ST. GEORGE —As we prepare to celebrate our nation’s freedom, we honor the courageous men and women dedicated to preserving it by serving their country in the military.
Hurricane resident Dustin Benoit is a Santa Clara-Ivins firefighter, paramedic and trainer with a military background that seamlessly transitioned into his career as a Southern Utah first responder.
He’s not the first member of his family to serve in the military, Benoit said his grandfather served in World War II and his father in Vietnam — something he grew up admiring.
“My whole life I just grew up in that kind of culture,” Benoit said. “Just knowing that they were a part of it, I wanted to be part of that. There was never any doubt that I was going to join. And the Marine Corps was just calling for me.”
Benoit joined the United States Marines Corps in 2004 attending the School of Infantry (SOI), which allowed him to do testing for reconnaissance. After passing, he was stationed to another unit at Camp Pendleton for the Pre-Basic Reconnaissance course – a course designed to train Marines in the tactics, techniques and procedures of amphibious reconnaissance operations.
He went on to San Diego for the Basic Reconnaissance Course (BRC) and successfully completed to become a Reconnaissance Marine.
He was sent to Okinawa in 2006, where he spent two-and-a-half years before deployment to Iraq. While in Okinawa, he was part of the Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), then returned to California’s Recon Battalion.
From there, he was sent to Africa aboard a Marine Corps mini aircraft carrier that held helicopters and Harrier jets. After moving back to California, he was deployed to Afghanistan, twice.
“It’s allowed me to see many places,” Benoit said. “We visited Jordon, dived into the Red Sea, Pera and made stops in different Asian countries.”
Because his job required him to observe residents in rural locations, he received additional training at the Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape school, in the event that he was captured and imprisoned.
On top of all his other training, Benoit said he attended a jump school in Georgia, where he learned to jump out of airplanes with a static line. And dive school, which included scuba diving and the use of an Underwater Breathing Apparatus (UBA).
Benoit said the first thing he did when completing his military service in 2012 was attend Dixie State University for his Advanced Emergency Medical Technician training. He graduated paramedic school in 2017.
“Being over there and seeing when some of our guys would get hurt, seeing our medics jump into action, do what they needed to do and treat everyone,” he said. “The different medics I’ve had and their desire to treat our guys, it had such an impact on them and me. Without that, I may not be here doing what I am with the medical stuff.”
After graduation, he joined the Santa Clara-Ivins Fire and Rescue team as an Advanced EMT. After a two-year Texas adventure, he re-joined the team along with Gold Cross Ambulance. He previously worked with the fire department in Cedar City, attended a fire academy and came back to the Santa Clara-Ivins department full-time in June 2022.
“I love it,” he said about Santa Clara-Ivins Fire and Rescue. “The people here since I started in 2016 to now have been great. I love everyone that works and worked here. We stay busy but we also have time to do training so we aren’t overwhelmed.”
He said one of the most rewarding things about being a first responder is the ability to serve those in rural parts of the community that are vulnerable, like motorcycle crashes in places that would otherwise be underserved.
Benoit said he’s thankful for his military experience, which served as the perfect prerequisite to a fulfilling EMS and fire career. He said his family loves Southern Utah and there’s nowhere else they’d rather be.
Photo Gallery
Wedding and renewal photos of Dustin and Haley-Shea Benoit are pictured side-by-side, locations unspecified, 2022 and 2012 | Photo courtesy of Dustin Benoit, St. George News
Dustin Benoit is pictured during a deployment to Afghanistan, 2010 | Photo courtesy of Dustin Benoit, St. George News
Dustin Benoit is pictured during a deployment to Iraq, 2007 | Photo courtesy of Dustin Benoit, St. George News
Dustin Benoit undergoes training in Okinawa, Japan, 2008 | Photo courtesy of Dustin Benoit, St. George News
Dustin Benoit smiles for the camera in his Santa Clara - Ivins Fire and Rescue uniform, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Dustin Benoit, St. George News
Dustin Benoit stands in front of a fire truck at the Santa Clara - Ivins Fire and Rescue department in Santa Clara, Utah, June 13, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
A window behind Dustin Benoit showcases a fire truck being used for training, Santa Clara, Utah, June 13, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Dustin Benoit stands in front of a fire truck at the Santa Clara - Ivins Fire and Rescue department in Santa Clara, Utah, June 13, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Dustin Benoit takes a photo with his wife Haley-Shea Benoit, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Dustin Benoit, St. George News
Dustin Benoit stands in front of a fire truck at the Santa Clara - Ivins Fire and Rescue department in Santa Clara, Utah, June 13, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Dustin Benoit poses with his wife Haley-Shea Benoit and their three children, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Dustin Benoit, St. George News
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.