News

Ready To Lead: Caitlynn Walsh ‘24 Named 2023-2024 Corps Commander

March 23, 2023 by rnelson

The Corps of Cadets recently announced the organization’s leadership selections for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year. At the top of this list lies the Corps’ third-ever female Corps Commander: cadet Caitlynn Walsh ‘24.

A Political Science major from Double Oak, Texas, Caitlynn currently serves as the Corps’ Sergeant Major for the 2022-2023 school year. As she prepares to officially step into the Corps Commander role next month at Final Review, Caitlynn took time to reflect on her unique path to Texas A&M and the Corps of Cadets.

“I transferred to Texas A&M during my sophomore year from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. After reflecting on what I wanted in a university experience, I decided to make the switch to Texas A&M and joined the Corps as a transfer cadet in Company D-1. I have always wanted to serve in the military and saw the Corps as the best place to immerse myself in a community of service-driven individuals with many opportunities to further develop my leadership skills,” Caitlynn said.

With her sights set on military service, Caitlynn has chosen to pursue a Marine Corps contract through the Platoon Leaders Class, an undergraduate commissioning program.

“Before joining the Corps of Cadets, I had not really considered the Marine Corps. Since joining the Corps, I am grateful to have made many friends that shed light onto the opportunities and values of the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps ultimately drew me with its strong esprit de corps, values and mission that I resonated with, and the unique opportunities to serve my country that it offers,” Caitlynn explained.

As Corps Commander, Caitlynn looks to lead the Corps by example and serve as a source of inspiration to those around her.

“I hope to inspire others by setting an example and showing commitment to the Corps’ values of Honor, Integrity, Courage, Discipline, Respect and Selfless Service through my actions. I also aim to foster an environment where every member feels supported, valued and encouraged to succeed and grow as a leader in this organization,” Caitlynn said.

“As the third-ever female Corps Commander, I also hope to inspire other women within the Corps and beyond by serving as an example that leadership is not limited by gender. The role of Corps Commander holds great responsibility, regardless of gender, and I see it as a tremendous opportunity to serve the university that I love.”

With her tenure as Corps Commander about to begin, Caitlynn offered a few pieces of advice to the incoming freshman class of 2027.

“Commit yourself to the Corps’ values. Honor, Integrity, Courage, Discipline, Respect, and Selfless Service are central to the Corps experience and the Aggie identity. Embrace them and they will serve you well as you use them to guide your actions as a cadet and beyond.

Be disciplined, but don’t be afraid to seek help. The Corps experience is a challenging one, and it is supposed to be. It is designed to develop values and strong leadership skills in each member, which takes dedication and hard work. Realize that there is no shortage of people who are invested in your success and are willing to mentor, guide and help you overcome any challenge you may face.”

For over 145 years, the Corps of Cadets has served as Texas A&M’s premier leadership organization, developing leaders from all walks of life. Though Caitlynn took a non-traditional path to the Corps of Cadets, the opportunities available to her were endless. The Corps of Cadets serves as a place for every individual, regardless of their goals for the future, to develop into well rounded leaders prepared for any challenge they may face.

Story By: Robin Nelson ’22

Though Caitlynn has chosen to serve in the United States Marine Corps after her time at Texas A&M, a majority of graduating cadets go on to serve in the public and private sectors. Fill out the form below to learn more about the professional, educational and scholarship opportunities available in the Corps of Cadets.

Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders Meet With Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band

February 28, 2023 by rnelson

In a good bull story for the ages, cadet Chase Borders ‘25, of B-Battery in the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band, helped arrange one of the greatest meet ups that the Corps of Cadets has ever seen.

“While in Arlington for the Southwest Classic, I submitted a form requesting an event with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Originally, I didn’t think it would amount to much because I figured they get tons of requests. I received an email from their event coordinator asking to schedule a phone call. After a couple phone calls to iron out the details, I was able to pass the event off to the Band Commander, Cameron Paladino ‘23, to figure out the logistics!”

Once they arrived on campus, the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders were welcomed into the Music Activities Center by nearly 150 cadets. During their visit, members of the organization and team director, Kelli Finglass, drew similarities between their organization and the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band.

“One of the biggest compliments that both of our organizations can get is that we make it look easy, but we know that there’s so much work that goes into it. There are so many moving parts to what we do, but practicing with your team makes it all come together for the final product,” Finglass said.

In addition to highlighting the similarities the two teams share, Finglass also shared advice on how to work as a team through challenges and adversity.

“Going in everyday with that ‘I’ve got this’ attitude is what will carry you through. If even one girl on our team has an ‘I can’t get up’ mindset, it is the job of the rest of the team to help her up,” Finglass explained.

After visiting with the team for an hour, cadets in attendance showed the cheerleaders around the Dunlap Drill Field, where they also took photos with the team members and coaches.

“It was such an honor to get to work with such a prestigious organization. I wasn’t expecting the request to grow into something so amazing. It’s great to know that a professional organization like the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders recognizes the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band and views us with such high regards. Two highly renowned organizations meeting like this doesn’t happen very often, so I wanted to help create something that we can hopefully turn into a yearly tradition,” Borders said.

Through “career readiness events”, cadets are able to learn from industry leaders about the skills they need to be successful in the workforce. This visit by one of America’s most iconic teams is just one of many career readiness events that are offered to cadets throughout the year. In a unique twist on a traditional career readiness event, cadets heard from the team that has redefined and led the sports entertainment industry for over 60 years.

In a meeting between nationally famous and world famous, the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band and the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders came together to celebrate commonalities and the value of leadership, hard work and tradition.

“In the Aggie Band, and in the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, we don’t mess around with tradition. We celebrate all of our traditions and we respect that we wouldn’t be who we are today without our larger organizations. Our team, the Dallas Cowboys organization, is the best of its brand, much like Texas A&M,” Finglass said.

Story By: Robin Nelson '22

Fish Drill Team Wins 13th Straight National Title

February 17, 2023 by rnelson

For the 13th consecutive year, the Fish Drill Team of the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets has claimed the national title at Tulane University’s NROTC Mardi Gras Drill Meet. This prestigious event hosts drill teams from across the country, most of which are primarily composed of upperclassmen.

The Fish Drill Team, which is composed entirely of freshman cadets, dominated in nearly every category of the competition, winning three out of the five competition events. As a result of these efforts, the Fish Drill Team was named the overall champion of the meet, edging out teams from the United States Military Academy and Norwich University.

This success comes as a result of months of intense training for the Fish Drill Team. Through their impressive representation of Texas A&M at the national level, the class of 2026 has now made its mark in the Fish Drill Team’s storied history.

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.

Story by: Robin Nelson ‘22

Aggie Moms Club Celebrates 100 Years On The Quad

December 21, 2022 by rnelson

In February of 1922, eleven Aggie Moms, led by Mrs. Ada Peoples, left from Dallas, Texas and caravanned over 200 miles in their Model T cars down dusty roads to the Texas Agricultural & Mechanical College. At the speed of 25 mph, it took them most of the day in winter conditions to reach their destination on the Quad in College Station. With no modern day conveniences like Bucee’s, Interstate 45 or Highway 6, this was no easy task!

The original purpose of their trip was to visit Mrs. Peoples’ son, Harold Peoples, a freshman in the Corps of Cadets. While visiting with other cadets and inspecting the dorm rooms, Mrs. Peoples had a strong determination to improve the students' academic and living situations, concerned that there was “no entertainment, no culture and a lack of a woman’s influence.” To her disappointment, after presenting her ideas to the college administration, they were laughed off the campus and sent home to North Texas.

Soon after their 400 round mile trip, being a persistent, wise woman that knew the way to a man’s heart, Mrs. Peoples and the other ten Corps moms organized a second trip to College Station with a “spread” of fried chicken, sandwiches, cakes, pies and cookies. This time, they were so well received that they were invited to stay and their organized “Picnic on the Grounds” became an annual campus wide event. Recognizing the size and benefit of this support, Mrs. Peoples organized and became the president of the first Aggie Moms Club, the Dallas Aggie Moms.

Decades later, the Aggie Moms celebrate their 100th anniversary as the largest university parental organization in the country. Today, the Aggie Moms Club has grown to over 7,000 mothers, represented by 110 clubs in Texas and across the country, who volunteer their time and resources to raise over $1,000,000 a year in support of student scholarships and organizations on campus. A majority of the almost 73,000 Aggies currently enrolled at Texas A&M benefit from the encouragement and financial support of the Aggie Moms. In return, the Aggie Moms benefit from the comradery and lifelong friendships on their own personal journeys in “rising 'em right” in Aggieland that can’t be found anywhere else.

Mrs. Peoples, affectionately known as “the Mother Of Them All”, died in 1972 at the age of 92. To this day, her courage, generosity and passion continue to build a community among the Aggie Moms and give Aggies a better college experience at Texas A&M University!

Story By: Jane Metz

Colonel Byron Stebbins ‘78 Retires

December 15, 2022 by rnelson

In August of 1974, Colonel Byron Stebbins ‘78 (USMC, Ret), arrived on Texas A&M’s campus as a fish in the Corps of Cadets. Little did he know, this was his first step into a lifetime of opportunity, experiences and service with the Corps.

“Back then, we didn’t have Freshman Orientation Week, you just checked in. You also didn’t get to choose your outfit, it was just assigned to you. So I came up here with my parents, got assigned to Company N-1 and was told to go to the fourth floor of dorm six. I went up, introduced myself and started doing push-ups probably within the first ten seconds. At that point, my dad stepped over me and started putting some of my things away in my room. It was then I knew I had definitely found a different college experience,” Colonel Stebbins recounted.

As he progressed through the Corps, Stebbins went on to become a member of the Fish Drill Team, Recon Company and the Ross Volunteers. As a junior, Stebbins was named the Sergeant Major of the First Regiment, and went on to become the commander of the major unit the following year. The relationships that he built through these involvements are what Stebbins describes as the key component of the Corps.

“The camaraderie that you build here as you get involved in these different things is what the Corps is all about. Having your fish buddies, in addition to your buddies from other parts of the Corps, allows you to create these lifelong relationships. It’s been 44 years, and I still get phone calls from my buddies.”

In addition to the relationships that were built throughout his Corps experience, Stebbins says that the lessons the Corps teaches are just as valuable.

“As a freshman, you learn about yourself. You learn to put up with frustration and failure, but you also learn about what your true capabilities are. You come in thinking that you can accomplish one thing, but you later realize that you can actually accomplish much more. Once you get to the highest point in the experience, you realize that there’s nothing you can’t do as long as you put your mind to it and you’re willing to work hard for it.”

On December 9th, 1978, Stebbins graduated from Texas A&M and was commissioned into the United States Marine Corps as a Second Lieutenant. From there, he led a very successful career before retiring as a Colonel.

“I went on to become an Aviation Supply Officer. I figured that I would serve my four years in the Marine Corps and go into an aviation career wherever I wanted, but, 30 years later, I retired from the Marines as the Chief of Staff in Okinawa.”

After his retirement from the Marine Corps, Stebbins and his family quickly moved to College Station, where he was once again reunited with the Corps of Cadets.

“In the Summer of 2008, My family and I left Okinawa on a Friday and I returned to the Corps of Cadets as a Cadet Training Officer the following Tuesday. I had actually bought a house in College Station in 2006, because I knew that we would be coming back to live here. I just didn’t know that I would be returning to the Corps, which has been a very unique experience for me,” Colonel Stebbins said.

For the past 14 and a half years, Stebbins has served the Corps in several roles, from Cadet Training Officer to most recently as interim Commandant. Throughout his time as a member of the Commandant’s staff, Stebbins says that he still sees similarities between the cadets of today and those from his time as a student.

“They say that you can’t go home again, but you can. You just have to know that home is going to be different. From 1978 to 2008, there was so much that had changed, and even since 2008, there’s been even more change. But there are still similarities. The cadets of today still have the same passion that we did for this place. The Corps is a unique organization at a unique university, and these cadets still place the same value on tradition that we always have. We share that same bond, we march on the same drill field, live in the same dorms, and we all still go to Duncan. When all is said and done, we all graduate and can say that the unique experience that we had in the Corps is what got us to where we are today.”

When reflecting on his experience as a staff member, Stebbins says that serving in this capacity has been very rewarding.

“Working with the cadets, watching them grow and being able to teach them how to take care of themselves and their issues has been my favorite part of working here. It has been my honor and privilege to work with them for the past fourteen and a half years, and I know we have all had the best interests of the cadets in our hearts.”

As he approaches his retirement from the Corps in early December, Stebbins has now seen almost a decade and a half’s worth of cadets grow and develop into leaders. While wrapping up his time as a staff member and mentor, Stebbins has some advice for current and future generations of cadets.

“My advice to cadets is always to have fun with what you’re doing, understand that you’re not going to learn it all in one day, and know that this program here in the Corps of Cadets is going to shape you for the better.”

After an impactful career with the Corps of Cadets, with many efforts that have left the organization better than he found it, Stebbins says that serving the local community and visiting his children are among his retirement plans.

“My wife and I have our eyes on doing Meals on Wheels and volunteering with the Brazos Valley Food Bank. I also hope to do some volunteer work with the Corps of Cadets Association. I am really looking forward to going to visit my kids and my grandkids. They’re spread out all across the country and the world, so the idea is to spend time with them, mess their houses up and move onto the next one!”

Though his time on the Commandant’s staff has reached its end, the impact that Stebbins has had on the Corps of Cadets is enough to last a lifetime. For his entire adult life, Stebbins has been a selfless servant to our country, Texas A&M and the Corps of Cadets.

Story by: Robin Nelson ’22