ANDREW SMILEY

Growing up on a boat gave me a different outlook on life and has helped me in many ways. I wouldn’t say it was better or worse than growing up in a suburban area but to a young boy, a yacht is just a trailer that you cant walk away from. My love for the water has always been a part of who I am to the extent that I was swimming laps prior to walking. Diving, fishing, surfing and racing sailboats around the world was by no means a negative childhood and I believe that the added benefit of additional responsibilities and experience have greatly aided me throughout my life.

After returning to the states and attending a public high school I quickly realized that the only thing people should learn in a school is that no one belongs there. So, I enlisted and chose to do and see more. I was in a special operations infantry unit and had the privilege to both work with and for some of the greatest men this world has to offer. This too has allowed me to tackle life in a different manner. I returned to my civilian life not just with new skills but with a better understanding of the world around me and a new perspective on how to deal with it.

After being medically retired from the Corps. I found new skills and hobbies that would take me further in life. I attended the country’s most prestigious Gunsmithing school and learned an enjoyable trade from true masters of the craft. It was during my time at school that I met the love of my life and future mother of our four amazing children. We left off and headed north to bend Oregon for a new adventure. I went on to work for some of the leading families in traditional firearms. There, I was able to take what I had already gained in knowledge and skill, turning it into a profession. After having made a name for myself I decided that yet another change was due.

I decided to get into the field of Fire and medical. It became more than just a part of my life, it became my life. I volunteered upwards of eighty hours a week doing everything from extrication and technical rescue to the simplest of med calls and community outreach. Helping people became a passion. Quickly rising through the ranks and achieving a Captain’s billet gave me a better perspective on the healthcare system and what it means to be a leader. During this time we inherited the Black Mountain Estate from family friends who have never stopped looking out for us. However as the department grew, I realized that my time was more valuable to my family.

Looking at home and towards the ones I love, I realized that there were people close to me that could also use my help. It was at this time that we decided that homeschooling our children was best even though it was not in any way easier. Having had the privilege in the past to help those around me, I discovered that to become a better man, I must do my best to uplift those closest in my life. I looked towards friends and saw a need for mentorship and guidance that was lacking in theirs. Through these actions I gained family that have gone on to be better men both in their personal life, professional life and leaders amongst their peers. I have grown a family out of the friends I have made along my way and if you have worked with me for more than a day, you’ll be able to hear my voice in your head saying “go team”. I use this phrase both sarcastically and motivationally. I have learned that while people may lack the skills or knowledge to complete a task, a team can always become a unit that will achieve the impossible. Go team has become something that I strive for and encourage in others and those that can’t get on board will find themselves wondering why they were left behind. If you take those in your life and build a unit out of friends, you’ll never have the feeling of impossible again.

I have since gone on to volunteer where I can. Those with the means to help, adopt a responsibility to do so. I have worked as the Commander for the local American legion post, as a board member of local school board MICTED, and as an Alumni organizing and spreading awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project. Never believe that there isn’t enough time to help others.

While I have held many positions of leadership throughout my life I have found that the old adage is true but in my opinion misworded. While others say that you must follow before you can lead it, has always made more sense for me to say you must know the path before you can guide others on it. Removing the association of just following orders into a better understanding of a literal path of travel. It may sound silly but that small change has allowed many men I have worked with to step up and help others along their own paths in life.

With all of that being said, I have found in my life that no matter what I am doing or how much fun I am having while doing it, if I am not learning or helping people, I can not be fulfilled.

If you have a project that you think I could help with or you’re just looking to find someone to talk with about your life, please feel free to reach out. I am always here to help and to do what I can to promote a better of life.