NAVAL BASE SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- After years of hard work and careful balancing between being a Marine, father and husband, Gunnery Sgt. Kenneth Taylor, electronic key management system manager deployed with Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) Afghanistan finally earned his degree.
He and his wife attended the 6th annual San Diego Metro Academic Military Recognition Ceremony aboard Naval Base San Diego, Calif., June 13, where they were honored with other service members, retirees, spouses and contractors who earned their degrees.
“Sometimes it’s a little tough,” said Kenneth Taylor. “You come home after a full day, take care of the kids, then somewhere around 7:30 or 8 o’clock you sit down to start doing homework. Some nights you might finish at 10 or 11 o’clock. Then [you] get back up early the next morning to do it all again.”
The road to his degree was tough, but with his wife beside him, Adela Taylor, who attended classes of her own, Kenneth Taylor accomplished the mission.
“We motivate each other to keep going,” said Adela Taylor. “We ask each other ‘hey, what’s going on in your class?’ or ‘did you finish your homework?’ or ‘oh, you’re lagging behind.’”
He and his wife wanted to attend the ceremony together, where they would receive their degrees. Kenneth Taylor worried he would be unable to attend due to his deployment.
“My original leave dates didn’t match up for me to be able to come back for this event,” said Kenneth Taylor. “Fortunately, I was able to talk to my command and they were able to allow me to attend after all and this is just such an amazing feeling.”
Coordinators allowed the graduating couple to walk the stage together when receiving their certificates of recognition. Both received their certificates, but now they have their sights set on the future.
“I’ve already signed up for a master’s course in cyber security,” said Kenneth Taylor. “I might not be able to start on it until my deployment is finished, but the plan is definitely to continue.”
The Taylors were grateful for the recognition and Kenneth Taylor planned to focus on his family for the short time he was home, and then carry on with his mission while deployed.