The Life of Drake Miller

I served for 6 years in the Alabama Army National Guard as a Heavy Equipment Operator (12N), leaving as a Specialist (E4). While in the guard, I specialized in operating both light and heavy equipment. Operating anything from a D7 dozer to something as simple as a forklift. My main job in the military was laying out and maintaining roads, while doing other tasks such as land clearing. I was also trained and became proficient in loading equipment onto trailers and driving large haul trucks.

In and out of the military, I learned that communication is key. I worked with many supiors on missions and projects to find the best way to achieve our goal. One way I enhanced my communication skills was by becoming a certified instructor in the Army. Getting this certification required a one-week course. Once the course was completed, I had to teach multiple courses to validate my certification and get my official certification. The first two courses were on fire safety and instruction on different types of fire extinguishers, their use, and how to properly use an extinguisher. The last course I taught was on vehicle safety. This consisted of a PowerPoint presentation and hands-on learning. The course focused on how to be safe when working on or around any equipment or vehicles. Ranging from the importance of 3 points of contact, to areas of the truck that are not safe to be working on or around, to blind spots that affect the driver’s visibility, whether on the road or in the motor pool.