JCFD captain did two stints in Marines

Capt. Darren "Bear" Reuter is a 23-year veteran of the Jefferson City Fire Department, and notes early service in the Marine Corps helped prepare him for the challenges he encountered during his career in public service.
Capt. Darren "Bear" Reuter is a 23-year veteran of the Jefferson City Fire Department, and notes early service in the Marine Corps helped prepare him for the challenges he encountered during his career in public service.

A 23-year veteran of the Jefferson City Fire Department, Darren "Bear" Reuter has become a local fixture in the community through his involvement in a number of volunteer endeavors. But he notes that an early stint in the Marine Corps is what helped pave the path for a career in public service.

Graduating from Jefferson City High School in May 1984, Reuter joined the Marine Corps the following November.

"I grew up playing Marine when everyone else was playing Army," Reuter chuckled. "I also had a lot of family and friends that had served, and their influence meant a lot to me."

Reuter traveled to San Diego and completed 12 weeks of initial training. He then transferred to ....