VETERAN OF THE WEEK: Col. Courtney Taylor
Col. Courtney Taylor (Record Photo/Nick Sellers)
By Nick Sellers | Staff Writer
MADISON – During an Army recruiter’s speech to a James Clemens JROTC class, retired Col. Courtney Taylor lights up when talking about the program’s growth the past two years.
The Jets now enroll 109 students in JROTC, compared to 93 last year and 73 in the school’s first year.
Taylor never thought he would be in education post-military, but his 24 years with the U.S. Army didn’t leave him unprepared when he retired in 2012 from Redstone Arsenal.
“I still feel like I’m current with the Army,” he said.
Growing up in Lakeland, Fla., Taylor attended Stetson University and graduated in 1988. Upon graduation, he was immediately commissioned as an Army lieutenant and shipped off to Fort Bragg, N.C. Taylor became a paratrooper and attended ranger school and jumpmaster school in addition to seeing combat in Operation Desert Storm – all in the first three years of service.
It also wasn’t Taylor’s intent to serve more than a few years in the Army, either.
“One thing led to another, I was getting competitive, I was getting hungry, and 24 years later here I am,” Taylor said with a laugh.
Taylor also did two tours in Afghanistan, one of which he served as battalion commander. During that tour, he absorbed several units with discipline problems that had no previous training under him. He was able to iron out the issues and was praised by his commander for doing so.
He relishes a similar role today with the JROTC program.
“I like working with students and cadets who are typically more reserved and shy who possess some leadership skills…we help them to blossom,” Taylor said.
The program’s students take part in various community service events, such as Memorial Day flag placings at Madison cemeteries and other similar functions. Military Appreciation Night is scheduled for the Bob Jones-James Clemens game. As James Clemens is the home team, the Jets JROTC program is coordinating the night’s Military Tribute.
To suggest someone living in the Madison area as our Veteran of the Week, please feel free to contact The Madison Record at 256-772-6677.
