Veterans Day is a good time to answer two questions service members and recent veterans ask us: is crane work a good fit, and how do I pay for training? Here are our answers, in the order they usually matter.
Why many veterans take to crane work
Running a crane is a team job built on procedure. The operator, the rigger and the signal person each have a defined role, communication follows set signals, and nobody improvises with a suspended load. Veterans tend to recognize that structure right away.
Some specific habits carry over well:
- Pre-use inspections. If you've done preventive maintenance checks on vehicles or equipment, a crane walk-around will feel familiar.
- Hand signals and radio discipline. Clear, standard communication is the backbone of every lift.
- Following a written plan. Lift plans, load charts and checklists reward people who don't skip steps.
- Calm under pressure. When something doesn't look right, stopping the job and saying so is the correct move.
Veterans who worked in logistics, engineering units, transportation or aviation maintenance may already have rigging or load-handling experience. Mention it when you talk to us; it helps us suggest the right course length.
Which VA benefit applies to you
Miller Crane Works is approved for two VA education programs:
Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)
If you have Chapter 33 entitlement, you apply to VA for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). The COE shows your benefit level and remaining entitlement. VA decides what it will pay toward tuition and any housing allowance, so check your COE and VA's own tools rather than relying on rules of thumb.
Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31)
VR&E works differently. You meet with a VR&E counselor, and the counselor has to agree that crane operator training fits your rehabilitation and employment plan. Once it's approved, VA works with the school on payment. Start the conversation with your counselor before you pick a start date, because the approval takes time.
Our VA compliance page lists the school's policies for students using VA benefits.
The paperwork order that avoids delays
- Confirm your eligibility with VA (COE for Chapter 33, or a counselor meeting for Chapter 31).
- Talk to us about the course and which start date works. Call (214) 763-0513 or text (469) 319-9009.
- Send your COE or VR&E authorization along with your enrollment paperwork. See admission for what we need.
- Plan your living arrangements if you're coming from outside the Dallas area.
- Show up ready: ID, boots, clothes for outdoor work and a notebook for load charts.
If you're still on active duty
Service members within a year or so of separation often start planning early, which is smart. Ask your transition office about the programs available to you, and ask VA whether you'll have entitlement to use after separation. You can call us anytime to talk through course lengths and dates so your plan is ready when your DD-214 is.
Training away from home
All of our training and NCCCO practical exams happen at one place: our yard at 304 Tunnell St in Seagoville, southeast of Dallas. Veterans coming from other parts of Texas or from out of state often choose a premium course, because those offer optional room and board during training. The premium courses with optional room and board page explains how that works.
Courses veterans commonly ask about
For someone with no crane time, the Premium Plus Mobile Crane Operations Fixed/Swing Cab Course combines full mobile crane training with optional room and board. Veterans who live within driving distance often choose Mobile Crane Operations Fixed/Swing Cab 120 Hours and commute. If you'd rather start on the rigging side, Rigger/Signal Person Certification Level I 28 Hours prepares you for NCCCO Rigger Level I and Signalperson.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Questions we hear
Do I need a Certificate of Eligibility before enrolling with the GI Bill?
For Chapter 33, yes. Apply to VA for your COE first and send it with your enrollment paperwork so benefits can be processed.
Can VR&E pay for crane operator training?
It can, if your VR&E counselor approves crane operator training as part of your plan. Talk to your counselor before choosing a start date.
I'm coming from out of state. Is there housing?
Our premium courses offer optional room and board for students who travel in. Training itself is always at our Seagoville yard.
