Know Your Mil: Why a Jamaica native became a Bradley mechanic for a chance at a better life

Photo By Sgt. Erica Earl | Cpl. Terrence Taylor of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, stands in front of shipping containers at the Port of Riga, Latvia, Oct. 14, 2019. Taylor and other members of the 2-1 CD will be receiving equipment in Latvia before they deploy to various location across the European theater in support of Atlantic Resolve. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Erica Earl)  

RIGA, LATVIA

10.14.2019

Story by Sgt. Erica Earl 

5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment   

RIGA, Latvia-- While growing up on a Caribbean Island may sound like paradise, Cpl. Terrence Taylor of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, based in Fort Hood, Texas, said it his Army service that has helped him live a better life.
Taylor, originally from Portmore, Jamaica, said he joined the Army two and a half years ago as a way to provide a better life for himself and a good future for his son after what he described as a rough upbringing.
“I hit a few bumps in the road when I was growing up,” Taylor said. “I decided to join to straighten out myself.”
Taylor is a mechanic, specifically maintaining and troubleshooting Bradley Fighting Vehicles.
On October 14, 2019, he and other members of 2-1 CD staged at the Port of Riga, Latvia, to prepare for the arrival of their equipment for Atlantic Resolve, a rotation that consists of bilateral exercises and training missions across the European theater with partners and NATO allies.
Taylor has served overseas before in Korea on a rotation with the 2-1 CD.
“It means other people in the world trust us and have confidence in us to help them, and they help us at the same time,” Taylor said of bilateral missions and security cooperation between the United States and our allies.
As a Bradley mechanic, Taylor said he enjoys the parts of the job that others may find tedious or challenging, such as pinpointing issues when they arise.
“It puzzles your mind,” Taylor said. “Sometimes it’s more than one thing, or sometimes it’s a little thing that you overlooked, so you have to think a lot with my job.”
Having high performing, well maintained vehicles is essential, Taylor said. He has to be ready to maintain the Bradleys at any time, to include late hours of the night, to accomplish the mission.
Taylor said he has good memories even when the work has gotten tough.
“When in the field, it’s a collaboration, even if it is three in the morning,” Taylor said.
He said he and his team keep each other’s morale up by making each other laugh.
As a U.S. Soldier born overseas, Taylor said he is looking forward to continuing to maintain a partnership in other nations and learn more about the customs and culture in Latvia and throughout Europe and exchanging traditions.
“I’m from another country so I know how people feel when meeting someone from another country,” Taylor said. “They want to ask you about how you live and want to know stuff about your country.”
Taylor said he is also looking forward to getting to see sites around Europe, specifically to buy his wife a present for her birthday, which he will be missing while on the rotation.

• Date Taken: 10.14.2019
• Date Posted: 10.14.2019 10:16
• Story ID: 347617
• Location: RIGA, LV
• Hometown: FORT CAVAZOS, TX, US