News

Freshman cadets attended the prestigious Tulane NROTC Mardi Gras Drill Meet, securing a second place finish against top military academies and senior colleges.

By Robin Nelson ‘22, Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets - February 28th, 2025

The Fish Drill Team of the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets has claimed the second place title at Tulane University’s NROTC Mardi Gras Drill Meet, ranking only behind the United States Naval Academy. This prestigious event hosts drill teams from service academies and senior military colleges across the country, most of which are primarily composed of upperclassmen. 

The Fish Drill Team, which is composed entirely of freshman cadets, competed in a total of five team events at the Feb. 28 competition. As a result of their efforts, the Fish Drill Team claimed second place overall at the meet, edging out teams from the United States Military Academy and Norwich University. 

This win comes as a result of five months of intense training for the Fish Drill Team, beginning in mid-September, just weeks after the freshman cadets arrived on Texas A&M’s campus. 

“What this team has accomplished in such a short amount of time is truly astounding. Less than a year ago, these cadets were seniors in high school, and now they’ve competed with the best on the national stage,” said Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Chip Utterback, interim commandant of the Corps of Cadets. 

“Every member on this team, from our freshmen to their cadet and staff advisers, has given their all to secure this victory. We’re beyond proud of them, their efforts and their representation of Texas A&M and the Corps of Cadets,” Utterback said. 

For over 145 years, the Corps of Cadets has taken individuals from all walks of life and prepared them to lead in the public, private and military sectors. Through unique experiences and opportunities like the Fish Drill Team, students are able to compete and win on the national stage.

By Robin Nelson '22, Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets - January 14th, 2025

Throughout its history the Corps of Cadets has produced spirited leaders whose dedication, self-discipline, integrity and patriotism have brought great credit to themselves, the Corps and Texas A&M University. At the root of the Corps experience are the developmental leadership opportunities it provides its members. Among the Corps’ most visible leadership opportunities are commander, sergeant major and first sergeant positions at the Corps, major unit (Brigade/Regiment/Wing), minor unit (Group/Battalion) and outfit (Squadron/Company) levels. The selection process for these positions, though lengthy, identifies those who are both qualified and willing to serve in the areas that most align with their skills.  

In December, rising junior (current sophomore) and senior (current junior) cadets who meet the Corps’ GPA and standards & accountability requirements are invited to indicate their interest in competing for Corps leadership. Those who confirm their interest also select the levels of leadership at which they are interested in competing. These levels include the outfit, minor unit, major unit and Corps Staff leadership opportunities. Cadets are only considered for the levels of leadership in which they express an interest.  

Qualified cadets that self-select to compete for leadership positions then enter into the board review and interview process.  

First, all candidates interview with their respective minor unit board. This board is comprised entirely of cadets and includes minor unit leaders and company commanders. These interviews allow candidates to discuss their prior leadership experience and share their leadership vision for the future.  

Based on their performance in this interview, cadets deemed competitive are then invited to a second interview with their respective service board. This board level is managed across each major unit and is comprised of cadets, Office of the Commandant (OOC) staff and ROTC representatives. It is notable that in the overall make-up of each board, cadet voters outnumber the staff, ensuring the selection is determined by cadets.  

A non-voting OOC staff member serves as the president of each board. The board president reminds the board of their charge, facilitates discussion amongst the board members, and runs the administrative support for each board. Board presidents also provide context for both staff and cadet perspectives as the group works to match prospective leaders with leadership opportunities. 

“Board members can frequently distinguish between cadets who are genuinely thoughtful in their responses. Cadets who speak from their heart and represent themselves authentically generally fare better than those who repeat leadership buzzwords and Corps maxims,” said Lt Col (USMC, Ret.) Byron Schlather, Corps Operations director. .  

At the conclusion of the second round of interviews, that board then ranks and recommends who from their candidate pool will go on to a separate Corps board to compete for Corps commander, deputy Corps commander, Major Unit commander, Corps sergeant major and Major Unit sergeant major positions. Once the Corps board has selected who will be slated for these leadership positions, the initial service boards may slate their minor unit and company leaders.   

“Cadets are not only evaluated to determine if they’d make a good leader, but they are slated into positions where their skills will complement the team of leaders in place around them. Board perspectives ensure the selection of commanders, from the company to the Corps level, who fulfill the needs of the present Corps and will enable it to stay strong in the future,” said Schlather.

A slate, or list of the leadership positions and their corresponding recommended candidate, is created at the conclusion of the board process. Cadets selected for each leadership position are notified and must then accept their new roles. Those who decline are replaced by cadets on an alternate list. Following the acceptance of each role, the coming year’s leadership slate is solidified, and a formal announcement is made by the Office of the Commandant.  

“Our merit-based leadership selection process allows us to hear from cadets who are interested and qualified to serve in a leadership position within the Corps. Their views of the current and future needs of the Corps are an important part of shaping the Corps and their legacy is the leaders they select. We are confident that the participants and process will continue to recommend high caliber leaders for the Corps of Cadets,” said Meredith Simpson, who has served as a board president in previous years.

By Robin Nelson '22, Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets  - December 6th, 2024

Six-man Project Atlas Rucks team to depart Texas A&M University’s campus on Dec. 11 for hike through the Colorado mountains.

Six members of Texas A&M University’s Corps of Cadets will participate in a 1,000-mile, 10-day ruck march across Colorado this month.

The ruck march, a fundraiser for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, began as a service initiative known as Project Atlas Rucks in 2017 by members of the Corps’ Company H-1.

Following the Corps’ consolidation of Company H-1 at the conclusion of the 2021-2022 school year, Project Atlas did not occur in the fall 2022 semester. The efforts were revitalized in the fall of 2023 when eight cadets from Company P-2, several of whom were former members of Company H-1, revived the efforts. 

The term “ruck march” is in reference to the rucksack carried by the cadets that holds their clothing, food and water. 

This year’s team is a group of five seniors and one sophomore cadet: Nico Barerra of Sugar Land; Zack Hampton of Austin; Max Hulen of Charleston, South Carolina; Christian Lange of Austin; Zach Lehmann of Keller; and Matthew Reckleben of Tucson, Arizona. Four of the team’s members participated in last year’s ruck, which exceeded the project’s $15,000 fundraising goal by nearly $500.

“It’s such a great opportunity to take part in an event like this and to do what we can to give back to the heroes who sacrificed so much for our freedom and their families. It’s truly a blessing to continue this tradition that was started years ago,” said Lehmann, Project Atlas’ co-lead.

This year’s trip will begin in the early morning on Dec. 11, when the team will drive from Texas A&M’ to Steamboat Springs, Colorado. “We wanted to select an area that would challenge us with high elevation and cold weather during the ruck. Our route will pass through several landmarks, including Camp Hale national monument as well as the towns of Vail and Leadville,” Lehmann said.

The team has a goal to raise $15,000 for the SOWF over the course of the journey. Note as of 12/10/24: the team has raised their fundraising goal to $20,000

“These cadets have selflessly elected to spend the first part of their winter breaks serving a very worthy cause. They’re exemplifying the Core Values and leadership development that the Corps experience is rooted in. We’re proud of this year’s group for keeping such a special tradition going and we hope they know that the entire Corps is supporting them along their way,” said Lt. Gen. Chip Utterback, Commandant of the Corps of Cadets.

The team is scheduled to complete its 10-day ruck march on Dec. 22 in Buena Vista, Colorado.

To date, Project Atlas has raised a cumulative $89,436 for the SOWF, which benefits children of military special operators who have died or been injured while serving our nation. The foundation ensures that those children have access to comprehensive educational support, from primary to post-secondary school.

“This ruck is significant to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation because many of the fallen Special Operations personnel whose children we support were A&M graduates. This ruck event honors their sacrifice, while helping fund the education of their children,” said Sean Joseph Corrigan, executive vice president of the SOWF.

“The commitment, sacrifice, and effort that goes into the Project Atlas Ruck march align with what drives Special Operations Forces (SOF). The event honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice and pays tribute to the families who lost their SOF Operator. Texas A&M should take great pride in those who participate in this event. It is uniquely Aggie,” continued Corrigan said.

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

Regular updates about this year’s Project Atlas Ruck march will be posted on the @aggiecorps Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and @projectatlasrucks on Instagram and Facebook. 

Update (12/16/24): The team has completed 500 miles of its cumulative 1000 mile journey. They have raised $13,992 of their $20,000 goal. 

Media Contact: Robin Nelson, Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets, [email protected]

By Robin Nelson '22, Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets  - November 7th, 2024

One of the Corps’ oldest traditions, gameday march-ins occur ahead of each home football game and feature an active duty reviewing officer. Brigadier General Craig McPike, deputy commander of the Air Force Recruiting Service and a former student at Texas A&M, returned to Aggieland to serve as the reviewing officer ahead of the game against Bowling Green.

As a student, McPike spent his time on campus as a member of Company E-1 in the Corps of Cadets, Texas A&M’s Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (AFROTC) and the 1989 Texas A&M Football team. While on the football team, McPike was a part of the 12th Man Kick-off Team, a unit comprised entirely of walk-on players.

After graduating from Texas A&M and completing his time in AFROTC, McPike began a career of service in the United States Air Force. Over the course of his Air Force career, McPike has flown in various combat and combat support missions, accruing over 3,700 flying hours across different flight operations. Today, he serves as the Deputy Commander of the Air Force Recruiting Service.

McPike cites his time as a cadet and a member of the football team as the foundation for his success as an Air Force Officer.

“I am very thankful for the leadership opportunities that Texas A&M and the Corps of Cadets gave me throughout my time as a student. The leadership foundation that Texas A&M instilled in me was something that I was directly and efficiently able to translate into my career with the Air Force.”

The Journey to Texas A&M

After initially planning to attend the United States Air Force Academy and play for their football team, McPike was encouraged by his local congressman to explore Texas A&M and their Corps of Cadets.

“My congressman, Joe Barton, had himself attended Texas A&M and encouraged me to check out membership in the university’s cadet Corps. So I went home and visited with my high school counselor and he just so happened to know the head admissions counselor at Texas A&M,” McPike said.

“The counselor at Texas A&M immediately asked if I was interested in the Corps of Cadets and my question back was, ‘does that mean I get to potentially go into the Air Force?’. Of course he said, yes. So that’s where it all happened, that’s how my choice to attend Texas A&M came to be,” McPike continued.

McPike’s dreams of playing football at the collegiate level carried over onto this new path, impacting the Corps unit he chose to join.

“I played four years of varsity football and baseball in high school, and knew it was something I wanted to continue to pursue. The admissions counselors at the time recommended that I join Company E-1, the Athletic Company, because there’d be some more flexibility for me to pursue membership on those teams.”

A Unique Aggie Experience

After arriving on campus, McPike, a Civil Engineering major and freshman in Company E-1, tried out for both the baseball and football teams.

“I tried out for the baseball team in the fall of my freshman year, and they didn’t take any walk-ons that year. But, that spring, I made the upcoming football team and found myself a part of the 12th Man Kickoff Team,” McPike said.

“So my sophomore year, I was able to play for R.C. Slocum in his first year as head coach. Being in Company E-1 gave me the flexibility to miss the Corps’ evening formations and march-ins to Duncan Dining Hall for football practice. The company was comfortable with me doing that because being athletic is what we’re known for,” he continued.

The support of his Corps buddies throughout his time on the football team continues to be a stand out detail of McPike’s Aggie experience.

“After I made it, I wasn’t a starter but there was one moment against SMU that stands out to me. We were winning by quite a lot and the coaches had decided to send out the 12th Man Kick-off team, and that was my first time physically on the field,” McPike said.

“My buddies were just so proud of me following that experience. After the game, they came up and just expressed how excited they were for me. It's one thing to be on the team, but to get to actually go out there and run a play was so amazing,” he continued.

Following his time on the football team, McPike spent his junior and senior years in leadership positions within Company E-1.

“It all worked out really well because I was fortunate enough to be selected to serve as E-1’s First Sergeant my junior year and the Commanding Officer my senior year. In all, it was a great experience and I gained a lot of friends and leadership experience,” McPike explained.

“To be a company commander was a big responsibility, but it was also very rewarding. The chances I was given to lead here at Texas A&M inspired me to continue on and lead airmen in the future.”

For McPike, his experience as a cadet leader was summarized in one defining interaction.

“I just remember that, at the end of my senior year, one moment in particular gave me the assurance that I had done a good job as a leader. At Parents Weekend, we gave the reins to the junior class and they gave each of the seniors a Company E-1 t-shirt with a nickname on the back,” he continued.

“The nickname they gave me was ‘The Example’. That was a great assurance for me that I was the example that they needed to follow as rising commanders. It was also a great testament to the year we had spent together in E-1.”

Advice to Future Leaders

For those interested in pursuing membership in the Corps of Cadets, McPike says that the experience is worth it.

“If you’re interested in membership in the Corps of Cadets, take a hard look at what that looks like. I think it's an accomplishment that you’ll be really proud of, being able to join, get through all four years and wear those senior boots. There’s a lot of magic and emotions there in that experience that I can hardly explain,” McPike said.

“Being an Aggie in itself is a brotherhood and a sisterhood like no other. The ring that we all wear is recognizable world wide. I’ve been all over the world and I’ve seen someone with an Aggie Ring and there’s just an instant bond. Then, to find out that they were in the cadet Corps is just an even bigger embracement of that bond.”

No matter what path you choose to take, McPike says there’s importance in doing the right thing and pushing yourself toward excellence.

“Make the right choices, even when no one is watching. The lessons I learned on the football field and in the Corps were that you get what you put into it, so if you’re working out and you don’t put in that last set or if you’re supposed to be running and you just jog through the finish line, we’re all going to know it on gameday,” he said.

“Just make sure that you’re always working as hard as you can because you’ll really be proud of yourself at the end of the day if you’ve left everything out there on the field.”