FORT POLK, La.- When Pfc. Martin Miller was a young boy growing up in Louisville, Kentucky his father raised him like a Soldier.
"Discipline doesn't hurt anyone," said, his father, Sgt. 1st Class Martin Miller, "He's going to have discipline."
Despite his militant upbringing, or perhaps because of it, Pfc. Martin decided to follow in his father's footsteps and today, Sgt. 1st Class Martin Miller, 45, and Pvt. 1st Class Martin Miller, 19, are father and son, serving in the 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C.
Sgt. 1st Class Miller, who jokingly claims to "wear the pants and the belt," said he is old-fashioned and grew up working on a farm.
He raised his son with military discipline expecting him to stand at the position of parade rest when he was speaking to him to ensure that he listened. Pfc. Miller also did push-ups, sit-ups, flutter kicks and grass drills as corrective training when he was disobedient.
Although his father tried to encourage him to go to college first and become an Army officer, Pfc. Miller had a plan of his own.
He wanted to be an "Army man" and jump out of airplanes like his father, so instead of enrolling in college, Pfc. Miller chose to enlist as a scout, and as fate would have it, found himself in the same squadron as his father.
The phrase "father and son" might invoke thoughts of a family business, but for the Millers, this family's business is a little bit different. As Army scouts, their job is to survey the battlefield and relay information back to higher command so informed decisions can be made.
"We [scouts] are always out in front," Sgt. 1st Class Miller said.
Although the two are in the same squadron they are in separate troops: Alpha Troop and Bravo Troop. While they don't work side by side on a daily basis, Sgt. 1st Class Miller said they may get to work closer together if their troops participate in any joint missions.
The Millers are now training with their unit at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La. in preparation for 4BCT, 82nd Abn. Div.'s upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. This deployment, which is slated for late summer will be Pfc. Miller's first.
Sgt. 1st Class Miller said he is proud of his son and hopes to continue to be an influence throughout his life and career.