EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The end zone won't be the end of the line for a sailor's term of service in the Navy.
LSC (SW/AW) Seth Swanson re-enlisted in the United States Navy on Friday afternoon at the Vikings Winter Park headquarters with assistance from Special Teams Coordinator Mike Priefer, a graduate of the U.S. Navy who **flew helicopters** in the Persian Gulf.
Swanson has served in the Navy for 15 years. He is wrapping up a three-year stint as the supply department head at Navy Recruiting District Minneapolis and has been assigned to USS *John P. Murtha *in San Diego.
The re-enlistment is another five-year commitment by Swanson, 38, an Iowa native whose parents are from Minnesota. He was joined Friday by his wife of 15 years, Lindsay, and other service members.
Swanson joined Priefer in the end zone of one of the practice fields and affirmed his commitment to the enlistment oath for a third reenlistment as a dozen Vikings players (Trae Waynes, Harrison Smith, Andrew Sendejo, Marcus Sherels, Emmanuel Lamur, David Morgan, Kai Forbath, Ryan Quigley, Kevin McDermott, Stephen Weatherly, Anthony Harris and C.J. Ham), assistant special teams coach Ryan Ficken and Vikings Director of Security Kim Klawiter, an Army veteran, observed.
"It's pretty awesome to be able to experience this here with the players and see Coach Priefer," Swanson said. "This is my third enlistment in the Navy, so it's not something that happens very often, and by far, this has been the most special one for me. I've been a fan of the Vikings for a long time.
"[Serving in the Navy] started out as just a job for me, but it was something that fit really well," Swanson added. "It's an honor to be able to serve my country and to do this job, and to be able to continue to do so for five more years, gives me a great feeling."
Swanson completed basic training at Naval Station Great Lakes near Chicago. He has been stationed in San Diego twice before, as well as Puerto Rico, Virginia and Minnesota.
Prior to moving to Minnesota, the most recent Vikings game that Swanson attended was when Warren Moon was sporting Purple.
"I still have family that lives in Minnesota, so I've always grown up a Vikings fan and Twins fan," Swanson said. "It's been fun to be stationed here for the last three years and get to go to some Vikings games."
He and Lindsay said they've also enjoyed the four distinctive seasons that Minnesota offers and plan to enjoy one more winter here before they move to San Diego this spring.
"[Moving is] part of the job," Swanson said. "It's been a good time here in Minnesota, but it will be good to get back out to the fleet."
