Raven's Roads
Living an interesting life: the travels and musings
of motorcycling author Linda R. Moore

NAHETS, the National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools, is a body which seeks to approve schools for the use of equipment such as cranes, tractors and dozers. Many years ago, one of my cousins suggested that I “have a go” at driving his tractor (I was six years old at the time). Being sensible, I gently declined. A six year old does not belong behind the steering wheel of a tractor, and neither do the untrained. NAHETS understands this, and acts accordingly.

Recently, NAHETS attended the National Indian Education Association’s (NIEA hereafter) annual convention in Hawai’i. One of over two hundred exhibitors, this was no vacation: their objective was to share information about the training programs offered through NAHETS, which gels with the NIEA’s goals to provide Native Americans throughout the entire United States with equal and meaningful training opportunities.

Listed on the NAHETS website are the criteria required for a school or program to get started, including staff and an impressive list of equipment. There are four levels of training that one can take; levels one through three build on each other, but level four (crane operator) requires actual industrial experience (and, presumably, a head for heights!)

Knowing how to handle these mechanical monsters can leave to a lucrative career in building or maintenance. The range of hourly wages can be from $12 to $50. Not too shabby at all!

Press Release:

When people talk about going to Hawaii it usually is associated with vacations, luaus, snorkeling, sight seeing, surfing, and so on. It is the ultimate tropical paradise. But just like any other state in the U.S., more goes on there than just vacations and having fun. One important event that took place in Honolulu is the annual National Indian Education Association (NIEA) Convention. The NIEA was founded in 1969 to support traditional Native cultures and values, and also to enable Natives to improve their communities through educational opportunities and resources. The NIEA works with Native Americans throughout the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii.

38th Annual NIEA Convention: Return to Cultural Honor and Caring

The National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools (NAHETS) was an educational exhibitor at this year’s convention. Over 3,400 Indian education advocates attended the convention and participated in over 220 workshops. Each advocate expressed concrete, statistical information on Indian education.

Native American Liaison, Sharla Patterson, represented NAHETS and instructed the educators about the educational opportunities available through NAHETS’ heavy equipment operating programs. She showed the attendees that NAHETS education and training curriculum can help the NIEA mission become a reality; i.e., provide Native Americans throughout the U.S. a real and lasting education in construction equipment operating that will improve both the society in which they live and also their own lives.

The National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools is an entity focused solely on heavy equipment operator training and education. There are member schools and colleges across the United States.

Contact

Sharla Patterson, Native American Liaison
National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools
2920 N. Green Valley Pkwy Ste 811
Henderson, NV 89014
(702) 480-248-0731

This post was brought to you by NAHETS.