Cadet Life
The Corps lifestyle builds a routine that incorporates a balance of academic commitment, health and wellness, and career readiness learning experiences.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE CORPS
The Corps' military framework provides the structure cadets need to accomplish their goals, both academic and personal. Guiding documents like The Standard and Corps Policy Guidance detail the military customs, traditions and membership expectations cadets are expected to follow. A structured schedule provides cadets an opportunity to accomplish all they need each day of the semester. Just as every day can be a different experience in the Corps, each year, from freshman year to senior year, is a different experience as well.
Corps Outfits
The Corps of Cadets is a large and diverse program comprised of many units or outfits, each with unique traits and offerings. Students join an outfit based on their interests, major and ROTC choice. Cadets live on campus on the Quad, home to the 41 outfits in the Corps. Outfits live together in the Corps dorms and take part in many activities together. Cadets build lifelong friendships with members of their outfit and their class, as well as the upperclassmen in their outfit and across the Corps.
Outfits in the Corps have their own personalities. With 41 outfits available, there is a home for everyone. For more information on each outfit, view the outfit description below and check out their social media. If you have questions, contact Corps Recruiting for more information. Or, experience one of the units for yourself through a Corps recruiting program like Spend The Night With The Corps!
cadet profiles
The Corps of Cadets is made up of students from all backgrounds and experiences. Academically, cadets study all different majors at Texas A&M and go on to pursue careers in the public and private sectors as well as in the military. Our cadets are involved in many activities both on and off the Quad. With the Corps, opportunities are unlimited. These are a few examples of the types of students that make up the Corps of Cadets.
Corps Special Units
A cadet can join a special unit in addition to his or her outfit. Corps special units give cadets a unique opportunity to challenge themselves through training, personal growth and competition.
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Ross Volunteer Company
The Ross Volunteer Company formed in 1887 as the Scott Volunteers. The Company changed their name in 1898 in honor of Lawrence Sullivan Ross, former governor of the state of Texas and president of Texas A&M College. Often referred to as RVs, the unit remains the official Honor Guard of the Governor of Texas.
The ceremonial uniform is an all-white dress uniform, and company officers carry sabers and wear red sashes inspired by the French Zouaves. Ceremonial duties include firing 3-volley, 21-gun salutes at Texas A&M’s Silver Taps ceremonies and during the annual campus Muster ceremony.
The RVs are the Honor Guard of King Rex, the King of Mardi Gras, in New Orleans, Louisiana and represent the Corps of Cadets and Texas A&M in multiple parades around the state of Texas.
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Parsons Mounted Cavalry
This horse cavalry unit consists of cavalry, artillery and quartermaster elements. Military training at A&M included mounted drill until 1943, when the Army disbanded its horse operations. The Cavalry tradition was revived at A&M by the Class of 1974. The unit was named after then Commandant of the Corps of Cadets, Colonel Thomas R. Parsons.
Military horse training is used to teach cadets self-discipline, confidence, leadership, and decision-making. Cadets learn to manage an animal much larger than themselves with a mind of its own in challenging conditions develops many of the skills necessary for modern business and military leaders. There are 86 cadets and 71 horses in this unit.
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Fish Drill Team
The Fish Drill Team is the competitive armed drill team for Texas A&M University. The Fish Drill Team works to promote and represent Texas A&M University and the Corps of Cadets by demonstrating the highest standards of discipline, professionalism, and integrity through military drill.
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SEAL Platoon
The SEAL Platoon prepares students that are interested in SEAL, EOD, and other military Special Operations for the physical and mental challenges which they will face at Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S), EOD School, and other military special operations selection programs.
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Ranger Challenge
Ranger Challenge develops elite performers within Army ROTC. Participants earn the opportunity to commit to an intensive training program focused on mastering physical performance, marksmanship, navigation, critical thinking, and leadership development in an extremely demanding environment.
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Rudder’s Rangers
Named in honor of Major General and Texas A&M President James Earl Rudder, Rudder’s Rangers is an elite organization within the Army ROTC program. The purpose of the Rudder’s Rangers Company is to provide the more highly motivated ROTC cadet with an opportunity to further develop their leadership skills through small unit tactics and adventure training. Specifically, this organization prepares its members for the U.S. Army ROTC Advanced Camp and a future career as a combat arms officer in the U.S. Army. The training provided to cadets in Rudder’s Rangers also lays a foundation for success at the U.S. Army’s Airborne, Air Assault, Ranger and officers basic schools.
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Recon Company
The Recon Company provides students the opportunity to experience a unique course designed to both increase the physical fitness of members and to familiarize them to basic reconnaissance and infantry tactics. The training methods utilized by the Recon Company are based off of the U.S. Marine Corps Basic Reconnaissance Course (BRC), and is focused on developing candidates into mentally tough and physically fit leaders. Candidates, or “Green-shirts,” are given the opportunity to become familiar with the basic skills required to pass through the BRC. The skills taught have an emphasis in reconnaissance (land and water), small unit tactics, navigation, close quarters battle, and field applications.
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Special Tactics Squadron
The Special Tactics Squadron is geared towards preparing those interested in pursuing a career in Air Force Special Warfare. This special unit teaches combat arms procedures, professionalism practices, and many other skills that will be useful in their future careers.
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Corps Center Guard
Established in 1992, the Corps Center Guard is a Corps based service organization. Cadets work on displays and assist with research and accessioning within the Sam Houston Sanders Corps of Cadets Center. These cadets regularly give tours of the Corps Center and the Quad to former, current, and future students and all other guests of Texas A&M. They also assist with special events held in the Corps Center, around campus, and in the local community. Members of the Corps Center Guard serve as ambassadors of the Corps by sharing and preserving the rich history and heritage of Texas A&M and the Corps of Cadets.
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O.R. Simpson Honor Society
O.R. Simpson Honor Society recognizes and rewards cadets with a cumulative GPR of at least 3.2 who foster new ideas of academic achievement, leadership, and character in the Corps of Cadets. O.R. Simpson Honor Society also promotes scholastic excellence through academic-related projects including tutoring and academic mentoring.
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Cyber Operations
The purpose of the Cyber Operations Special Unit is to train cadets in the technical knowledge required to work in the field of cybersecurity. As proof of training, the Cyber Operations Special Unit competes on a national level in Cybersecurity; with competitions include virtual and in-person competitions and CTFs (Capture-The-Flag) against schools and teams from around the world. Cadets in the unit also have the opportunity to earn reimbursements for Cybersecurity related Certifications such as the CompTIA Security+, eJPT (Elearnsecurity Junior Penetration Tester), and CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker). These certifications provide both experience and proof of knowledge that cadets can use in their future careers. -
C.A.D.E.T.
The Cultural Awareness & Diversity Expansion Team (C.A.D.E.T.) is the special unit in the Corps focused on developing leaders with a focus on intercultural skills and increasing/retaining minority enrollment in the Corps.
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Corps Athletics
The Corps athletics program is composed of highly competitive teams in a variety of men’s and women’s sports. Teams compete throughout the state and nation, representing the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets.
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Corps Color Guard
The Corps Color Guard presents and posts the national and state colors at Corps, university and community events. The Color Guard is comprised of volunteer sophomore and junior cadets. Led by Color Sergeants, every major unit staff plus Corps Staff has a color guard team that carries the colors as well as the major unit and ROTC colors during game day march-ins and pass-in-reviews. Within the Bryan/College Station community and beyond, the color guard participates in the presentation and posting of colors at events such as funerals, university events, conventions as well as other community and state events.