Photo By Terrance Bell | Spc. Jalen Prince is assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Army Logistics...... read more read more
Name: Spc. Jalen Prince
Unit: Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Army Logistics University Support Battalion
Military occupational specialty: 88N – transportation management coordinator
Age: 22
Hometown: Elkton, Md., (however, has lived all over the country as a military family member)
Time in service: four years
Talk about yourself: “I’m very curious; a fast learner; very humble; hard working; love being around people; and up for anything that’s a challenge.”
Your downside: “I don’t know when to quit. I have a big problem with saying, ‘No’ or (taking) time for myself. That’s kind of a negative and kind of not, but to me, it’s a negative because at the end of the day, I’m way more drained and still want to give to others. I also have a temper, especially when things don’t go the way they should or when things are chaotic and no one wants to do anything about it.”
Pastimes: “I play video games, I read and I’ve been doing a lot of research. I also work out and try to travel as much as I can.”
Dream car: “A (McLaren) Lotus.”
Worst fear: “That probably after I die, people could say I didn’t accomplish anything.”
Favorite books: “Rick Riordan’s ‘Kane Chronicles’ series.”
Favorite quote: “I think it was written by Stephen King. It goes something like, ‘You do two things in life – either you start living or you start dying.’”
One person you admire: “My mom. Being in the military and experiencing the things I go through gives me a greater appreciation for what she did when she was in the military. And she had three of us at a very young age. She did a lot and made it seem like we were never poor. We were happy. Looking back, that was great because I don’t have a family, and it is still hard.”
What you believe in: “At the end of the day, I believe in myself. I don’t focus on religion or other things because there’s a lot I can’t control, but I can control myself. I have to believe in myself in order for me to believe in anything else.”
A celebrity or historical figure worth meeting: “I would say Malcolm X. He went through a lot of stuff, and he did a lot of things that were controversial. Some things you can say were bad, and some you can say were good. He did it in his own way and never tried to follow anyone else, which I thought was good.”
If you could do anything, anywhere right now, what and where would it be? “Surfing in Hawaii or on some other island, and just relaxing on the beach.”
Something no one would guess about you: “That I do and I don’t believe in religion. I believe in people.”
One life-changing moment or event: “Sitting down with a group of my friends as we were all drinking and sharing childhood memories. A lot of them were the same, but our perspectives were completely different. It made me realize that we go through the same things, but we see them differently. Before that, I wouldn’t say I was closed-minded, but I was a pragmatist. In reality, the outcome is not going to be the same for every person. It changed how I relate to and interact with people. Whatever works for me doesn’t necessarily work for them.”
Talk about your upbringing: “I was raised by my older sister and mom. I was definitely raised on the Army Values. My mom didn’t treat us like her Soldiers, but it was similar. For instance, we knew we needed discipline, and we worked toward goals. Also, being raised by an older sister and seeing how she went through breakups and everything, and my mom being a single mother, it definitely changed my perspective on how to treat and talk to women. Furthermore, I empathize a lot with single parents because, looking back, there were probably times when my mom was at her lowest, but she still put on a smile, made dinner and talked to us and asked us about our day.”
Why you joined the military: “When I saw my mom put on her uniform, when I helped take off her boots after work and when we would visit her office, it made me proud of that uniform. I thought, ‘If could wear that uniform, I could do great things and help great people.’”
Why you chose your MOS: “I was curious, because no one at the time knew what my MOS was. I actually had MP and 92 Yankee (unit supply specialist) in mind at the time I made the decision, but I wanted 88N to claim as my own.”
What you expect out of leaders: “To teach me what they know.”
What you expect from your peers: “To look out for each other.”
Best thing about the Army: “The people.”
Worst thing about the Army: “Lack of communication.”
Where you see yourself in five years: “I plan on either being a warrant officer or officer or staff sergeant promotable.”
| Date Taken: | 07.17.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 07.17.2019 17:01 |
| Story ID: | 331884 |
| Location: | ELKTON, MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: | 78 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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