@NMSU
New ROTC Commander finds strong community support, niche at NMSU
"It's a lot cooler than Iraq, and a lot warmer than Washington," Maj. (Promotable) Andrew Taylor said in response to a question on how he's adapting to the southern New Mexico heat.
Taylor, who finished a second tour of duty in Iraq early so that he could take his new post as ROTC Commander at NMSU, is in his 17th year of service and liking his new assignment.
"It's a great community, very supportive; it was an easy decision to make," Taylor said. "I have a great wife, Jennifer, and two great kids and they're all happy to be here too."
As an engineer officer, Taylor's other assignments have taken him to several locations including Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. It was there he worked on and found success in resourcing joint engineer forces for the Global War on Terror as well as employing new program operations for the early phases of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In 2006 Taylor found himself serving a 16-month deployment in "hot spots" such as Mosul, Baghdad and Baqubah.
"The difference [at NMSU] is the focus is to train," Taylor said. "It's totally different than anything I've done before, the chance to mold and shape future generations."
Taylor said the training for cadets includes not only knowing what to think, but how to think, and that's where his non-commissioned officer in charge Master Sgt. Jose Castro will come into play the most.
Castro's 21 years of infantry experience means the cadets will "have a great leader to emulate," Taylor said. Castro also recently returned from a tour of duty in Iraq and arrived at NMSU in July.
"Major Taylor and I were in Iraq at the same time in different units this last year," Castro said. "He is so committed and dedicated that he caught a helicopter ride to come and meet me at my company area when he found out that I was going to be assigned to NMSU."
With both men bringing in a slew of skills, titles and awards, the ROTC cadets stand to learn a lot this year.
"Our mission here at NMSU is to teach future leaders how to be agile, adaptive, compassionate and effective leaders of our nation's most important resource - its sons and daughters," Taylor said.
Of those sons and daughters enrolled in the NMSU ROTC program, Taylor said, as of early August, he'd met about a dozen members and said of them, he's "impressed."
"Major Taylor is going to bring an immeasurable amount of experience to the program," Castro said, adding that expectations are extremely high this year. "We will train and commission the best cadets to become Second Lieutenants in the U.S. Army - either on Active Duty, National Guard or Reserve."
Taylor took over for Lt. Col. Brad Gavle who retired this summer after finishing 26 years of military service three of which at NMSU.
"Gavle set the program up for success here," Taylor said. He had never worked with Gavle, but new of his and the program's good reputation.
"I look forward to coming in, working hard and having fun."
Written by Susan Prosoco.