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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.”

Within the Corps of Cadets, there are 41 different home units that students may join.  Each of these units, also referred to as “outfits”, are unique with their own personalities, traditions and special focuses. 

For Company A-2, their identity is strongly rooted in the Aggie Ring, with members of the unit known as the “Keepers of the Ring”. A-2’s tie to the iconic Aggie symbol is showcased through the unit’s distinctive Ring Day efforts. 

In the days before each Ring Day, A-2 cadets coordinate with The Association of Former Students to determine an evening for the unit to clean the Haynes Aggie Ring Statue. The statue, which has sat in the Association’s Haynes Ring Plaza since 2009, is central to each Ring Day, serving as a popular photo location for new ring recipients and a physical symbol of the Aggie Network. 

“Cleaning the ring is a unit wide effort, with each class year contributing to the process in their own way. We clean the statue to symbolically and physically support the student body during this important weekend for them,” Victoria Lord ‘25, Executive Officer of Company A-2, said. 

Each member of the outfit has a unique role in the cleaning of the statue, determined by their classification. 

“Typically we let the freshmen do the ‘fun stuff’ like actually cleaning the ring and scrubbing it down because as the newest members of A-2, they’re the most excited to clean it and should be inducted into our family whenever possible. The sophomores and juniors supervise and pitch in when they can, while the seniors have the exclusive privilege of cleaning the top of the ring,” Nicolas Brannstrom ‘25, Commanding Officer of Company A-2, explained.

“The sophomores and juniors in the operations and logistics chain contact the Association and plan a good time for us to go out, and it is the senior class’ responsibility to set a good tone and get everyone excited for the event,” Brannstrom continued.

For those in the unit who have received their rings, this unique act of service carries a more personal meaning.

“As someone who has earned their ring, it means a lot to see the statue all shined and beautiful, not to mention how happy it made my mom,” Robert Early ‘26, and A-2’s First Platoon Sergeant, said. 

Members of Company A-2 are also highly encouraged by outfit leadership to volunteer on Ring Day as their schedules permit. 

“Volunteers on Ring Day serve in a variety of roles. When we put our names on the volunteer sheet we’re told where to go and what to do. This past ring day Mia Palacios ‘27 and I were indoor ushers and crowd control, while Thomas Koch ‘28 and others were holding signs outside and ushering families into the building. We serve where we can and we always show up to celebrate cadets that we know who are getting their rings as well,” Brannstromm said. 

“We take pride in serving others on Ring Day because that’s just what good Aggies do: celebrate with our fellow Aggies whether we know them personally or not. We also get to see the fruits of our labor, seeing students take pictures with the ring that we just shined days before really puts our efforts into perspective,” he continued.

Though unique in its unit-specific traditions, Company A-2’s efforts play into the Corps’ identity as Texas A&M’s “Keepers of the Spirit” and “Guardians of Tradition”.

“When you join the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, you’re taking on a challenge by choice. There are countless other leadership organizations on this campus and countless ROTCs around the nation, but our dedication to tradition here make us one of a kind,” Early said. 

“The ring is a symbol of our values. Whenever I see the Aggie ring outside of College Station, I can’t help but feel like I’ve run into a family member. Making the largest ring on display looking its best is a great way to live the core values. We are lucky we are Aggies, as our essence is to serve others."

 

 

By Robin Nelson '22, Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets

Senior cadet James Guandolo will march as second in command ahead of Saturday’s Texas A&M football game against Arkansas

The Texas A&M Corps of Cadets will conduct a march-in through downtown Fort Worth on Saturday, Sept. 28. The Corps march-in is a long-standing tradition that showcases one of the nation’s largest uniformed student bodies. Dallas native, James Guandolo, a 2021 graduate of Highland Park High School and the current Deputy Corps Commander, will help lead the Corps’ 2,400-plus cadets as the organization’s second in command.

“It will be surreal marching in Fort Worth this year for the final time. Getting to know so many people across the Quad and building these deep friendships is what will make the experience truly special. Knowing that hundreds of my friends are marching behind me and then getting to go to the game and cheer on the Aggies with them will be so awesome. Marching with my Corps buddies past my family and friends from home will be such a blessing,” Guandolo said.

“The Corps trip is important because it allows us to showcase the Corps to groups of people that normally do not get to see us. Every year, my buddies and I travel to Dallas together and spend the weekend at my house. All the time we’ve spent together on this trip has grown our relationship and the bond we share,” he said.

The Corps of Cadets’ march through downtown Fort Worth began in 2009 with the revitalization of the rivalry game between Texas A&M and Arkansas at AT&T stadium. Throughout the years, cadets have made the trip from College Station to Fort Worth to march in front of thousands ahead of the football game. This year marks the final game between the Aggies and Razorbacks in AT&T Stadium.

“As I prepare for this weekend’s march, I truly appreciate what A&M has done for me. Coming back home serves as a reminder of how special being an Aggie is. I hope to live up to the great men and women who have gone before me in making their hometowns proud of them,” Guandolo said.

The Corps of Cadets dates its origins to the creation of Texas A&M in 1876. As the Keepers of The Spirit and the Guardians of Tradition, members of the Corps of Cadets are devoted to upholding Texas A&M’s reputation as a top-tier institution. As one of the nation’s most unique leadership development programs, the Corps of Cadets is home to students from all majors, interests and backgrounds. Though the Corps experience is deeply rooted in its iconic, military-based cultural model, military service is not mandated. The skills that cadets develop in the program are applicable in every professional environment.

For more information on the Corps’ march through downtown Fort Worth, including timing and the route, visit tx.ag/CorpsTrip2024.

By Robin Nelson '22, Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets

The new unit creates expanded opportunities for Aggies to serve in the United States Coast Guard after graduation.

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Sept. 18, 2024 — Texas A&M University’s flagship campus in College Station will join the United States Coast Guard’s Auxiliary University Program (AUP) with a unit activation ceremony on Sept. 20. Texas A&M’s unit will join over 30 other collegiate units across the country to include the Texas A&M Maritime Academy, based at the Galveston campus, expanding Texas A&M’s history of service to the nation. The ceremony, which is open to the public, will take place at 11 a.m. on Texas A&M’s Simpson Drill Field.

Through membership in the unit, students will have the opportunity to work alongside active military and civilian Coast Guard personnel across the branch’s operational units, to include public policy, maritime strategy and geographic information systems (GIS). Historically, over 70% of the Auxiliary Unit Program’s alumni members go on to serve in the Coast Guard after graduation.

“This new partnership between the Coast Guard and Texas A&M University is significant as it formalizes an avenue for Aggies to pursue careers as Coast Guard officers. While Texas A&M has produced officers for the Coast Guard for decades, this represents the first formal agreement to train and prepare Aggies for Coast Guard service. This partnership represents the perfect blend of two organizations whose values are so closely aligned,” USCG Capt. (Ret.) Scott Jackson, staff advisor to the unit, said.

At its start, Texas A&M’s auxiliary unit will have 21 members. Though membership is open to all students at Texas A&M, all of these initial members are also in the university’s Corps of Cadets. Two junior cadets, Alec Rehagen and Savion Santor, along with several Office of the Commandant staff members, have been instrumental in the establishment of the unit.

“We couldn’t have done it without the support of members of the larger Coast Guard AUP and others at Texas A&M that have supported the unit,” Rehagen said.

Santor said being in the Corps of Cadets gives students an advantage when it comes to pursuing opportunities with the Coast Guard.

“I’ve developed my confidence and discipline as a cadet. The traditions of the Corps have given me the opportunity to develop my own leadership style and prepare for my future career,” he said.

“Being a part of the Corps definitely put me at an advantage when it came to applying for the Coast Guard’s College Student Pre-commissioning Initiative and making it through Coast Guard boot camp in Cape May, New Jersey this summer. During boot camp, Alec and I were prepared when it came to physical ability and military tradition. Now, I’m looking forward to finishing up college and tackling Officer Candidate School after graduation,” Santor said.

Those currently in the unit look forward to growing the AUP’s presence at Texas A&M, with significant expectations and goals already set for the future.

“My hopes are to create a healthy and thriving unit that will prepare students to commission into the United States Coast Guard,” Rehagen said “My personal goal is to make Texas A&M the largest source of Coast Guard officers outside of the Coast Guard Academy, and I believe that we are going to make that happen.”