Richard Prigmore, U.S. Army/Arizona Army National Guard – Specialist 2011 – present
Richard Prigmore currently serves in the National Guard while working in the tire industry.
Prigmore was attending a community college when he decided to join the Army. Unsure of what he wanted to do as a career, he felt like he was wasting time and money. After talking with others who had served, Prigmore decided that the military might be a better option for him.
Prigmore served five years active duty out of Fort Brag, N.C. He is currently in the Arizona National Guard out of Coolidge, Ariz.
In the service, Prigmore specializes in explosive ordnance disposal, also known as the bomb squad. As a member of the explosive ordnance disposal, he deals with disarming IEDs and dud explosives.
For his specialization, Prigmore had to attend a special school at Eglin Air Force Base, the Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal (NASCOLEOD). He is extremely proud of completing this program due to its high attrition rate.
“I’m really proud of making it through the EOD training program,” he says. “Not only making it through the school, but developing my skills as a good team member.”
Prigmore is new to the tire industry. Upon graduating Universal Technical Institute, he joined Bud’s Tire Pros in Moreno Valley, Calif. He’s worked at the dealership as a tire technician for nine months.
His favorite part about working in the shop is learning from the other service technicians.
Prigmore believes his experience in the military has helped him succeed in his current career.
“My training has definitely helped. It gives me the appropriate work ethic and discipline; just keeps me in the right mindset striving to improve and move up within the ladder here,” he says.
His training has also helped him to work with a variety of individuals and ask questions.
“You don’t get to pick and choose who you work with, so you have to learn to work with people no matter how difficult they can be sometimes,” he shares. “It’s also given me the willingness to ask questions…. Asking a question can prevent a mistake from happening in the first place.”
