NAVAL AIR STATION FALLON, Nev. –
Personnel Specialist 2nd Class Nathan Taylor is a native of Grindstone, Pennsylvania and is currently assigned to the “Fighting Saints” of Fighter Squadron Composite (VFC) 13 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon, Nevada.
“I was 24 when I decided to join the Navy,” said Taylor. “Pretty much everybody in my family served in the armed forces in one way or another.”
Taylor had initially considered enlisting to serve in the military following his high school graduation but ultimately decided it wasn’t the right time. Years later, the opportunity for service once again piqued his interest.
“I’d been working at a factory in Jamestown, New York,” said Taylor. “They ended up laying a bunch of people off. I wasn’t going to get that job back, and I thought, ‘You know what? I’ve been putting this off, and maybe it’s time.’”
Taylor explained that in his area, the recruiters of all branches of the military were in a central location with respective offices.
“I went to the recruiting center and the Navy recruiters were there,” said Taylor. “I’d been deciding between the Navy and the Air Force at that time, and the Navy recruiters were the ones there in the office.”
From there, Taylor’s Navy career began in aviation.
“I joined in 2015 as a Naval Aircrewman Mechanical (AWF),” said Taylor. “I went through most of the syllabus. I was at [Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VR) 53] at Andrews Air Force Base. I ended up doing a conversion to personnel specialist (PS) in 2017.”
Taylor then explained his first command as a PS, Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Allentown, Penn., which has since been closed, and how it helped prepare him for his current role.
“It was a good little place, and I learned a lot in my three years there,” Taylor reminisced. “I didn’t end up going to PS ‘A’ school, so I learned on the job. I learned everything I could at that command, and then I came here to VFC-13.”
VFC-13 is a Navy Reserve squadron that provides adversary support to the fleet. The squadron’s aircraft are painted to resemble those of an adversary, and its aviators play the role of the aggressor, flying against Navy pilots for combat training.
“We have top-notch performers,” said Taylor. “From our lowest ranks to our commanding officer, they’re really sharp. They know their stuff. I also appreciate that most people here aren’t afraid to say when they don’t know something and track the information down to do things right.”
Taylor said he’s proud of his work supporting VFC-13’s aviators while they carry out the mission.
“When they’re up in the air, they can’t be worrying about their pay, life insurance, etc.,” said Taylor. “Being able to help them have a clear mind by taking the worries of that administrative burden and eliminating them is really rewarding. It’s nice knowing that we’re supporting training fighter pilots. If this place wasn’t running, people wouldn’t be getting the training they need to get out there and fight.”
Taylor explained that the best part of working at VFC-13 is the dynamic of the “Fighting Saints” team.
“People here are amazing, treat each other well, and I get nothing but respect from the people above me,” said Taylor. “The trust is given when the trust is earned here, and I know that my work is valued.”
He added that the squadron has a strong culture of mentorship, which he’s benefitted from throughout his time there.
“I’ve gotten great mentorship here,” said Taylor. “For example, [Chief Yeoman] Timothy Sampson taught me how to anticipate questions leadership will ask when you bring them something, which has helped me be a lot more prepared. I learned a lot from him in general. He even facilitated a training three days before he left for his next command.”
Despite feeling confident in his work as a PS, Taylor remains eager to continue honing his craft.
“It took a lot to get to where I am today,” he said. “I still don’t know everything; there’s no way to. I’ll always be learning.”
Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve (CNAFR) mans, trains and equips the Naval Air Force Reserve in order to provide enduring operational support and strategic depth to Navy forces that win in combat.