulties of training.

"As a girl, fourth block was the hardest," she stated. "You do 300 feet hose-pulls, and that was really challenging for me. That's when I realized I need to go to the gym every day."

Hunt plans to make firefighting a career outside of the Air Force when she returns home to New Jersey.