ORLANDO, Fla. – For Orlando Firefighter Juwan VanBuren, being a first responder is just one of many hats he wears.
“I figured if I’m already saving lives locally, might as well do it nationally. I looked around and I said, ‘The Coast Guard is the best thing when their mission’s as similar to the fire department versus any other branch,’ so Coast Guard was just for me,” VanBuren said.
VanBuren is a member of the U.S. Coast Guard and works out of Orlando Fire Station 9 in Rosemont, a place he calls home.
“This job, like everyone says, they have their itch, they have their thing, their calling. For me, this is my calling. Like I said, I’ve had multiple jobs and becoming a firefighter I feel complete now with the things I do here every day,” he said.
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When VanBuren is not at Station 9, he is with his wife and three children.
Despite his busy schedule, he said there are plans to serve in Australia next year.
“It’s a little hard sometimes, you know, having a double life, taking off my uniform and putting on another one. But at the end of the day, I have to support a family, so it makes it a lot easier,” VanBuren said.
VanBuren said he’s taking advantage of 2024 and is going back to school with the goal to graduate with his bachelor’s degree in exercise science.
He said if there’s a lesson for us to learn on this Fourth of July, it’s knowing that anything is possible.
“I know that every time I go out even with this job, if I give my all, every time I do something I have no regrets, as long as I give 110%, I don’t have anything else to worry about besides that,” VanBuren said.
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