It is my great honor to welcome Carmen Kivisto into our family of aviators.
Carmen was born March 15, 1999 in Oak Grove, Minnesota, and started pilot training at the age of 17. She received her private pilot's license a week before she received her high school diploma, in May of 2017.
In August of that year, in her own words, "I made the best decision of my life" when she joined the Minnesota Air National Guard as a C-130H crew chief. That October, while awaiting her military training dates, she finished her instrument rating.
She completed basic training the following March, and then was off to technical training, where she graduated at the top of her class.
From the very beginning, her stated goal was to become a military pilot.
After returning to Minnesota, her job took her all over the US, Canada, Europe, and the Middle East, constantly reminding her that she'd made the best decision of her life, but this was just the beginning.
On her own time, between her work in the Guard and attending college at St. Cloud State University, she received her commercial pilot's license in August of 2019.
Each year her unit accepts applicants, holds boards, and then hires the two most qualified to go on to be full pilots. The summer of 2020 was the first year she was allowed to apply. The people chosen were usually in their mid-20s, highly qualified, and experienced, whose records would be closely examined, and who had to navigate intense interviews to prove commitment. She didn't think her chances of being chosen this first time were all that great.
That September, all the crew chiefs were called into the break room where the Chief Pilot, Assistant Chief Pilot, a Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel addressed them. They told them that this year had been the most competitive year they could remember, with over 60 applicants, and regretfully only two could be selected.
Carmen ranked first out of that list of candidates, and became the youngest new pilot hired, and the only one ever to be hired without fully completing her bachelor's degree.
Carmen will soon be heading to Alabama for officer training, then probably to Texas for initial pilot training, then most likely to Arkansas, where she'll actually fly that C-130, and finally some survival training. In 2022, she'll return to Minnesota fully qualified to fly the C-130H as an officer in the Air National Guard.
She tells me that though she's keeping her eyes on the "prize," the journey has been magical.
I am very proud to add Carmen Kivisto's name to the Wall of Honor, knowing she stands tall and proud in our highest traditions of military aviation.
December, 2020
Her uncle, David "Benny" Bonello, Foil: 64 Panel: 1 Column: 3 Line: 85
(https://airandspace.si.edu/support/wall-of-honor/cw2-david-benny-bonell…)