To win readers over, we need to write characters so authentic they feel like real people. How do we do this? By brainstorming a character’s backstory, personality, needs, desires, and their day-to-day world. Lucky for us, one aspect of their daily life is a goldmine of characterization: the type of work they do.
Think about it: a job can reveal personality, skills, beliefs, fears, desires, and more, which is why Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi created The Occupation Thesaurus, a writing guide that profiles 124 possible careers and the story-worthy information that goes with each.
However, there was only so much space for only so many jobs.
Those of us at Black Wolf Editorial enjoy reading stories that have one of the elusive spies, assassins, or military personnel. On that note, we've coordinated efforts with one of our military connections to create this special entry to accompany The Occupation Thesaurus.
Staff Sergeant David Feinstein is a U.S. Army soldier with the unique role of being a Patriot Launching Station Enhanced Operator Maintainer (14T). That job title might be a little convoluted, but here, in a nutshell, are the key things that a writer needs to know.
Realistic Character Occupations:
U.S. Army Soldier, Patriot Launching Station Enhanced Operator Maintainer (14T)
OVERVIEW
U.S. Army soldiers defend the United States from a variety of threats. In the Air Defense Artillery (ADA), soldiers are tasked with shooting down aerial targets. Hostile or enemy targets can be identified, tracked and engaged with a few different systems. The ADA is broken up into Short, Medium and High range air defense systems. Patriot Missiles are used in Medium range ADA operations. A soldier in the Military Occupational Speciality (MOS) 14T is tasked with setting up, maintaining, taking down and moving the Patriot Missile Launching Station.
HEMTT = stands for Heavy Expanded Mobile Tactical Truck. (Photo provided by SSG David Feinstein.)
Each launching station is mounted on a large trailer that is pulled by a large eight wheel vehicle called a HEMTT. HEMTT stands for Heavy Expanded Mobile Tactical Truck. The HEMTT is bigger than most 18-wheel trucks or Lories. Every launching station has a diesel generator used to power it. A typical launching station will be loaded with anywhere from four to sixteen Surface to Air Missiles. Each launching station is controlled remotely by an Engagement Control Station (ECS).
NECESSARY TRAINING
All U.S. army soldiers attend Basic Training. This is a nine-week course where new recruits are taught how to be a soldier. Areas trained in include physical fitness, military customs and courtesies, Basic Rifle Marksmanship, combat life saving, land navigation, reaction to enemy fire and attacking enemy targets.
Every soldier attends Advanced Individual Training (AIT) after attending Basic Training. This course provides the MOS specific training needed for each soldier. 14T’s are taught how to maintain and service the launching station, how to reload the launching station and how to set it up and take it down.
Mobility drills for the launching station are conducted by a two-man crew. Emplacement and March Ordering generally take no more than twenty-five minutes. Emplacement involves moving the HEMTT and Launching Station (LS) into the correct position, disconnecting the HEMTT, raising the LS and connecting it to the ECS. March Order is just the opposite of emplacement.
Reloading a launching station is accomplished using either a crane or forklift to move canisters than can weigh in excess of 4,000 lbs. A reload team comprises a five-soldier team:
- Crew members 1 and 2 operate the launching station, serve as ground guides and man tag lines when the crane is being used.
- The operator will operate the forklift or the crane to remove and place the missile canisters.
- A signal will provide all movement directions to the operator.
- The safety will generally be a sergeant or staff sergeant and they will oversee all reload activities of their crew.
The reload drill is conducted in sixty minutes or less to move six canisters.
USEFUL SKILLS, TALENTS, OR ABILITIES
Trouble shooting mechanical and electrical systems. The ability to take direction and follow orders. Cardiovascular and strength training.
SOURCES OF FRICTION
SSG David Feinstein standing on a patriot missile launcher. The HEMTT is the truck that tows this thing around. (Photo provided by SSG David Feinstein.)
Barracks room inspections.
Uniform inspections.
Performing and documenting all maintenance.
Working for 24 hours straight.
Endless cleaning and site beautification.
Being away from home for months at a time.
Constantly being told what to do.
Daily physical training.
WRITERS SHOULD KNOW…
Most new soldiers are young when they join up: eighteen to twenty-five. Advancement from the lower enlisted ranks to sergeant typically takes about four to five years. Sergeants are expected to train and lead their soldiers at all times. It is common for sergeants to talk to their soldiers about furthering their education and how they are spending their money. It’s all too easy for a soldier’s performance at work to be affected by problems outside of work.
A soldier is expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner at all times. Misbehaviour outside of work can negatively impact a soldier. A soldier who is cited for speeding or DUI can have their on base driving privileges revoked. Soldiers are also responsible for any negative thing that their family members do.
Would you like more information about this job?
If you have any questions about this job, or the life of being a soldier, just drop us a line here at Black Wolf, or leave a comment below, and we will get the answer for you. (For privacy reasons, we can not share SSG Feinstein's contact information publicly.)
