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The quest for happiness is arguably a lifelong mission we all
share. Happiness is an individual’s prerogative, and is often
partially achieved through personal success, wealth, sports, or a
number of many other avenues. Conversely, complete happiness is
simply a byproduct of purpose, selfless service, and everything that
goes with the idea of “being the best professional one can be” when
doing remarkable things for others. National Guard Soldiers and
Airmen do just that, in their own communities, serving their
neighbors, their friends, and their families – that’s purpose.
Ultimately, purpose creates vision, and vision triggers action,
then results arrive, and ultimately happiness becomes possible,
sustainable, and, most importantly something to be shared with the
rest of the world. This principle can be particularly true for
Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen when juggling the challenges of military
commitments and often complicated lives, civilian jobs, and
families. One of these remarkable, yet humble heroes, is Chief
Warrant Officer Natalie Miller, who has found both purpose and
happiness.
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February 24, 2017 - U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Natalie
Miller, Detachment 1, Company B, 2-238th General Support Aviation
Battalion, sits in the pilot seat of her CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift
cargo helicopter in Greenville, SC before leaving with her crew for
a week-long training mission focused on high-altitude flight
operations. She and her crew will attend a power management-centered
course at the High-Altitude ARNG Aviation Training Site (HAATS),
Eagle County, CO. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt.
Roberto Di Giovine)
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Miller’s life revolves around her passion of flying helicopters.
What started in 1998 as a way to financially support her college
education and “do something fun” brought Miller to become a KC-135
aircrew’s life-support equipment technician, in the Wisconsin Air
National Guard. Later she joined the U.S. Army Aviation branch as a
UH-60 Black Hawk pilot.
Miller’s passion for flying and caring
for others finally merged when she became a medevac pilot flying
combat missions in Iraq. Subsequently, purpose and happiness brought
her to Georgia in pursuit of a degree in Physician Assistant.
“It was a natural step to make me a better medevac pilot, and
give me a civilian career filled with purpose” said Miller.
This education helped shape her civilian profession in order to
continue her passion. She has found a position that gives her enough
flexibility to continue working as a physician assistant, while also
allows her to fit in time for her military flight schedule.
“You can be an average pilot and get by with the minimal amount of
flown hours required, or you can shape your civilian life in order
to fly as much as possible, thus developing your skills as a pilot,
and preparing yourself for real world missions—always around the
corner for Army Aviation Citizen-Soldiers,” added Miller. “When we
deploy, for example, we fly continuously, and flying becomes muscle
memory. So, as a pilot, I feel at my professional top when I am
deployed. Back home, I can achieve similar proficiency by
sacrificing some of my civilian life in order to fly often, train
hard, and continue learning and applying myself toward, what I
consider, professional excellence.”
In 2011, Natalie said goodbye to her beloved Black Hawks and met
the mighty CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopter. She first flew the
Chinooks with the Georgia National Guard and later, in 2013, Miller
transferred to the 2-238th General Support Aviation Brigade, South
Carolina National Guard, also a CH-47 unit where she continues
flying the heavy-lift helicopter.
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February 24, 2017 - U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Natalie
Miller, Detachment 1, Company B, 2-238th General Support Aviation
Battalion, stands with her back to a CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift cargo
helicopter that she pilots ... as she meets with fellow South
Carolina National Guard members in Greenville, SC ... before leaving
with her crew for a week-long training mission focused on
high-altitude flight operations. She and her crew will attend a
power management-centered course at the High-Altitude ARNG Aviation
Training Site (HAATS), Eagle County, CO. (U.S. Army National Guard
photo by Staff Sgt. Roberto Di Giovine)
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Throughout her career, she has flown different type of
airframes, she has been introduced to new units and fellow
Soldiers, and she has been challenged by new missions, but
she has continued to keep the same drive, same passion, and
same quest for excellence, because of her purpose to serve
her community and to protect her crew.
“That is
ultimately happiness, and it is absolutely driven by
purpose, because as a pilot, and as a leader, I have no
option but strive for perfection, and fly with confidence,
proficiency, and dedication to my crew and our mission,
whether combat or emergency response,” said Miller.
By U.S. Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Roberto Di Giovine
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2017
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