Texas A&M's oldest student organization and premier leadership development program, the Corps of Cadets, has developed leaders for nearly 150 years. The first step of that leadership development begins before the Corps' newest members even step foot in their first class at A&M. Fall Orientation Week (FOW), which occurs before the start of classes, has served as freshman cadets’ welcome to the organization, preparing them for academic success and life in the Corps.
With input from current cadet leadership, the “essence of Fall Orientation Week” will be expanded to all members of the Corps, says Brigadier General (U.S. Army, Ret.) Patrick Michaelis, Commandant of the Corps of Cadets.
“We’re preserving the best parts of FOW while adding key leadership training elements to make it more impactful for all cadets,” he remarked.
The Expansion of the Fall Orientation Week Experience
The expanded experience, called Corps Onboarding, will retain a similar staffing structure and training intent to the previous year’s orientation. The freshman experience continues to focus on familiarizing freshmen with life in the Corps of Cadets, traditions and Corps expectations.
“The new Corps onboarding operation was initiated by cadet leadership to unify the Corps under a cohesive training standard. I strongly believe that the culture and identity associated with our outfits provides a sense of pride and are major motivations for joining the Corps. Onboarding allows freshmen to be embraced by their new Corps family and units to foster all-around camaraderie. I am committed to maintaining and strengthening this esprit de corps,” Deandre Macri, 2024-2025 Corps Commander, said.
Cadet advisors, known as cadre, will train and acclimate new cadets into the Corps lifestyle and academic standards. Consistent with previous years, outfit cadre members will include sophomore, junior and senior cadets. Additional training for cadet leaders and cadet advisors will occur in preparation for freshman arrival, during the traditional freshman onboarding, and continue into the first two weeks of the semester.
Corporals Course
A featured element of the new onboarding experience is the Corporals Course. Designed for sophomore cadets and executed by a cadet task force, the Corporals Course will provide a refresher on Corps leadership standards and expectations while establishing a baseline understanding of values and traditions amongst cadets.
“Instead of waiting until the weekend before class starts, sophomores will now return early to complete a Corporals Course focused on educating and certifying on the standards, values, and traditions of the Corps while also refreshing leadership lessons from the spring,” Michaelis said.
Upon completion of the Corporals Course, sophomores will certify and integrate into their respective outfit cadre.
“The Corporals Course is going to be a huge step for our sophomores as they enter this new phase of their leadership development journeys. Each one of them is a major part of the development of our freshman cadets, and the Corporals Course seeks to equip them for this responsibility,” Michaelis explained.
Back in The Saddle Training
Additionally, each returning cadet will undergo and certify in “Back in The Saddle” (BITS) training with their cadet leadership during the first weeks of the semester. BITS will recalibrate all cadets on the standards, values and traditions of the Corps of Cadets ahead of the new school year, and emphasize the importance in achieving a cohesive standard across the entire Corps.
“This is an important evolution to the Corps experience. This new operation also provides each class year with an immersive leadership course that can be directly applied to our society,” Macri said.
“My personal vision for the Corps of Cadets is that we remain a unified student organization and leadership development program that’s rooted in discipline, promotes a world-class education and fosters camaraderie through shared accountability to our standards and cadet values,” Macri continued.
Grounded in Tradition, Advancing Toward the Future
Though ever-evolving, the Corps’ unique, military-based cultural model remains anchored to what the organization has always sought to do: develop well educated leaders of character for the challenges of tomorrow.
“At its core purpose, Fall Orientation Week is not changing. It is extending for increased impact. Forged through conversations and collaboration across all levels of current cadet leadership, this expanded experience seeks to prepare each cadet, new or continuing, for impactful leadership beyond their time here. The Corps is a four year leadership laboratory, and this experience will expand upon that development for all class levels within the Corps,” Michaelis continued.
“We are excited to see this new plan in action in August. Whether a student in the Corps is a freshman, senior, or somewhere in between, there’s learning to be done and growth to be had. This expanded experience seeks to draw those lessons and that growth out of each cadet from day one,” Michaelis said.