Animal A-1

Michael Rodriguez-Garza ’22

May 4, 2022 by rnelson

Hometown: Harlingen, Texas

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Outfit: Company A-1

The 2021-2022 Commanding Officer of Company A-1, Michael Rodriguez-Garza also serves as a Ross Volunteer.

Previously, Michael served as a Weapons Squad Leader for Rudder’s Rangers.

“I joined the Corps of Cadets to define who I was. To me, the Corps is a place to practice discipline and show erudition. Over my four years here, I have been able to hone my skills and become the leader I was meant to be. I have endured many challenges throughout my Corps experience, and I am able to look back on them and be proud of what I have accomplished,” Michael said of his time in the Corps.

After graduation, Michael will commission into the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant. Michael would like to serve as an Engineering Officer.

PMC Gives Old Boots New Purpose

May 4, 2022 by rnelson

One of the most iconic symbols of the Corps of Cadets are the coveted senior boots. A part of every senior cadet’s uniform, these handcrafted boots are also the most expensive piece. Each year, hundreds of cadets are unable to afford purchasing their own boots. Recognizing the need for a solution to this issue, the Sam Houston Sanders Corps Center established the generous Boot Loan Program in 2003. Through the Corps Center, cadets are loaned a pair of boots for their senior year, and add their names to the rich history of cadets that have worn the same pair before them.

Naturally, after many years of wear, older boots become unserviceable and can no longer be used by the Boot Loan Program. Though their use as senior boots comes to an end, members of Parsons Mounted Cavalry’s Leather Chain are able to repurpose them and extend their useability through a number of different projects.

“It’s amazing to me to be able to give these boots a new purpose. There is so much history and tradition imbued in them, and to be able to continue using them by turning them into useful items allows us to preserve their beauty and purpose,” Jackson Ghatalia ‘23 (Company A-1) said of the opportunity.

Not only do these projects allow for the leather to be repurposed, they also allow cadets to express their creativity while developing a new skill.

“My favorite part about working on these projects is the ability to gain and develop such an amazing skill. I love learning new things, and to learn more about a skill that not many people have is quite amazing. You gain a level of respect for the amount of work that it takes to craft many everyday leather products, and gain the skills to start doing your own work and making things for yourself and others that will be cherished for years,” Jackson said.

These leather projects are just one of the many opportunities that cadets have to express themselves and learn new skills. The Corps of Cadets enables and encourages every member to discover, explore, and develop new passions.

Story by: Robin Nelson ’22

Haoning Wang ’22

November 16, 2021 by rnelson

Hometown: Beijing, China & Plano, Texas

Major: Computer Engineering with a minor in Mathematics

Outfit: Company A-1

Haoning Wang ’22 is a first-generation American, having emigrated from Beijing, China with his family. Originally from Company A-1, Haoning currently serves as the Third Brigade Staff Public Relations and Recruiting Officer. As a junior, Haoning served as the Third Brigade Color Sergeant. Throughout his time in the Corps, Haoning has been involved in the Fish Drill Team, Corps Color Guard, and as a member of the Corps Military Proficiency Inspection team.

Off the Quad, Haoning stays involved in a variety of engineering activities. As a sophomore, he and his team participated in and were awarded the best project for ENDEAVR Smart City Project. As a junior, Haoning participated in an undergraduate research project with the Texas A&M Human Factors and Machine Learning Lab. Additionally, he also works with engineering freshmen through his role as a mentor with the Engineering Mentorship Council. Haoning also participates in the Texas A&M Philharmonic Orchestra as a violinist.

Haoning credits his involvement with the Corps of Cadets for developing his leadership skills and allowing him to broaden his perspectives. His involvement with the Corps has enabled him to pursue other on campus organizations and opportunities in the professional world.

This past summer, Haoning worked with General Motors as an engineering intern. Haoning plans to graduate in the Spring of 2022 and become a fulltime engineer.

Anderson Tittle ’22

October 6, 2021 by amy.thompson

Hometown: Houston, Texas

Major: Psychology

Outfit: Company A-2

Originally a member of Company A-2, Anderson Tittle ‘22 currently serves as the First Brigade Major Unit Commander. As a junior, Anderson served as the First Sergeant for Company A-1. Anderson belongs to several cadet organizations including the O.R. Simpson Honor Society, a member of the Cultural Awareness and Diversity Expansion Team (C.A.D.E.T.), and serves as a School of Military Science Peer Mentor.

Off the Quad, Anderson is a member of the University Disciplinary Appeals Committee as well as a member of Progressively Reaching Excellence in Professionalism (PREP), a freshman leadership organization. Anderson also previously served as an officer in an on campus health organization. In her free time, Anderson enjoys writing, listening to music, reading, cooking, and taking long walks.

Upon graduating from Texas A&M, Anderson plans to pursue a dual-degree program that will allow her to earn both her Master of Business Administration and Juris Doctor degrees at the end of four years.

fish Spurs

September 27, 2018 by amy.thompson

fish Spurs Return To Aggieland

In the early 1930s, ahead of the annual game against SMU, a freshman class in the Corps of Cadets was the first group to don “fish spurs” in an effort to help the Aggies “spur the ponies”.

Though the Texas A&M football team no longer regularly plays SMU, current freshmen in the Corps carry on the tradition by wearing their fish spurs ahead of the Southwest Classic game versus Arkansas in Arlington.

The weekend before the game, freshmen in each unit in the Corps gather as a buddy class to begin the lengthy process of designing their spurs.

“Making fish spurs is a multi-step process that requires a lot of teamwork among each buddy class. After obtaining nearly 700 bottle caps and 28 hangers, the first step is to flatten each individual bottle cap with a hammer or tool of choice, and use a nail to make a hole in the center of each cap. A few hours and multiple bruises later, you spray paint your bottle caps. To make the base of the spurs, you use pliers to shape a hanger around your low quarters, with a hook to allow easy removal, and then shape the top mount for your bottle caps. When the bottle caps are completed, they are threaded onto the hanger, and the hanger is bent to ensure they will not fall off,” Madison Cronin ‘26, Company A-1, said.

Madison described how each unit in the Corps designs their fish spurs in their own unique ways.

“Company A-1 specifically makes each bottle cap green, the Class of 2026’s class color, on one side and white on the other, with a green middle. Each bottle cap has ‘26 written 26 times per cap. The mounts for our bottle caps are vertical instead of horizontal and the tops of our spurs form an A-1.”

“The thing I am looking forward to the most this upcoming weekend is beating the hell outta Arkansas with my buddies by my side”

When describing Company C-2’s take on fish spurs, Liam Stevens ‘23, a current member of Company G-2, described another unique take on the tradition.

“I was a fish in C-2, and there the upperclassmen give the fish blank butterflies for their spurs. There are certain things the fish write on each piece, and on the last piece you write a nickname your buddies gave you. I felt like the coolest fish on campus, wearing spurs with butterflies while everyone else had theirs held together with just coat hangers.”

As a senior looking back on his own fish spurs experience, Dan Koch ‘23, Squadron 11, recalled fond memories of the bonding experience.

“I really enjoyed the process of making them as a fish. Working with my buddies to try and make a cool design, figuring out who was getting what, and then getting to spend some quality time together while making them was a really good memory. One of my favorite parts of the tradition is wildcatting from the dorm to the arches and sounding off if the spurs fall off.”

As this 90 year old tradition carries on throughout the years, the goal at the end of the week remains the same for every member of the Corps.

“The thing I am looking forward to the most this upcoming weekend is beating the hell outta Arkansas with my buddies by my side,” Madison said with a smile.

The next time you hear the melodic chime of fish spurs on campus, know that it's just the Keepers of The Spirit and The Guardians of Tradition keeping a good bull tradition alive.

Story By: Robin Nelson '22