At 41, Hidden Valley resident and firefighter enlists in military

Watch the swearing-in ceremony here:

(COVINGTON, KY.) - Hidden Valley resident Joseph Kappa has made a career out of serving the community as a firefighter and paramedic. 

He’s been in the fire service for more than two decades and has served with the Covington Fire Department for the past eight years. 

The 41-year-old is now taking a new career path that very few do at his age. He is enlisting in the United States Air Force. 

Kappa recently learned that the maximum age to join the Air Force is 42. 

“It’s either now or never. I don’t want to live my life with regrets, and this is something I’ve wanted to do and see through,” Kappa told City of Covington officials during a recent ceremony. 

The former ROTC member said the timing is perfect as his children are getting older and doing well. 

He will join a National Guard unit in Terre Haute before traveling to Texas where he will work as a Special Intelligence Analyst with the Air Force.

Kappa said, “It’s lining up with what I want to do here in Covington professionally also. A lot of things that I’ll be working toward with my career will really benefit the city. It’s a chance for me to not only serve my community, but to also serve my country.”

The Covington Fire Department held a ceremony Friday where Joseph was sworn in by his cousin, Michael, who is a Retired Army Captain.

Several Covington firefighters who are military veterans were in attendance, including Army veteran Joseph Bowman who serves as a battalion chief. 

“It takes courage to join the military, but it takes even more courage when you have life experience, you have kids, you have a family, and a career ahead,” said Bowman.