-: So my name is Mike Peoples, Michael Peoples.
I am a 100% service connected naval officer
and I have, as a result of those injuries
and everything else, I've decided, I kind of decided
to switch career paths and everything.
And so I started out or I came back to volunteering
with the American Red Cross, back in 2002
and I've been there ever since as a full-time volunteer.
I wear multiple hats.
I actually have several full-time jobs.
One is services
to Armed Forces Recovery lead.
So I support the regions in the Mid-Atlantic Division
from South Carolina to Pennsylvania
with their programming in DOD and VA hospitals,
kinda full circle for me.
Also part of that role, I support veteran service programs
throughout that footprint as well as care giving programs.
My other full-time hat, if you will,
I serve as the reunification lead
for the American Red Cross on the disaster side.
I'm based out the the Charlottesville office,
but I travel a lot to Fairfax,
that's where our Disaster Operation Coordination Center is
and then I travel up and down the seaboard
within the division for the Services Armed Forces role.
In fact, over the weekend I was in Johnstown, Pennsylvania,
conducting some training
for our volunteer representatives
and deputy representatives who work in,
who manage individual facilities
within the VA hospital space.
We're recruiting volunteers,
we're working with the staff at the hospital
to see what programs or what services
they need support with from us.
And then of course, you know, every now and then
there's always that one problem, right?
So you're putting out fires and that kind of thing.
I also will serve as a volunteer partner for our training
and development director on the Disaster Cycle Service side
and in that role I'm kind of the voice of the field,
and I help with, you know, updating training,
redesigning training or providing new training,
across the disaster footprint,
as well as some doctrine around how regions
should build a training program at the local level.
So I put in about 80 hours a week,
when I'm not traveling, so,
and then with travel, whatever.
But it's fun, it keeps me out of trouble.