In 1853, Milan Packard was called in the service of the Utah Militia. This company was called in active service to defend the settlers against hostile Indians. He saw his first active service in the Walker Indian War which broke out in Springville. The following year, 1854, he with a company of other men from Springville accompanied Colonel Conover to Goshen pursuing Chief Tintic and a band of Indians who had stolen a lot of stock from the settlers in the valley. The company encountered a blinding snow storm, then severe cold was endured in the Tintic Valley, but the company was victorious in the battle fought in the Goshen Valley. The stock was finally recovered at the expense of some of the mens frost bitten hands and feet. Milan Packard participated in all of the Indian wars of Utah. This included the Walker War, the Tintic War, and the Black Hawk War. He was also a scout at the approach of Johnston's Army in 1857. He had many thrilling escapes and adventures during these times.

In 1856 at the age of 26, Milan married Margaret Jane Haymond who was 15 at the time and 11 years younger. Milan built a comfortable home on his farm in which they lived. Together they had 10 children between 1858 and 1884; Sarah Delilah, Milan Owen, Martha Amelia, Noah Lavell, Jacob Asa, Chillian Fay, Alpheous Oresta, William Melvin, Ray and Preal.

Upon the cessation of hostilities with the Indians Milan became interested in freighting and continued in that work until 1868. He traveled all over the western country. He made seven trips from Salt Lake City to the Missouri River and back. He made seven trips from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles and back. He made fifteen trips to Helena and Virginia City, Montana, hauling supplies to those points. He also freighted into Nevada. At one time he unloaded a wagon train of flour for Walker Brothers of Salt Lake City in the mining town of Austin, Nevada, which sold at fifty dollars a sack. He had at this time a large freighting outfit. It consisted of several heavy freight wagons, each drawn by six horses or mules. With this outfit he did much contract work in freighting.