News

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.”

An integral piece in the Corps’ Forward March initiative, evolutions to the Hollingsworth Center will help propel the organization’s leadership development program toward the future.

For generations, the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets has prepared young men and women to lead at every level, within every sector. Though the unique leadership development program utilizes a military based training structure, military service is entirely optional for members of the Corps. In fact, over 60% of all graduating cadets go on to serve in the public, private and non-profit sectors.

Recognizing the importance of developing leaders who are equipped to lead in every sector, the Corps Leadership Excellence Program was established in the early 2000s. This program, renamed in honor of General James F. “Danger 79er” Hollingsworth ‘40 in 2012, sought to provide professional development opportunities for Drill & Ceremony (non-military contracted) cadets.

Several present day growth efforts include a new partnership with the National Medal of Honor Griffin Institute, a stake in the university-level leadership minor and widespread growth in career development opportunities for cadets.

The Hollingsworth Center’s recent partnership with the National Medal of Honor Griffin Institute will enhance the pre-existing Certificate in Applied Ethical Leadership, which is awarded each spring to eligible cadets. Previously, certificate requirements featured a capstone course in ethical leadership and cadet documentation of their practical experiences across the university. Now, in addition to these requirements, cadets will now also engage with a curriculum rooted in the stories of Medal of Honor recipients and how their displayed characteristics of leadership are applicable in every setting, from personal to professional.

“Our mission of developing leaders of character aligns perfectly with the institute’s mission of inspiring Americans to reach their true character and leadership potential. Most of our non-commissioning graduates will never find themselves on a combat battlefield, but they can all selflessly serve others and live courageous lives of character in whatever career field they enter,” said Dr. Dave Keller, director of the Hollingsworth Center.

The end of the 2023-2024 academic year marked the first time that the Certificate in Applied Ethical Leadership was awarded in partnership with the National Medal of Honor Institute, with 148 cadets fulfilling the certificate requirements.

“I see the Certificate in Applied Ethical Leadership as one of the tangible examples of what you get to experience and learn as a member of the Corps of Cadets,” Daniel Mackenzie, a recent graduate of Texas A&M and 2023-2024 Aggie Band Commander, said.

“I felt that incorporating exposure to the Medal of Honor Institute as a requirement for earning the certificate was a great way to honor what the Corps stems from: the courage and sacrifices of servicemen and women before us. This partnership gave me the chance to pour some reflection into others’ demonstrations of courage,” Mackenzie explained. 

The Hollingsworth Center is also a stakeholder in Texas A&M’s university-level leadership minor, which features interdisciplinary course offerings from different colleges and departments across campus, to include Communications and Ag Leadership, among others. Incorporating the center’s School of Military Sciences (SOMS) course offerings, the minor’s curriculum consists of foundational, practice-focused courses offered by colleges and departments across campus that allow cadets to dive into areas that support their professional goals, while also helping them make sense of their experiences through a capstone course and reflection. Ever evolving in the courses it encompasses, students pursuing the leadership minor, whether they’re members of the Corps or not, have the opportunity to experience more of Texas A&M’s educational offerings than before.

“When you look at the various SOMS course topics that are taught by the Hollingsworth Center, it is evident that their place in the leadership minor makes for a very natural partnership. Our participation in the leadership minor opens the door for students across campus to engage with our SOMS courses,” Brigadier General (U.S. Army, Ret.) Patrick Michaelis, Commandant of the Corps of Cadets, said.

“What we’re teaching here on the Quad isn’t exclusively beneficial to cadets. Each and every student at Texas A&M is capable of becoming an impactful leader of character, and these courses are just another way for them to pursue that goal,” Michaelis continued.

In addition to these two partnerships, the Hollingsworth Center is also assessing its existing course teachings and other developmental offerings. Present course curriculums are undergoing evaluation to ensure relevance to the leadership challenges of today and of tomorrow.

“We’re preparing young men and women for success in all aspects of their lives. Whether it’s personal, academic or professional, we want to equip them for futures that are filled with lasting impact on themselves, their communities and their families. We’re making leaders for every arena, and we want to ensure that the course work they experience during their time here is aligned with that sentiment,” Michaelis said.

The Hollingsworth Center is also seeking to grow its practical, applicable outside-the-classroom activities, such as its interview and resume workshops and “R U Ready?” events, which feature networking opportunities with representatives from companies and agencies such as the FBI, Lockheed-Martin and Dell Technologies, to name a few. 

“One of the primary purposes of the Corps experience is career readiness. We are preparing cadets to face the global challenges of the future – regardless of whether those challenges occur in military, corporate, or public service contexts,” Dr. Dave Keller, Director of the Hollingsworth Center, explained.

“It is important to remember that the Hollingsworth Center is not really a job placement service for cadets. While it’s true that we do partner with hundreds of companies and the TAMU Career Center to help our students get hired, our primary purpose is growth and development in the essential competencies required for success in today’s job market. We don’t just aim to help students find a job. Instead, we want them to be incredibly prepared to flourish when they get to their first job,” Keller continued.

The Hollingsworth Center also advises several growing special units, including the Corps Cybersecurity Operations Special Unit (COSU). Through the COSU, the Hollingsworth Center plays an immense role in the partnership between Texas A&M’s Cyber Leader Development Program and the unit. This program, which is funded by the Department of Defense and managed by Texas A&M’s Cybersecurity Center, “prepares select students for military or civilian careers with Department of Defense organizations.” The Hollingsworth Center aids the partnership by growing interest and additional funding for the program.

“At the individual, local, state and national levels, we face an increase in cyber threats which are becoming more frequent and complex. The COSU is a unique aspect of the Corps’ leadership laboratory that directly addresses the need and demand for cyber professionals,” said Colonel Kenn Allison, Associate Director of the Corps’ Hollingsworth Center and the Staff Advisor to the Cyber Operations Unit.

A living testament to the Corps’ mission of developing well-rounded leaders for service in every arena, the Hollingsworth Center for Ethical Leadership continues to be a cornerstone of the Corps’ Forward March. If you are interested in aiding the Hollingsworth Center in its continued support of cadets and their goals, please contact Kelly Corcoran at the Texas A&M Foundation.