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Caitlynn Walsh ’24

May 3, 2023 by rnelson

Hometown: Double Oak, Texas

Major: Political Science

Outfit: Corps Staff / Company D-1

Originally from Company D-1, Caitlynn Walsh ’24 now serves as the 2023-2024 Corps Commander.

Prior to being selected to serve as the Corps Commander, Caitlynn served the Corps as the Corps Sergeant Major throughout the 2022-2023 school year. In addition to her service in these leadership positions, Caitlynn is also a Ross Volunteer.

Off the Quad, Caitlynn is a member of the Student Conference On National Affairs (SCONA).

“The Corps of Cadets has prepared me for life after college by giving me the opportunity to build a strong foundation of leadership, character, and professional development. I wake up every morning and have the privilege of working with a team of my peers as we develop our leadership skills through every decision we make. This year, I hope to inspire others by setting an example and showing commitment to the values of Honor, Integrity, Courage, Discipline, Respect and Selfless Service through my actions,” Caitlynn says.

After graduating from Texas A&M, Caitlynn plans to commission as a Second Lieutenant into the United States Marine Corps.

Cadets Say Goodbye and Look Ahead At Final Review

April 28, 2023 by rnelson

First referenced in an 1897 edition of The Battalion, Final Review was originally referred to as “graduating dress parade” and was held immediately following the university’s graduation ceremony. During this parade, the junior class would present the departing seniors with a gift, and those who were not graduating would formally assume their new positions in the Corps for the upcoming year.

Today, Final Review still serves as the last Corps event for graduating seniors, but is held before the university’s commencement ceremonies. This transitional event features two passes in review, with the first pass symbolizing the success of the current year’s Corps of Cadets, and the second representing the upcoming year, with each rising cadet marching in their respective new uniforms and ranks.

During the second pass, outgoing seniors traditionally line the O.R. Simpson Drill Field to cheer on the rising Corps.

“At Final Review last year, I tried so hard to keep my military bearing while walking past the class of 2022, but it was just impossible not to smile. It’s surreal to think that my own time here is drawing to a close. It’s a bittersweet feeling because I have never lived in one place for this long, but I’m also looking forward to doing new and greater things. I can’t wait to scream my lungs out for the class of 2024 as they pass as seniors. I hope they have fun and leave their time in the Corps proud of what they’ve accomplished and with no regrets,” Bailey LaMotte ‘23, 2022-2023 Third Brigade Commander, said.

Second pass is also the only time that the Corps of Cadets will assemble and pass in review without a freshman class, as the new freshmen will not arrive until Fall Orientation Week in August.

“Throughout the year, I have developed more as a person than I could have ever imagined. I have gained confidence in my ability to lead and formed friendships that will last for the rest of my life. I am excited to officially become a sophomore at Final Review and have the chance to teach the incoming fish what it means to be a member of the Corps. I hope to lead the class of 2027 by being the best I can be and pushing them to do the same, ” Madison Cronin ‘26, rising Guidon Bearer for Company A-1 said.

As one of the Corps’ most anticipated events, Final Review serves as a farewell to the outgoing senior class and the first chapter of the upcoming year.

“The class of 2023 has been a truly inspirational group to learn from. I owe a great deal to many members of the class for having helped me so much over the past three years and for being so supportive of me. It’s surreal that my class will be stepping in to take their place. I’m genuinely so excited to learn next year. I’ve been given such a great opportunity to work closely with some amazing leaders and mentors, and I look forward to seeing how much we grow over the next year” Callie Guest ‘24, rising Corps Chief of Staff, said.

Across all class years, Final Review symbolizes a period of transition, a celebration of growth and the first mark for what the next year in the Corps of Cadets holds. As the organization continues on the march to 3,000, the Corps of Cadets will remain dedicated to upholding tradition and building capable leaders for the future.

Story By: Robin Nelson ’22

Cadet Steven Salazar Wins NCJA Collegiate National Championship

April 28, 2023 by rnelson

The Corps of Cadets is home to students with a variety of interests, hobbies and career goals. Among these students is cadet Steven Salazar ‘26, a Kinesiology major from Whittier, California. Throughout his time in the Corps, Steven has continued his passion for judo.

“I actually learned about the Corps through a former cadet at a judo competition. In Utah, at the Youth Nationals in 2021, I met my current coach, Bob Perez, by coincidence. He gave me more information about the Judo program at A&M and introduced me to former cadet, Michael Mutz, who then spiked my interest in joining the Corps,” Steven said.

As a member of the Texas A&M Judo team, Steven has competed on the national stage, carrying the lessons he learned as a member of the Corps with him along the way.

“I recently competed in the National Collegiate Judo Association (NCJA) Collegiate National Championship, where I placed first. This was a highly competitive tournament in which student-athletes from across the United States competed,” Steven said.

“Something that I have learned from my experience thus far in the Corps of Cadets is that discipline, hard work and proper time management are crucial elements in being successful. While training for this tournament, I was diligent in my work ethic, as I was disciplined enough to attend as many practices as I could, even after a long day. I feel that this perseverance led to my success at the tournament.”

With his hard work paying off in the NCJA Collegiate National Championship, Steven will now represent the United States and Texas A&M on the world stage in China this summer.

“Winning this tournament qualified me to compete at the World University Games, which is held in Chengdu, China from July 27th through August 2nd. I am very excited to represent my country, Texas A&M, the Corps and Company F-2 at the World University Games. This is only the next step for my judo career, as it’s a goal of mine to compete in the Olympics someday. I plan to continue to work diligently in order to achieve this goal,” Steven said.

When considering what the Corps of Cadets has done for him, Steven shared some words of advice to those who may be interested in joining the organization.

“The Corps has developed me as a leader by placing me in high stress situations that require me to act accordingly under pressure. Being able to make important decisions while under stress is an important skill for leaders to understand and practice. The Corps is a challenging investment that will reward you with many life lessons, experiences and opportunities in the future.”

As Texas A&M’s premier leadership organization, the Corps of Cadets provides students with the necessary tools to succeed within the organization, in the classroom and in their outside endeavors. As a cadet and a member of the Texas A&M Judo team, Steven has taken full advantage of the opportunities available to him on Texas A&M’s campus.

Story By: Robin Nelson ’22

PMC Cadets Speak At Waco Muster

April 28, 2023 by rnelson

Each year, on the anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto, April 21st, Aggies around the globe gather to honor those lost during the year at Muster. A time to reflect on one’s time in Aggieland, Muster annually serves as Texas A&M’s most visible celebration of the Aggie family.

This year, four cadets in Parsons Mounted Cavalry (PMC) traveled to Waco, Texas to serve as speakers at the Greater Waco A&M Club’s Muster ceremony.

“I had the honor of being one of the speakers for the Waco Muster. Parsons Mounted Cavalry was asked to come down and speak about PMC and what it means to be a member of the Corps of Cadets. To me, Muster is the epitome of Aggie tradition. It shows that the university and the Aggie family don’t just view you as a number,” Mason Doige ‘24 said.

Mason views his participation in Waco’s Muster ceremony as a representation of the Corps’ unwavering dedication to all of Texas A&M’s cherished traditions.

“Being a cadet means you are a Guardian of Tradition and a Keeper of the Spirit. We are at the forefront of Texas A&M. We participate in every tradition, whether it’s through simple attendance or through active participation, like in Silver Taps and Muster. While many non-cadets may not participate in these traditions or attend only some, members of the Corps attend all of them. If no one else attended these traditions, there would still be a guaranteed 2,000 cadets there, and that means a lot to me.”

Though their participation in this Muster ceremony looked a bit different from the on-campus iteration, cadets who traveled to the Waco Muster were able to witness another side of the tradition.

“Since this was my first off-campus Muster, I got to see the Aggie Spirit outside of College Station. I realized that the Aggie Spirit is just as strong off-campus as it is on, and I found comfort in knowing that one day I would reconnect with my buddies to honor our own. Muster encourages company and cheer in times of grief. Muster reminds us that we are not alone, wherever we may be after our time at A&M,” Caroline Sauter ‘23 said.

Though Muster ceremonies may vary based on location, the camaraderie is ever present across each of them. From College Station to Corregidor, the Aggie family will continue to meet each year on April 21st to honor our fallen, and the Corps of Cadets will continue to be a cornerstone of this event.

Story By: Robin Nelson ’22

March To The Brazos Marks Significant Milestone In The Corps

April 24, 2023 by rnelson

Originally known as “the hike”, March to the Brazos began in 1908 in an effort to keep cadets out of trouble on April Fools Day. Cadets took part in a multi-day trek from campus to the Brazos River, conducting a symbolic passing of positions to the next class year once they reached their destination.

Off and on over the last 115 years, the tradition of March to the Brazos has evolved into a nine mile hike the weekend before Final Review. As one of the last major Corps events of the year, the days leading up to March to the Brazos are filled with excitement and anticipation for what’s to come.

“The week leading up to March to the Brazos is so exciting. We’d looked forward to it all year, and I was so excited for our freshmen to experience March to the Brazos for the first time. I am really looking forward to the new experiences that next year will bring, and I can’t wait to see everyone in my outfit grow as leaders and as people across the next year,” Sofia Perez ‘25, Squadron 2, explained.

With the Texas A&M Beef Center serving as the present day destination, cadets still conduct a similar transition of positions and assume their new leadership roles for the upcoming academic year.

“I can’t wait to see everyone take on their new leadership positions and succeed within them. The Corps has done so much to develop me as a leader. My buddy class and the rest of Gator 2 have always been there to support me and hold me to the highest standard. I would not be the person that I am today without them,” Sofia said.

The walk back is symbolic of the upcoming school year, with each cadet ready to lead in their new roles. In one of their first acts as incoming cadet leaders, rising seniors, juniors and sophomores lead the way during the 9-mile march back to campus. During this time, outgoing seniors depart from the Beef Center on a well earned bus ride back to campus.

“It’s crazy to think that I’m entering my final year. I remember March to the Brazos last year, I had just been selected to serve as a leader within the outfit. I was really excited and senior year seemed so far away, but now it’s here. I’m really looking forward to getting my boots and ring next year, and I’m really excited to meet the new freshman class and show them all that the Corps has to offer,” Charlie Wright ‘24, Company E-2, said.

Though this annual tradition has looked a little different throughout the years, the transitional sentiment has remained the same. March to the Brazos remains symbolic of the personal development, achievements and relationships that each cadet forms as a member of the Corps. A yearly reminder of how far they have come, cadets across all class years are able to utilize March to the Brazos as a time to reflect on their Corps careers, and prepare for what lies ahead.

“While I was sad that this was my final March to the Brazos, I was really excited for it. It is my favorite Corps tradition. Each year in the Corps taught me something different. Freshman year taught me humility, being a hound as a sophomore in the Fish Drill Team taught me confidence, junior year taught me the value of true friends and senior year has taught me how to advocate for myself. I’m excited to carry all of these things with me into my next chapter of life,” Liam Stevens ‘23, Company G-2, said.

Tradition is a key part of Texas A&M and the Corps of Cadets. Backed by several decades worth of history, March to the Brazos has remained one of the most cherished and anticipated events in the Corps. Through events like March to the Brazos, the Corps of Cadets leverages cornerstones of history and tradition to remain one of the nation’s most unique leadership development programs.

Story By: Robin Nelson ’22