Jacob Brookins Named Top OCS Graduate
Former Texas
A&M Corps of Cadets member Jacob Brookins ‘18 will be recognized during the Texas A&M and University of Kentucky game Saturday for being the highest-ranked graduate of his 363-member class at the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School at Quantico, VA, this past summer.
Brookins will graduate in December with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electronic Systems Engineering Technology and a minor in Cybersecurity. He is a former member of Company D-2, a Ross Volunteer, and served as the Major Unit Commander for the 3rd Brigade his senior year. In addition to being a former member of the Corps of Cadets, Brookins is enrolled in the Marine Corps’ Platoon Leaders Class (PLC), a program that, among other requirements, calls for participants to complete a ten-week summer training session in Quantico, Virginia.
General Ryan P. Heritage, the current Commanding General of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Western Recruiting Region, is coming to Texas A&M to personally present the Commandant’s Trophy to Brookins.
General Heritage will serve as the reviewing officer for the Corps of Cadets West Campus March-in prior to kick-off.
While the 2,500-member Corps of Cadets is always evident at Aggie football games at Kyle Field, it is rare for a cadet to be individually honored on such an occasion.
“a very prestigious honor for a future Marine officer.”
-BG Ramirez, Commandant of the Corps of Cadets
Brigadier General Joe E. Ramirez, Jr.,`79, Commandant of the Corps of Cadets, said such recognition of Cadet Brookins is well deserved, describing the winning of the trophy as “a very prestigious honor for a future Marine officer.”
Capt. Andrew Hotsko, the Marine Corps Officer Selection Officer for the region that includes College Station and whose duties include working with students participating in the PLC program, offered a sterling assessment of Brookins.
“Cadet Brookins is humble, persistent, and a natural leader. He is one of the most professional cadets I have worked with and will undoubtedly excel as an Officer in the Marine Corps.” Capt. Hotsko also said, “I am confident he will continue to set the example and do a remarkable job leading the Marines he works with.”
Brigadier General Ramirez noted that Brookins is the second Texas A&M cadet in the past four years to win the Commandant’s Trophy – a true testament to the caliber of the cadets currently in the Corps at Texas A&M – something of which we are all very proud!
Commandant’s Trophy
The Commandant’s Trophy is the highest honor an Officer Candidate for the Marine Corps can receive. It was initiated to recognize the achievements of the candidate, recognize the school’s contribution to the candidate’s development, and to spread awareness of the PLC program on campus. The trophy is presented to the top graduate of Officer Candidate School, held in Quantico Virginia. Candidates are screened and evaluated on academic performance, physical fitness, and leadership. Based on his performance, Candidate Jacob Brookins distinguished himself out of 363 candidates.
