Kelley values traditions of West Point
- Cadet Sergeant Taylor Kelley is majoring in mechanical engineering at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. RECORD PHOTOS/GREGG L. PARKER
MADISON – Cadet Sergeant Taylor Kelley wanted to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point for his “strong desire to serve while developing myself to become the best leader that I could.”
Kelley entered West Point in 2014 and now serves as his company’s Honor Representative. “I’ve always wanted to serve my country. West Point offered me the amazing opportunity to do so after receiving an amazing college education and great training,” he said.
After completing basic training (called “Beast”), he earned National Defense Service Medal, German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge and Air Assault wings.
“I attended Field Training at Camp Buckner (West Point) and spent a month with 104 Company in 36 Engineer Brigade in Fort Hood, Texas. Shortly after this, I was on Academic Individual Advanced Development (AIAD) with AMRDEC/SAIC working on the BAT (Blackhawk Aircrew Trainer) project helping to build UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter simulators on Redstone Arsenal,” Kelley said.
To Kelley, the best aspect of West Point enrollment is “the tradition and the relationships. The people at West Point are truly the most extraordinary people you’ll ever meet.”
“The most challenging part about it is that you have to manage your time between academics, athletics, training and other work, which is really tough to do,” Kelley said.
“I moved to Redstone Arsenal when my father was posted there,” Taylor said. “I was going into second grade. We’ve moved around the entire country since he was in the Army, but I spent most of my life in Huntsville.”
His father Thomas C. Kelley III (Lieutenant Colonel retired) works as a manager of sales at SAIC’s fixed wing division. Taylor’s mother, Ann Kelley, works as an optometric assistant at Eyecare and Associates. Taylor has one brother and one sister.
Taylor is majoring in mechanical engineering with an aeronautical engineering discipline. “After I graduate, I would love to branch aviation and fly helicopters in the U.S. Army,” he said. Taylor participates in West Point’s Mechanical Engineering Club and ground school with Aviation Club.
His hobbies are playing sports, working out, fishing, hunting, Jeeps and watching football with friends.
