News

Texas A&M Cadets Will March 1,000 Miles for Special Operations Warrior Foundation

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On January 4, 2022, five members of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets began a 1,000 mile “ruck march” across the southwestern United States. The ruck march started in Yosemite National Park in California and will continue east, ending in Arizona. The march will be completed on the cadets’ winter break.

The term “ruck march” refers to the rucksack worn on the backs of the cadets that holds their extra layers of clothing, food and water. In its fifth year, the Project Atlas Ruck March raises funds and awareness for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF). The SOWF provides scholarships and educational counseling for the surviving children of Special Operations soldiers whose lives were lost in the line of duty. The foundation provides funding for college tuition, books, fees, room and board, and computers and printers, as well as fully-funded professional tutoring from kindergarten through college graduation.

This year, the cadets hope to raise $25,000 for the SOWF through their 1,000 mile ruck. To date, the group has raised over $60,500 for the SOWF. Those interested are able to make donations here. Donations of all amounts are appreciated and will go a long way in making an impact.

Previous ruck marches have taken place in the western United States during the students’ winter breaks. Three years ago, cadets marched from California to Oregon; year before last, the cadets marched from the Grand Canyon to the Grand Tetons in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Last year, cadets completed the 1,000 mile march from Zion National Park in Utah to Pagosa Springs, Colorado.

Project Atlas Ruck Team. L to R: Thomas Sanitate ’23, Colton Kennedy ’23, Bryce Buchanan ’23, Antony Krstulovic Opara ’24 and David Medina ’24

Each year the goal is to ruck 1,000 miles. It’s truly a group effort for the cadets, as each cadet  will march one-sixth of the cumulative total of the route. A portion of the daily itinerary does include some driving of the support vehicle, but the 1,000 miles are accumulated based on the distances the cadets march.

Preparation for the ruck is a months’ long process. Members of the group, known as Project Atlas, are selected based on their physical ability to march and their ability to work as part of team, working collaboratively as a group throughout the 10 days. This year’s Project Atlas group is composed of three junior cadets and two sophomore cadets – all from Company H-1 in the Corps of Cadets. Two of the junior cadets—Bryce Buchanan and Colton Kennedy—are veterans of the ruck march.

The fact that these cadets eagerly take on such a grueling endeavor during their holiday break each year is truly inspiring, and clearly indicates the level of dedication and commitment to service that they embody every day – as Aggies and as members of the Corps of Cadets. “Their actions speak to the kind of selfless servants our cadets are, the values they embody every day, and the kind of selfless leaders they become as members of the Corps of Cadets. More importantly, it says a lot about the quality of leaders they will be in the future, and the impact they will have on others as a result”, remarked Colonel Bryon Stebbins, Interim Commandant of Cadets.

The cadets are scheduled to complete their ten-day ruck march on January 14th at the Petrified National Forest in Arizona. This year’s Project Atlas Ruck March participants are Bryce Buchanan ’23 of North Richland Hills, Colton Kennedy ’23 of Bishop, GA, Thomas Sanitate ’23 of Murphy, Antony Krstulovic Opara ’24 of The Woodlands and David Medina ’24 of San Antonio.

A link to give to the Project Atlas campaign can be accessed here.

Follow the cadets’ ruck march progress; daily updates about the Project Atlas Ruck March will be posted on the @aggiecorps Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and @projectatlasrucks on Instagram and Facebook.

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Cadet To Medicine Program

A path to military medicine early assurance program provides Aggie cadets opportunities for a career in medicine

As Texas A&M continues to grow in number of students and educational offerings each year, many new and exciting programs are being offered to students. One of these new educational opportunities—The Cadet to Medicine Early Assurance Program—has a direct impact on the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets.

Launched in the spring of 2019 at the Texas A&M University College of Medicine, this program allows second- and third-year cadets who are interested in pursuing careers in the medical field an opportunity to become highly competitive medical school students. The Cadet to Medicine program provides Corps of Cadets members with a foundation for a successful career in military medicine.

Students who are accepted into the program and successfully meet the program requirements are given a conditional offer of admission into the College of Medicine.

This fall, Andrew Chapman, a former Corps of Cadet member who graduated from Texas A&M in 2020, was the first student to enter the College of Medicine through the pipeline program.

Chapman, who majored in entomology during his undergraduate years, found that the pipeline program was a perfect fit for his future aspirations for a career as a flight surgeon. Now, as a first-year medical student, Chapman splits his time between the Navy and the College of Medicine.

Currently, the program has nine Corps of Cadets students who have already been accepted and are participating in the program.

“The Cadet to Medicine Program has given me some reassurance towards my admittance into medical school,” said Simi Head, a third-year cadet student in the program. “Having the early assurance to Texas A&M’s College of Medicine allows me to focus on everything that I am doing now in academics, the Corps and Army ROTC.”

During the program, cadets are provided with free MCAT prep courses as well as a mentor that is currently attending medical school, and are also given the opportunity to attend a semester-long seminar course taught by professionals in the medical field.

“This seminar course has motivated me even further to become a doctor because it dives deeper into the realities of medical school and the profession itself,” Head said. “We have had multiple speakers come and talk to us about what it really means to be a doctor. These discussions with experienced and practicing physicians give me the drive to keep working hard in my undergraduate studies so that I can be a doctor like them one day. This program is also putting an emphasis on bringing compassion and empathy more into the physician mindset, and I think that is so wonderful that they are cultivating that within us before we even begin medical school.”

In addition to the expectation that they will accept their offer of admission, cadets are also expected to commit to service in one of the six military branches upon graduating from medical school.

“In this program, upon completion of medical school, you will be commissioned into the military,” Head said. “As of now, I wish to pursue a career with the Army. I am currently contracted with the Army for my undergraduate studies, so it makes for a nice transition.”

The rigorous daily environment that the Corps provides coupled with the structured discipline that comes with being a medical student is the perfect mix for a future career in military medicine.

As a pathway that is packed with many opportunities, the Cadet to Medicine Program gives cadets plenty to look forward to with their future careers.

“I hope to be a doctor that truly cares about my patients,” Head said. “Ever since I was about 10 years old, I have wanted to be a doctor. Once I turned 15 years old, I decided that I wanted to be a doctor in the Army. With a long lineage of military service in my family and my desire to serve those who serve, I am excited to live the life of a compassionate, smart, intentional and sensical physician. At the moment, I want to pursue emergency medicine in the Army, and though it may be a stressful environment, I am ready for the adrenaline rush that will help me save lives.”

By Robin Nelson ’22, Texas A&M Corps of Cadets and Texas A&M College of Medicine

https://corps.tamu.edu/cadettomedicine/

Amanda Lovitt Makes History

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Amanda LovittThe Fightin Texas Aggie Band has a multitude of iconic traits; the Bugle Rank, the intricate formations, and the Block T are just a few of the things that come to mind when you think of the Noble Men of Kyle. 

This year in particular, one aspect of the Fightin Texas Aggie Band is rising to center of attention:

 The bass drummers. 

For many, the thought of Aggie bass drummers has become almost entirely synonymous with stout young men marching into Kyle Field on Saturdays. While this association may have been relatively accurate in years prior, a new chapter is being written:

A determined female face has entered the mix. 

Her name is Amanda Lovitt, and she is the loudest, proudest member of the Fightin Texas Aggie Class of 2023. She is a junior in the Fightin Texas Aggie Band, and a proud member of A-Battery. While recounting her time in A-Battery, Lovitt was quick to speak of the support she has received from her buddy class along the way.

“My buddies definitely motivated me, all the way. They have carried me through it all, the laughs and the cries. They have definitely helped me say ‘I will not quit’ on the bad days,” Amanda said. 

With this type of support system, it was easy for Amanda to shoot for the stars with her goals; and so she did. 

Amanda set her sights on becoming a bass drummer very early on in her Corps career.Amanda Lovitt

“What they look for in a bass drummer is both moral character and physical ability. We are supposed to represent the ‘Noble Men of Kyle’, which means you have to be someone of high moral character that embodies all of the core values of the Corps of Cadets. They don’t tell us explicitly, but they start watching us during our fish year for a spot with the bass drummers. At the start of sophomore year, they really start looking at how involved you are. Do you stay late after practice? Do you go to extra practices in your free time? All of these aspects are what they consider, among other things. Of course there are physical drumming tryouts where you learn the basics of playing the instrument, but they really look at what kind of person you are,” Amanda explained. 

After two years, Amanda’s hard work and determination had finally paid off. She was selected to be one of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band’s newest bass drummers; an honor only given to juniors in the band. 

“When I found out that I had been selected, I was on cloud nine. In the months following, I would randomly think about it and just immediately have the biggest smile on my face. Being a bass drummer is something only juniors are allowed to do. Juniors have the experience, we know the ropes, and we are comfortable with playing such a large instrument. Seniors often want to use their final year to relax and play something more specific to what they like. It’s a demanding job,” Amanda said.

Then, unbeknownst to Amanda at the time of her audition, she discovered another important piece of information about her newly earned title:

She had just become the first female in Fightin Texas Aggie Band history to be named a bass drummer.

“Going into bass drum tryouts, I had no idea that being the first female bass drummer would even be a possibility. It was just something I was going out for because it was something that I wanted. It wasn’t until after I made it that a former cadet called me to congratulate me on being the first female. It wasn’t something that I had even considered when trying out, but it was definitely something that made me surprised and excited when I did.” 

With such a prestigious title bestowed upon her, Amanda is already thinking about the future.

“With this platform, I would like to be able to motivate others. I want to see other young women and tell them that nothing can stop them from achieving their goals. You are the only thing that stands in your way of success, and I want to be able to show young girls that in this position.”

In fact, she’s already beginning to see how the ripples of her success are being cast out to other young women. 

“At Midnight Yell, I actually had a gentleman come up to me and ask if I was the first female bass drum player. When I told him that I was, he began telling me about how I’m his young daughter’s biggest inspiration. For me, that broke my heart in the very best way. That is what being in this position is all about. It is all about inspiring others,” Amanda recounted.

Going forward with her role, Amanda has a bit of advice for all women looking to break into predominantly male opportunities.

“Don’t let anyone get you down, including yourself. A lot of times, we are our own worst enemy. This can sometimes be multiplied by ten when you’re around men, even if they don’t mean it. Sometimes you can be seen differently just for being a woman, which can be hard to take.  Don’t let that get to you, and don’t be afraid to stand up and say ‘this is me and I’m here to stay’,” Amanda advised. 

Along the way, there have been a number of people that have inspired Amanda. Among them are family members, friends, and her fellow Aggie bandsmen. However, one individual stands out the most to Amanda when she considers her role models.

“Nick Rossi, the Band Commander when I was a freshman, actually sat down with me and had a few conversations with me at different times. He seemed like one of those people that I would never speak to as a fish since he was a senior, but he was so inspiring and he really changed the way I think. He motivated me to be a better cadet and to be a better band member. He had that leader mindset that brought me up to his level,” Amanda said.

Though the year has just begun, Amanda is already stepping into her title with poise. She is ready to perform, ready to inspire, and ready to leave her mark on Aggie history as the first (but certainly not the last) female bass drum player.

“When I march, everything else disappears. I go into my own little world. The band is my escape. Nothing in the outside world matters to me when I am performing. I may be the first female, but I know I won’t be the last. I hope there are many, many more to come after me. I’m very excited about that,” Amanda said.

In such an exciting new chapter of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band’s history, it is easy to become inspired by Amanda’s story of determination and resilience. She has already become such a great example for women of all ages. The future is shining bright for all women in the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, and the opportunities to succeed are limitless. 

By Robin Nelson ’22

State of the Corps 2020-2021

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Greetings from Aggieland! The 2020-2021 school year proved to be a successful year for the Corps of Cadets, despite the many challenges our cadets faced throughout the year. Texas A&M faced many obstacles this year due primarily to COVID-19, but throughout the entire year we all stayed focused on maintaining a sense of normalcy despite the many restrictions imposed due to COVID-19 concerns. Some doubted the ability of the Corps of Cadets to function effectively and consistently in a COVID-19 environment, and believed that the Corps would have to shut down elements of the Corps or even the entire Corps itself due to COVID-19.

Thanks to the planning, preparation, and concerted efforts by our staff and our cadets, the Corps of Cadets successfully completed the entire year, with many highs and lows, finishing out the school year on the morning of April 30th in Kyle Field with Final Review – an event we could not conduct last year due to COVID-19!  We are very proud of our cadets and the way they overcame the challenges they faced and represented our Corps and our university throughout the school year. The cadets reinforce every year that we are achieving the mission of the Corps of Cadets by continuing to “develop well-educated leaders of character who are prepared for the global leadership challenges of the future.”

Keeping Former Students and the Aggie Network up to date about the accomplishments of our Corps is very important to me. We want to share with you how the Corps of Cadets continues to make a big difference in the lives of the young men and women who will become the future leaders of our communities, our state, and our nation. We hope you enjoy the following recap of the 2020-2021 school year for the Corps of Cadets. I think you’ll see that our Corps continues to be an organization of which you can be proud. Our credentials—our cadets—are making a big difference for Texas A&M, the state of Texas, our great nation, and the world!

Academics

Academic success continues to be the number one priority for the Corps of Cadets. Despite the COVID restrictions we all had to follow throughout the school year, our cadets still balanced the demands of conducting most of their classes online, and participating in daily cadet activities and campus engagement extremely well. In the midst of a very chaotic semester, they remained focused on academic success and maintaining a sense of normalcy in their daily activities. At the conclusion of the Fall 2020 semester, the Corps of Cadets posted a record-high 3.20 fall term GPA. All four classes posted above a 3.0 GPA, and the freshman class of 2024 posted a 3.05 GPA – the first time a fish class exceeded a 3.0 in their first semester in college!

Continuing the momentum from the Fall semester, the Corps posted a Spring 2021 semester GPA of 3.20. 69% of our cadets posted above a 3.0 in the Spring semester! The senior class of 2021 is the 7th consecutive class to graduate with a term and cumulative GPA above a 3.0, completing their time in the Corps with a 3.27 cumulative GPA – the highest class cumulative GPA on record for the Corps of Cadets! Their performance reinforces the message that early academic success builds a key foundation to achievement at Texas A&M.

Once again, our efforts toward building a culture of academic success are producing excellent outcomes. This year, we increased academic support efforts sponsored by the Office of the Commandant and worked closely with the colleges to help our cadets succeed academically. We increased the frequency our academic support sessions to accommodate remote learning and offered many student support sessions in-person when able. Additionally, we increased cadet presence at the Health Science Center through our highly competitive pipeline programs to Nursing and Medicine. 16 future Aggie nurses and 9 future Aggie physicians participated in curriculum and shadowing programs that will culminate in advanced medical degrees from Texas A&M.

Cadet Grant Walford was recognized as one of three campus nominees for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship. Grant’s highly competitive application and desire to work in public service exemplifies our Corps values. The Corps of Cadets enjoys a reputation of academic excellence among the faculty and administration – something that is critical to the overall success of our Corps at Texas A&M. Congratulations to our cadets for the outstanding academic success they achieved this school year! We are proud of all of them!

Corps Strength

This year, the Corps of Cadets started the school year with a strength of 2,316 cadets. Despite limited opportunities for in-person recruiting last year due to COVID-19, we were very pleased to start the school year with such an impressive Corps strength. We look forward to continued growth in the upcoming years – especially now that we can return to in-person recruiting programs like Spend the Night With the Corps, Spend the Day With the Corps, the Aggie Eagle Program, and the Junior Cadet Accessions Program (JCAP). Here are some Corps strength “snapshots” from this past year:

– Corps strength on the first day of school was 2,316 cadets

– 761 cadets joined the Corps last year

– 17% of the total Corps is female

– 24% of the Cadets were from out of state

We continue to place a focused effort on recruiting high-quality young men and women to join the Corps of Cadets. Our goal is to continue to “grow the Corps” and ensure we maintain the high standards of excellence for which our Corps of Cadets is known!

Commissioning

The Texas A&M Corps of Cadets still continues to produce more military officers for our country than any other school in the country outside of the three service academies.  This academic year, we commissioned a total of 230 Aggie officers – an indication of the confidence the Department of Defense has in our Corps to produce some of our country’s finest military officers. This May, Texas A&M University and the Corps of Cadets hosted a joint commissioning ceremony where 159 men and women took the Oath of Office and officially joined the United States Armed Forces. The ceremony took place at the Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium, on the campus of Texas A&M, in front of thousands of families and friends. We were excited and honored to have General Mark A. Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, serve as our commissioning officer – the first time that has happened at Texas A&M.

I am extremely proud of our young Aggie officers who have chosen to serve our country in the military during a time of war.  We should all be proud of the tradition of service to our great nation that our cadets continue to display – a tradition that spans over 145 years.

Hollingsworth Center for Ethical Leadership

The Hollingsworth Center for Ethical Leadership (HCEL) continued to expand its leadership programs and career preparation, becoming an increasingly valued resource for all cadets, staff, and other colleges across the campus. The 2020-2021 academic year expanded implementation of the comprehensive Corps Leadership Development Model, which outlines specific growth expectations for cadets across all four years of the Corps experience. HCEL staff conducted training and coaching to cadet leaders on how to align their leadership developmental efforts with the model.

>Academically, the HCEL staff and their team of 20 adjunct instructors taught over 1,400 enrolled students across 5 distinct leadership courses. Sophomore cadet courses focused on leadership strengths and fundamentals of intentional leadership. Junior courses focused on leadership constraints and values-based leadership – culminating in cadets creating their own Individual Leadership Development Plan (ILDP). Senior cadets examined the ethical demands of organizational leadership and personal decision-making.

This year, 155 cadets earned the Hollingsworth Certificate in Applied Ethical Leadership, marking the highest number of certificate recipients in the Center’s history. This credential recognizes their leadership development efforts in the classroom, on the Quad, on campus, and in the community, culminating with capstone exit interviews with mentors to help connect lessons learned toward the evolving demands of 21st Century global workplace leadership.

The Center hosted the 6th annual Intentional Leadership Conference in March. Due to COVID, this year’s conference was entirely virtual. The team leveraged this opportunity to expand the conference attendance and invite very prominent speakers. Instead of a single day event, the conference spanned six days with over 3,000 participants attending 16 plenary sessions, career panels, breakout sessions, and a former Corps Commander panel. Former Secretary of Defense and President of Texas A&M University, Dr. Robert Gates, served as the conference’s keynote speaker. The conference’s featured speakers included a diverse group of inspiring and motivational leaders, including General David Goldfein, the 21st Chief of the Staff of the Air Force; Arthur C. Brooks, renowned musician, social scientist, and author; and Mia M. Parker, a senior director, business strategist and innovative attorney with Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

The 2021 Nichols Rising Leader Conference offered a combination of in-person and virtual leadership development sessions. 60 competitively-selected rising leaders in the Corps were assigned to 9 different “Tiger Teams,” tasked with exploring issues and offering solutions to various challenges in the Corps, ranging from improving mental health resources to accelerating internal communication processes within the Corps. These students presented their findings and recommendations for next school year to the Commandant of Cadets in April.

Over 700 cadets attended multiple Career Readiness “R U Ready?” sessions throughout the year, designed to prepare them for successful entry into the public and private sector workforce. Companies/organizations that participated in these exceptional career readiness sessions included: CACI, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, BP, FBI, DIA, USAA, Eli Lilly, Facebook, Textron, HEB, Texas Parks and Wildlife Division, Phillips 66, Siemens – and many others. These events provided information to cadets about internship and job opportunities and increased their knowledge of the importance and practical application of the competencies that prestigious companies like these are looking for in college graduates seeking employment with their organization.

The HCEL Career Readiness Program also hosted a monthly Career Readiness Speaker Series with respected leaders/scholars from diverse career backgrounds to share perspectives and insights on one or more of our career readiness competencies. Some of the dynamic and informative speakers this year included Rev. Dave Eubank ’83 (member of the Corps of Cadets Hall of Honor), Mr. Wesley Wittig (Executive Assistant District Attorney at Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office), and Mr. Greg Vogle (retired Director of CIA Covert Operations).

To advance our core value of respect, the HCEL initiated and hosted multiple “Corps Conversations with Former Cadets.” These events promoted respectful, enlightening, and transformative dialogues on many complex and challenging topics. The former cadets, all whom have graduated within the last 10 years, shared their thoughts and perspectives from their time in the Corps and in their leadership experiences in their current professions.

The HCEL also continued to grow its Cyber Security program as interested cadets gained experience in this critical emerging field of study. Cadets entering Cyber Security career fields (and members of the Corps of Cadets Cyber Operations Special Unit) competed in the National Security Agency’s Cyber Exercise (NCX) in April. Eleven cadets were selected for the inaugural DoD Cyber Leader Development Program. This 2-year program creates a pipeline of future cyber leaders for our nation and provides leadership and hands-on cyber operations experience, including summer internships.

Additionally, the HCEL continued to expand its list of partnerships across the TAMU campus, building new connections with the College of Medicine, College of Engineering, College of Geosciences, and the Mays Business School.

You can read more about the impact of the Hollingsworth Center here. For more information on the Hollingsworth Center, please contact the HCEL office at 979-458-0436 or dkeller@corpstest.tamu.edu.

ROTC Programs

Our Army, Air Force, and Navy/Marine ROTC programs work hard year-round to guarantee that those cadets seeking a commission receive the best training possible for their path to commission. This year, our outstanding ROTC Programs achieved some significant honors and accomplishments:

 Army

  • Army ROTC commissioned 103 Second Lieutenants this year, with 21 cadets earning honors as Distinguished Military Graduates (DMG).
  • 95% of cadets commissioning received one of their top three Military Specialties of choice.
  • Due to COVID-19, Army Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky was cancelled for Summer 2020. However, Army cadets and cadre conducted Operation Agile Leaders during the school year at Army posts in Texas to complete the training they missed during Summer Training. Army ROTC conducted Feld Training Exercises (FTXs) in the Fall of 2020, Winter of 2020, and Spring of 2021 in order to evaluate and assess each cadet’s leadership and basic soldier skills. More than 100 cadets have successfully completed the training required during Operation Agile Leaders in lieu of the Cadet Summer Camp.
  • For the first time at Texas A&M, Army cadet Julius van Tassel received a scholarship for a Cyber Internship with the Army Cyber Institute at West Point, New York.  The one-month training and internship will occur in July – Aug 2021.
  • 79 Texas A&M Army ROTC cadets from the senior class of 2022 will attend Army ROTC Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky between June and August 2021. The 38-day camp is an outcome driven, complex problem-solving leadership exercise focused at platoon level operations. Core training elements include basic rifle marksmanship, land navigation, first aid and troop leading procedures.
  • 12 Army cadets from the classes of ‘23 and ‘24 will attend the Army ROTC Basic Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky.  This 32-day event is designed to teach individuals basic military skills through squad level operations.
  • Ten Army Cadets will attend the Army Air Assault School at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and West Point, New York.
  • Eight Army Cadets will attend Cadet Troop Leadership Training (CTLT) throughout the United States with active duty Army units in locations ranging from Fort Bragg, North Carolina to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
  • On April 16-17, 44 teams representing 25 United States Military Academy teams, 16 Reserve Officer Training Corps programs, and three other U.S. service academies competed in the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition, a rigorous 36-hour course to test soldier skills, warrior spirit, team cohesion, and dedication to mission accomplishment.  The Texas A&M Army ROTC Ranger Challenge Team placed 12th out of the 44 teams that competed this year. The competition, hosted by the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, is designed to promote friendly competition and the development of military excellence of future military leaders worldwide.

Air Force and U.S. Space Force

  • Since August 2020, 73 cadets were commissioned into the United States Air Force, with seven earning Air Force ROTC Distinguished Graduate honors.
  • Detachment 805 commissioned 59 new Air and Space Force Second Lieutenants ahead of the Joint Commissioning Ceremony this May.
  • 124 Air Force ROTC cadets — the most of any ROTC program in the nation — were selected to attend Air Force Summer Field Training, a major milestone in an individual’s career path to becoming an Air Force or Space Force Officer.
  • 10 cadets were selected for high-level, in-person or virtual Internships to complete over the summer. These internships are highly competitive and sought after by cadets nation-wide.
  • Cadet Andrew Bainbridge, ’22, received the Air Force Association’s Lovelace Award, distinguishing him as the #1 junior cadet in the Air Force ROTC Southwest Region. He was also selected as a finalist for the Navy Federal Credit Union 2020 ROTC All-American Student of the Year.
  • Cadets Dawson Friesenhahn and Hayley Sisco were selected as national award winners by the Society of American Military Engineers.
  • Cadet Nathanael Hoskinson is a finalist for the United States Air Force Cadet of the Year award (results pending).
  • 17 Texas A&M Air Force ROTC cadets were selected for the “You Can Fly” Program, which awards each cadet $3,000 to earn 10 flight hours.
  • Air Force ROTC scholarship students posted a Fall 2020 GPA of 3.49 and a Spring 2021 GPA of 3.23.
  • The Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (AFROTC) Detachment 805 and Texas A&M University were recognized for exceptional performance, receiving the Academic Year 2018-2019 Host Educational Institutional Partnership Award from the Department of Defense. Out of the 496 units within the Department of Defense (DoD), Texas A&M’s AFROTC unit was recognized for its partnership with Texas A&M in developing the next generation of military leaders. Congratulations to Colonel Sherri Levan, Detachment 805 Commander and Professor of Aerospace Studies, the Air Force ROTC cadre, and the many Air Force ROTC cadets at Texas A&M for this well-deserved recognition! Proud of all of them!

Navy/Marine

  • Navy ROTC (NROTC) commissioned 32 Officers in fiscal year 2021: 18 Navy Ensigns and 14 United States Marine Corps Second Lieutenants.
  • Summer 2021 training continues this year after being limited in 2020 due to COVID-19. Sophomore, junior and senior NROTC cadets will undergo training to develop technical and tactical skills.
    • 4 Navy option seniors will be assessed for suitability as Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) or SEAL officers during a two-week-long summer training regimen.
    • 9 Marine option juniors will attend Marine Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Quantico, Virginia.
    • 18 rising seniors will be assigned to active Naval aviation squadrons during their summer aviation cruise.
    • 8 rising seniors and 23 rising juniors will be assigned to Naval submarines through a summer submarine cruise.
    • 7 rising seniors and 13 rising juniors will participate in Naval surface warfare operations during the summer surface warfare cruise.
    • 2 rising seniors and 8 rising juniors will participate in a summer surface nuclear cruise and be exposed to Naval surface nuclear warfare.
    • 4 rising juniors will participate in Naval Sea Trial training events.
    • 22 rising sophomores will participate in different Naval warfare opportunities in an all-inclusive month-long summer training event, Career Orientation and Training of Midshipmen (CORTRAMID).
    • 12 rising sophomore Marines will participate in a month long training event, Marine Month.
  • Navy ROTC had 2 students selected for an internship with the National Security Agency, and 3 students were selected to attend a virtual version of Project Global Officer (Project GO), for Summer 2021.
  • Navy ROTC Scholarship students posted a Spring Term GPA of 3.23 and an overall cumulative GPA of 3.08 for the 2021 school year.

Corps Global Leadership Initiatives Program

The global impacts of COVID-19 significantly affected our Corps Global Leadership Initiatives (CGLI) Program. In line with A&M System guidance and in the best interest of our students’ health and wellness, we were not able to send students abroad nor receive international cadets in the 2020-2021 academic year. The pause in international engagement was disappointing, but we look forward to returning to new and improved opportunities this academic year. We are planning to host three Lieutenants from the German Armed Forces and Helmut Schmidt University in Hamburg, Germany as members of the Corps of Cadets during the upcoming fall semester!

Our Corps Global Initiatives Program has grown over the past three years, and we hope to continue to expand on that success in the future. Of the many students from Texas A&M that travel and study abroad as part of their education, the Corps of Cadets now sends over 15% of cadets abroad – a data point we are very proud of and hope to increase in the future. We are proud of our Global Initiatives Program and the opportunities it offers our cadets to grow into global leaders!

Corps Athletics

The Corps of Cadets club sports program offers cadet-athletes an opportunity to compete in intercollegiate club sports while developing leadership skills as members of the Corps of Cadets.
Corps athletic teams include baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, golf, lacrosse, marathon, marksmanship, men’s and women’s soccer, tennis, and triathlon. While opportunities to compete were limited due to COVID-19, the teams that did compete were highly successful.

  • The Corps of Cadets Marksmanship Unit (CCMU), commanded by Ryan Milligan ‘21, finished second overall at the Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) 2021 National Collegiate Championship in Talladega, AL, and had the first and second place individual performances.  Over the past eight years, CCMU has won six SASP national championships and finished second twice, solidifying their position as the nation’s premiere collegiate shooting program. Congratulations to Commander Ryan Milligan, Coach Kevin Jimmerson ’89, Advisor GySgt John Regan, and the entire unit!
  • The Corps Marathon Team, led by team captain Ben Snyder ’21, competed in the Woodlands Marathon, Running the Roses Trail Race, and Texas Independence Relay.  At the Woodlands marathon, Will Dean ‘23 won first place in his age group with a Boston Marathon-qualifying time of 2:57:38.  All team members set personal records in the race.
  • The Corps Triathlon Team, led by team captain Hagan Dalton ’21, competed in the IRONMAN 70.3 Texas race in Galveston, Cal Tri Fort Worth, and Take on the Heat Triathlon in The Colony.  Multiple team members placed in their age groups in the races.
  • The Corps golf team hosted a charity golf tournament to raise awareness and money for the nonprofit organization, Folds of Honor. The nonprofit funds scholarships for the spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled military service members. During the tournament, cadets raised over $6,000! They hope to continue this tournament in the future.

Other Notable Accomplishments

  • Congratulations to the cadets selected to lead as Company/Squadron Commanders and First Sergeants in the Corps of Cadets for the 2021-2022 school year! We are very proud of the cadets chosen for these key leadership positions and look forward to seeing them lead our Corps next year. View the complete list of Company/Squadron Commanding Officers and First Sergeants at tx.ag/CorpsKeyLeaders.
  • This year, we were honored to have 7 cadets receive the Buck Weirus Spirit Award! The 2021 cadet recipients were Tanner Cedrone ’21, Cullen Eppright ‘22, Colton Ray ‘22, Guillermo Salinas ‘22, Taylor Sutton ‘21, Connor Walker ‘22, and Noah Woinicki ‘21. Congratulations cadets! The Buck Weirus Spirit Award, named for Richard “Buck” Weirus ’42, recognizes students for their outstanding contributions to student life programs at Texas A&M University. Each year, The Association recognizes 55 students as Buck Weirus Spirit Award winners. Each recipient is presented an Aggie Spirit watch and a framed certificate.
  • Members of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets exemplified true selfless service as hundreds of cadets aided in campus and community efforts during the harsh winter storm we all experienced in February. As water levels dropped dangerously low on campus due to burst water pipes all across campus, the university needed to locate and repair burst pipes in buildings on campus that had not been occupied during the storm. After receiving a call for help from the university, over 300 cadets volunteered  to help university officials find leaks across the campus caused by the ice storm. Over the period of a few hours, they were able to locate several leaks in buildings on campus, which in turn allowed maintenance crews to repair them and stop the water shortage. These efforts by our cadets saved the university millions of dollars. Several other cadets assisted at Reed Arena’s warming shelter by loading and unloading items and ensuring that those who needed supplies got what they needed. Cadets also helped deliver food to Santa Teresa Church in Bryan to help residents in need. These efforts helped literally hundreds of people in need on campus and in the community. We are so proud of our cadets for stepping up to serve their campus and community during a time of crisis! For more about how cadets provided aid during the winter storm, visit our website here and ABC KXXV channel 25 here.
  • Family Weekend 2021 was a great weekend for parents, families and supporters of our cadets! We welcomed everyone to Kyle Field for the Corps of Cadets’ Family Weekend activities in early April! We had a great turnout by parents, family members, and friends for all the Corps events. The Corps conducted a Corps march-in to Kyle Field, the first of the academic school year, followed by a performance by the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band. The evening closed out with the presentation of the 2020-2021 Major Flag Awards. Family Weekend activities also included performances in Kyle Field by the Fish Drill Team and Ross Volunteer Company as well a special Family Weekend Parsons Mounted Cavalry performance at Fiddlers Green with tribute to the Cavalry seniors. View photos from the Corps’ Family Weekend activities here.
  • During Family Weekend each year, we celebrate the accomplishments of our cadets and outfits. The Major Flag Awards are presented to outfits in recognition of their outstanding achievements throughout the school year. Despite having to operate in a COVID-19 environment, our cadets rose to the challenges and succeeded in every way, and we are truly proud of all of them. Congratulations to those outfits that distinguished themselves throughout the year and are the recipients of the 2020-2021 Major Flag Awards!Outstanding Color Guard Streamer – 2nd Regiment Color Guard
    Outstanding Major Unit Staff Streamer – Combined Band Staff
    The Commandant’s Flag for University Involvement – Company F-2
    The Robert M. Gates Flag for Public Service – Squadron 17
    The J.J. Sanchez Flag for Recruiting and Retention – Squadron 3
    The George P.F. Jouine Flag for Scholastic Achievement – Squadron 3
    The Bruno A. Hochmuth Flag for Military Achievement – B Company
    The Taylor A. Gillespie Flag for the Most Improved Outfit – Company H-1
    The President’s Flag for the Most Outstanding Major Unit – Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band
    The General George F. Moore Outstanding Unit Flag – B Company
    A job well done to all of the cadets who received individual awards for the 2020-2021 school year! View the entire list of award winners at tx.ag/CorpsAwards.
  • On Saturday, April 24th, 2,300 members of the Corps participated in the 45th annual March to the Brazos. The return of March to the Brazos was significant this year, due to the fact we were not able to conduct the event last year because of COVID-19. The Corps of Cadets marched the 18-mile round trip in support of 4 local non-profit organizations: Scotty’s House, the Brazos Valley Food Bank, Twin City Mission and Habitat for Humanity. The Corps raised $27,000 for these 4 organizations! I’m very proud of the cadets for their dedication to supporting the local community through the annual March to the Brazos.
  • The Corps of Cadets conducted Final Review, the culminating event of the year for the Corps, on Friday, April 30th at Kyle Field. As we do every year, we honored the graduating seniors of the Class of ’21 at the first Pass in Review of Final Review. Because the Class of 2020 never got to participate in Final Review last year due to COVID-19, we invited them back to serve as Reviewing Officers for the first Pass in Review this year. We were honored to have over 100 members of the Class of ’20 attend Final Review this year. We then honored next year’s rising leaders of Corps of Cadets – the classes of 2022, 2023 and 2024 – at the second Pass in Review, with the Class of ’21 serving as Reviewing Officers. Despite the rain, we were all proud to conduct Final Review at Kyle Field this year, celebrating the conclusion of a very challenging but successful year for the Corps of Cadets. An emotional but rewarding day for all who attended! Watch the Final Review video here.
  • This year’s Kupfer Scholarship ceremony was held virtually on Tuesday, April 13th. Six cadets were recognized for their achievements and awarded Corps scholarships in honor of Harold Kupfer, class of 1954. The Kupfer Award is made possible through the generosity of Gerald Ray, ’54 and Donald Zale, ’55. Cadet Grayson Winchester ‘23 from Company K-2 received the 2020-2021 Kupfer Award, which includes a scholarship of $7500. Cadet Justin Cotter ‘23, Squadron 5, was the first runner up for the Kupfer Award, and received a scholarship of $6000.  The following cadets were finalists and were also awarded $5000 scholarships: Srindhi Nagireddy ‘23 (Company E-2), Thomas Dean ‘23 (A Company), Cameron Paladino ‘23 (B Company), and Evan Smith ‘23 (Company G-1). Congratulations to all of them for this distinguished recognition!
  • Over the winter holiday break, 6 cadets from Company H-1 conducted their 4th annual Project Atlas Ruck March across the western United States – a distance of over 1,000 miles lasting 9 days. The Project Atlas Ruck March raised funds and awareness for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF) – an organization that provides scholarships for the children of fallen special operations service members. Cadets Bryce Buchanan ’23, Taylor Elliott ’21, Ethan Lochner ’21, Wyatt Vance ’22, Colton Kennedy ’23, and Zachary Cross ’23 marched from Zion National Park in Utah and continued east over the course of the 9 days, ending in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. To read more about the planning process and backstory of Project Atlas Ruck March, click here.
  • In January, Parsons Mounted Cavalry and the Texas A&M Foundation held a ribbon cutting ceremony to dedicate the brand-new Dorothy and Artie McFerrin Arena at Fiddler’s Green, home of Parsons Mounted Cavalry (PMC). Mrs. Dorothy McFerrin made a very gracious and generous donation to PMC in honor of her late husband and former cadet, Artie McFerrin ‘65, that enabled PMC to add a covered arena to their facilities. Mrs. McFerrin also sponsored one of PMC’s horses, lovingly named “Artie,” and the purchase of a new tractor to assist PMC with their daily operations at Fiddler’s Green. The McFerrins have been very generous supporters of Parsons Mounted Cavalry, the Corps of Cadets, and Texas A&M University over the years, and we are grateful for their continued support!
  • Three outstanding cadets were selected to become Texas A&M Foundation Maroon Coats this year: David Brookins ’21, Brock Jones ’21, and Caden Scott ’21. As student ambassadors to the Texas A&M Foundation, Maroon Coats aim to increase the culture of philanthropy at Texas A&M University by thanking donors and educating their peers on the importance of outside support. We are incredibly proud of these cadets for representing the Corps of Cadets and Texas A&M University so well as the newest Maroon Coats. Well done by all of them!  To learn more about Maroon Coats, and how our cadets will contribute to the university through this opportunity, click here.
  • Colonel Jay Brewer ‘81, former Senior Associate Director of the Aggie Band, officially retired from the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band and Texas A&M University following a successful 40-year career. Colonel Brewer’s retirement ends an iconic era for the band and the university. Jay was well-known as the voice of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band, sounding off loudly at every football game, and introducing the Aggie Band as they began their famous halftime performances. We thank Colonel Brewer for his many years of selfless service and dedication to the Band, our Corps and our university. We will truly miss him. We wish Jay and his family success and happiness in all of their future endeavors! God bless Jay Brewer!
  • This year, the Corps of Cadets is proud to celebrate 145 years as an organization at Texas A&M. We are proud to celebrate 145 years of leadership, tradition, selfless service, and so much more. As an organization, we’ve seen success and struggle, but we’re stronger now than ever before and proud of the quality of cadets that the Corps continues to produce each year – just as it has since 1876.

Corps Development

As our Corps continues to grow, we strive to offer additional financial aid, enhanced learning experiences, and outstanding facilities for our cadets. Donor support provides critical resources allowing us to recruit and retain outstanding cadets. To all who have given so generously—thank you! Your gifts of support will impact our Corps for many years to come!

Development Priorities

Donors often ask how they can make the greatest impact on the Corps. Support for our leadership training programs, international excursions, learning centers and scholarships are among our highest priorities.

Hollingsworth Center for Ethical Leadership (HCEL)

Providing resources for the HCEL is our number one funding priority. Through this center, all cadets experience formal studies in leadership and are taught to apply those leadership principles in everyday life in the Corps. Juniors and seniors who are not pursuing military commissions further their leadership experience with advanced courses and training to prepare them for civilian careers. We are expanding this career readiness training through additional conferences, mentoring programs and post-graduation research and are actively working to expand our dedicated full-time staff in order to meet the ever-growing needs of our cadets.

Corps International Excursions

Over the past decade, cadets have enjoyed the opportunity to travel abroad through the Corps Global Leadership Initiatives Program. Corps international excursions offer short-term study abroad opportunities between the end of the spring semester and the start of summer term. Currently, three groups of approximately 26 cadets receive an intense international experience while gaining insight into the cultures, languages and geopolitical issues of key nations. These excursions provide opportunities for cadets to interact with peers from host nations, gain an understanding of the important issues facing the world and learn about the impact each nation has on the United States. While the global pandemic has not allowed us to travel these past two years, it is our intention to resume this valuable program in 2022 and beyond.

Leadership Learning Centers (LLCs)

As part of renovations to the Quad over the past several years, 4 Leadership Learning Centers, funded through the generosity of donors, were built to create the premier learning/study spaces on the Texas A&M campus. These LLCs, situated between dorms 1-8, provide learning spaces for large groups, small groups and individuals, and offer access to the latest in education technology. Whether participating in tutoring sessions, studying individually or working with class project teams, our cadets benefit tremendously from the best learning environment on campus in the LLCs. It’s no wonder cadets have posted the highest GPAs in Corps history since the construction of the LLCs! Plans are currently underway to develop 2 additional LLCs to be located between dorms 9-11 and 10-12. We encourage donors who want to make a positive impact on the learning environment for the Corps to consider support for these new LLCs.

Corps Scholarships

As our Corps continues to grow, we seek to increase the number of scholarships for cadets.  Our goal is to have every academically eligible cadet on a Corps scholarship, especially those with financial need and those who have demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities.

Whether you decide to create an endowed Keepers of The Spirit Scholarship, Corps 21 Scholarship, General Rudder Scholarship, or Sul Ross Scholarship, you will truly impact the lives of cadets for generations to come.

Other Opportunities

Donors who wish to invest in the continued growth and success of the Corps are encouraged to contact our Corps of Cadets development team:

Texas A&M Foundation Corps Development
givetocorps@txamfoundation.com
(979) 458-1689

Sponsor A Cadet

As we eagerly await the start of the 2021-2022 school year and football season, the Corps is excited to support the Aggie football team at home in Kyle Field and on the road. We are excited to announce that our cadets—after a year’s hiatus—will take part in the annual Corps Trip to the Southwest Classic game between Texas A&M and Arkansas. Though the game time has not yet been announced, we are planning for cadets to march into Fort Worth the morning of September 25 and then attend the football game in AT&T Stadium later that day to watch the Aggies beat the hell outta the Razorbacks!

In years past, support from generous donors like you have enabled us to send every cadet to the Southwest Classic football game. We are asking for your support once again. It is important that, as the 12th Man, we show the Aggie football team we will stand with them as they beat the hell outta Arkansas!

Thanks to the support of the Athletic Department and the 12th Man Foundation, a cadet ticket to the Arkansas costs $85. Each cadet will be charged $35 for their ticket, and we are asking former students to make a small donation of $50 to offset the cost of the football ticket. If you wish to sponsor a cadet to attend the Texas A&M – Arkansas game, please visit here. Share this message with your family, friends and other supporters of the Corps of Cadets and encourage them to support too!

We are grateful for your generosity in supporting our cadets to be able to attend the game! Thank you, Gig ‘em, and Beat the Hell Outta Arkansas!

In Closing

I hope this update provided you with the latest information on what was a very successful year for the Corps of Cadets. Despite the hardships and challenges our cadets faced due to COVID-19, they adapted quickly, persevered, and achieved extraordinary success. We are very proud of all our cadets for their positive, “can do” attitude, and expect that they learned many good lessons from this experience that will serve them well as the future leaders of our communities, our state and our nation.

As you can see, we remain confident that the Corps is clearly providing the right environment for young men and women to achieve academic success, to develop as leaders, to expand their global perspectives, to pursue professional, military, and career development, to participate in a wide variety of extracurricular activities, and to fully prepare for the “global leadership challenges of the future.” I am confident that our credentials – our cadets – will represent all of us well as they go on to become leaders in our country.

We are also very excited about the coming school year. We look forward to returning to “normal” operations for the university and the Corps this Fall, and are excited to see our cadets and our Corps in action again during the 2021-2022 school year! Thanks to all of you for your love and support of our Corps. We look forward to updating you throughout the coming year on the exceptional young men and women who will be members of the 2021-2022 Corps of Cadets!

Please feel free to pass this update on to others who may have an interest in our Corps and the many successes they have achieved.

During the school year, the weekly Commandant’s e-newsletter is distributed to those who wish to be kept up-to-date on the Corps of Cadets. To be added to this mailing list, submit your email address to http://corpstest.tamu.edu/newsletter/

Thanks again for your support! Have a great summer and stay safe! God bless you all, and God bless our Corps! Gig ‘em!

In Memoriam

This year, the Corps of Cadets lost two of our own. These cadets left us too soon and their loss was felt by all. We continue to hold them and their families in our thoughts and prayers. God bless them both.

Brandon Williams ‘23 Squadron 8
Ryan Boles ‘24 Squadron 8

Cadets Across Campus: Tyler Bulthuis ’22

by

The Corps of Cadets is the premier Texas A&M leadership development program. Multiple opportunities exist for cadets to hone their leadership skills in the Corps – an organization that has been producing leaders for 145 years. The Corps of Cadets has produced Student Body Presidents, Student Regents, Student Senators, Class Presidents, and student athletes among many other leadership positions on campus. Cadet Tyler Bulthuis ‘22, applies the leadership skills he’s learned as a cadet on Kyle Field as a member of the Texas A&M Football team.

Tyler is a Construction Science major from McAllen, Texas. He is the son of Nelda and Doug Bulthuis and the brother of future cadet Ryan Bulthuis. As a member of the Corps, Tyler is a member of Company E-1 and serves as a Platoon Sergeant, where he is responsible for developing over 25 cadets in his platoon. As a member of the Texas A&M football team, Tyler wears number 28 and plays defensive back. His journey to Texas A&M started years ago when Tyler first attended Aggie Football Camps.  Doug Bulthuis, Tyler’s father and longtime football coach, would load up Tyler and his friends to make the several hour trip to College Station each year. After spending most of his life playing football, Tyler knew he wanted a similar team environment going into his freshman year at Texas A&M.

“After doing my research, the Corps reminded me of my high school football experience where you bond with brothers and build great friendships,” said Tyler. “So during my New Student Conference (NSC), I talked with Company E-1 and was immediately sold.”

In the Spring of 2020, Tyler decided to try out for the Aggie football team. He soon received a phone call offering him a position on the team. However, due to the pandemic, players weren’t able to return to campus and Tyler was cut from the team. Shortly after the start of the fall semester, Tyler received another phone call with an offer to rejoin the team for the upcoming season.

“I was extremely excited once I got that second phone call. I never got the opportunity to prove myself before I got cut from the team in the summer because of COVID-19,” he said. “I honestly thought there was zero chance that I would get a call back, but God works in mysterious ways and I give all glory to Him.”

On the football field, Tyler’s role as a defensive back is to give the offense a good scout team look to help them prepare for the opponent that week. For his efforts, Tyler was named the Scout Team Player of The Week twice during the 2020 season. After being a part of a record setting season, he plans to return to play Aggie football once again in the fall of 2021.

“Coach Fisher is building something special here at Texas A&M, and I consider myself extremely blessed to be a part of it,” he said. “This season was a perfect foundation or stepping stone for future teams to build off of.”

From the Corps, to the classroom, and to Kyle Field, Tyler must juggle multiple schedules and responsibilities. Although it can be difficult to balance at times, Tyler has had an incredible support system from the beginning of his journey who have championed him in all aspects of his life.

“My buddies, upperclassmen and fish supported me and believed in me when I told them I wanted to try out for the football team,” he said. “Multiple times after outfit physical training sessions, several buddies, upperclassmen and fish stayed with me to train. I am very appreciative of the support they gave me and continue to give me.”

Although it can be difficult to manage the many responsibilities that come with being a cadet and student athlete, both organizations have taught Tyler valuable lessons.

“The Corps and football team demand excellence and attention to detail, are team oriented, and want you to be the best teammate you can possibly be,” he said. “Both organizations have had a huge impact on me by teaching me to embrace my role in whatever shape, way or form that it may be in because it’s best for the team/outfit.”

Tyler’s story is a testament to the quality of student leaders that the Corps produces. As a student athlete and cadet, Tyler encourages other cadets to be involved in the Corps and in other organizations on campus.

“The Corps of Cadets has a lot of hard working, dedicated, and team oriented individuals that can be great assets on the varsity sports teams here at A&M,” Tyler said. “I truly believe that we could help and contribute to those teams.”

Kaitlin Villa ’22

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