18-year-old is first female infantry soldier in Kansas

An 18-year-old Kansan has become the first woman in Kansas to enlist as a U.S. Army infantry soldier.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Tristan Guzman swore in on May 24 in Olathe. She said she knew she wanted to go into the military since she was 11.

Women couldn’t be infantry soldiers until the federal decision lifting gender-based restrictions from all military positions became effective in January. An infantry soldier is a land combat soldier trained in face-to-face combat and bears the brunt of warfare on the front lines.

Guzman was a three-sport athlete in high school in Allen will also receive an airborne classification. That means after she completes basic training next year at Fort Benning, she’ll attend another training session to receive her airborne status.