1SG Randy Taylor, Jr., U.S. Army (2002-2023)

Purpose Is Everything.

What I miss most about my time in the service has a lot to do with my purpose in life. A purpose that drove my successes and failures over the past 20 years or so. Each day came and went with a purpose while I served in the Army and this was significant to my own self-development.

I joined the Army right after the September 11^th attacks and I recall landing in Germany for my first duty station after basic training with nothing more than a backpack of a few personal items, the clothes on my back and a folder with what I was told was “very important-do-not-lose” HQDA assignment orders. My purpose was made clear to me at that point and from the infancy of what would be my career as an Infantryman.

Each day brought renewed purpose, which was guided and supervised by leaders within my organization. Ambitious and mutually competitive leadership in my organization aligned with my own values, which was to honor my purpose in support of the organization and was actually something that really appealed to me.

Each coming year brought more combat deployments, military schooling, field training, promotions, PCS moves, etc.… Even against high-tempo unit activities, I respected being utilized and set into motion to apply myself alongside my peers, subordinates and leadership. Performing duties as a part of a Platoon awakened a quality in me that I never quite saw or understood prior to my enlistment. I came to understand that I had a purpose to that of my Platoon and I was counted on daily.

As busy as my military career was, it was simple and that simplicity was driven by a purpose. I find that this highlighted purpose has somewhat diminished since my retirement. I now find myself searching for that purpose within an organization of compartmentalized priorities. I find myself working hard but without true career satisfaction and it often depresses me.

I miss the direction and oversight on projects, goals and objectives as part of a team which I have trouble finding now. I miss the abundance of purpose provided for others around me as well, which made me feel like my actions were relevant and necessary.

Often, I sit alone with my headphones on listening to music, reflecting on my golden days while I was still on active duty and regret terminating my service. I miss being with others that shared in a purpose, moved with a purpose, serviced a purpose and understood that our purpose drove more than just simple success.

I am a better person due to my leadership, experiences and military service.

Read the Military Memories of our Runner-Ups.