Cadet Leadership

Cadets Get Involved With Texas A&M Women in Aviation

March 23, 2023 by rnelson

With over 1,200 student organizations at Texas A&M, there are a wide variety of activities, hobbies and professional interests represented on campus. With a base of organizations that is ever-growing, students at Texas A&M are able to establish new clubs to meet unfulfilled needs.

Among these organizations is Texas A&M Women in Aviation, a club focused on connecting, engaging and inspiring women to be the best they can be, both in their personal lives and in their pursuit of aviation and/or STEM careers. Texas A&M Women in Aviation was founded in March of 2020, after cadet Maria Hall ‘23 and Emily Smith ‘21 met at the Women in Aviation International Conference in Florida.

“Emily and I met for the first time at the conference and formed an instant connection through our love for flying. We talked about how we wanted to create a community where other like minded individuals could meet and encourage each other, so we came back to Texas A&M, got some of our other pilot friends together and formed Texas A&M Women in Aviation that following fall.”

With their newly established organization up and running, Maria and Emily got to work on building the club’s membership numbers. Maria credits her love for flying as a driving factor in her desire to support others through Texas A&M Women in Aviation.

“When I was 11 years old, my dad took me flying as his first passenger in a 1946 light sport aircraft called an Ercoupe. As soon as we took off, I immediately knew that flying was what I was called to do. Six years later, I was fortunate to earn my Private Pilot's License and it was only natural that I took my dad flying as my first passenger. I have been extremely blessed with support in my own aviation journey, so creating and leading this organization has been a special way to give back and help others start flying.”

“The aviation community is amazing, but it can be daunting and expensive to get into if you’re brand new to it. My goal is to not only help with the financial aspect of flying through flight scholarships, but to send the message that aviation is for everyone and should not be intimidating,” Maria explained.

As the club has grown over the last few years, more cadets have gotten involved with Texas A&M Women in Aviation. Of these cadets is Alex Sellman ‘23, who currently serves as the organization’s Outreach Director.

“This organization provides a lasting support network of women who are all here to help each other succeed in a career field of their passion. We have had graduates go on to careers all over the industry and come back to talk to us about what they have learned. This organization has had a massive impact on my perception of the aviation industry and has helped me realize that there are so many opportunities within it,” Alex said.

With several significant opportunities like scholarships for organization members currently being awarded through Texas A&M Women in Aviation, Maria says that she hopes to see the organization’s reach continue to expand.

“My hope for this organization is that it continues to grow and that we will receive more donations to use as flight scholarships for our members to begin flying or continue their aviation training. From the generous donations we have already received, we have had the opportunity to provide full scholarships for two members to attend this year’s Women in Aviation International Conference in California. We have also awarded 15 free introductory flights at Brazos Valley Flight Services, and we just gave away our first $500 flight scholarship. These donations have had a tremendous impact on our members and have fueled their fire for flying.”

For the past three years, Texas A&M Women in Aviation has empowered students to pursue their passion for aviation, regardless of their initial level of experience in the field. Several cadets have benefited from the support provided by Texas A&M Women in Aviation.

The Corps of Cadets develops leaders, both on and off the Quad. Texas A&M Women in Aviation is just one of many ways for cadets to become involved on campus, and one of many ways for them to find the support they need to pursue their passions.

If you are interested in donating to Texas A&M Women in Aviation, visit here. Your support directly benefits and impacts every member of the organization, and enables those with a passion for aviation to pursue their dreams.

Story By: Robin Nelson '22

Squadron 21 Participates In Bataan Memorial Death March

March 23, 2023 by rnelson

Soon after their attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces began their invasion of the Philippines. Having just entered World War II and recognizing the importance of having troops in the Philippines, the U.S. combined forces with Philippine troops in defense of the crucial lands.

These brave soldiers fought in a malaria-infested region and survived on insufficient amounts of food and a severe lack of medical supplies. The soldiers retreated to the Philippine Peninsula when Japanese forces were reinforced and overwhelmed the U.S.-Filipino force. After 9 months of intense fighting despite harsh conditions and a great lack of supplies, approximately 75,000 United States and Filipino troops were surrendered by U.S. Major General Edward King Jr. to Japanese forces.

Captive soldiers were forced to march 65 miles across the Bataan Peninsula, an event that became known as the Bataan Death March. During this march, thousands died. Those who survived were forced to face the harsh conditions of prisoner of war camps. Once a part of these POW camps, those imprisoned would not see freedom again until 1945, when U.S.-Filipino forces reclaimed the territory.

This year, in honor of this tragic event, Squadron 21 sent a team of six cadets to participate in the Bataan Memorial Death March in White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. A major piece of Squadron 21’s identity is their commitment to recognizing our nation’s Prisoners of War and those deemed Missing in Action.

“It is important to Squadron 21 that we remember the sacrifices of all POWs and MIAs. Our outfit was founded as a living memorial of First Lieutenant Victor Hugo Thompson III ‘64, a former member of Hellcat 9, the predecessor to Squadron 21. However, there are thousands of other POWs/MIAs whose stories are never told. It is important for us to do events like the Bataan Memorial Death March to honor the heroism of these men,” Shaun Boothe ‘23, Commanding Officer of Squadron 21 said.

For one member of Squadron 21, the Bataan Death March in particular is significant to his own family’s history.

“Part of my family heritage is the story of Major John S. Coleman, Jr, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College class of 1927,” William Walder ‘24 said.

“He left his wife and two kids to go serve his country in the Philippines. He was in command of the 27th Material Squadron with the Army Air Corps. After he was captured, he survived the brutal Bataan Death March, and then spent the next three and a half years doing hard labor in POW camps. He kept a shorthand journal throughout the war at great risk, and used it later on in his life to write a book about his experiences, called ‘Bataan and Beyond, Memories of an American POW’.”

“The opportunity to pay homage to an important part of Aggie and personal heritage connects me to the past in a far greater way than reading history. A large number of the officers in the Philippines were from TAMC, as they were reserve officers. We often talk of the muster at Corregidor, honoring the brave Aggies that fought in those dark hours. I am able to also honor those less remembered Aggies on the peninsula,” Walder went on to say.

Though this is Squadron 21’s first year participating in the memorial march, the outfit intends to keep this tradition alive for years to come.

“Most of the planning was conducted by Treacy Collier ‘25, who is the rising First Sergeant of Squadron 21. He isn’t even a participant of the march but took on the challenge to plan and coordinate this first time event. It is a demonstration of the servant leadership that we strive to teach in Squadron 21. We were able to receive a $1,700 grant from Quad Moms that covered registration fees, equipment and travel expenses. With more funding and awareness of the event in the future, our hope is to be able to send a much larger team in years to come,” Boothe said.

Squadron’s 21 participation in the Bataan Memorial Death March event is a reflection of the Corps of Cadets’ drive to honor the past while recognizing the contributions of those who gave so much.

Story By: Robin Nelson '22

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.

Katie Humphreys ’23

March 1, 2023 by rnelson

Hometown: Houston, Texas

Major: Political Science

Outfit: Company A-1

Currently a member of Company A-1, Katie Humphreys ‘23 serves as the outfit’s Executive Officer.

On the Quad, Katie is involved in Rudder’s Rangers, where she has been a member since her freshman year. As a sophomore, Katie competed with the Army ROTC’s Ranger Challenge team. Katie is also a member of the O.R. Simpson Honor Society, where she serves as an academic mentor and resource to her peers.

In 2021, Katie attended and graduated from Air Assault school at Fort Campbell, KY. In 2022, she attended and graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Cadet Summer Training, and was ranked within the top 10% in the nation. In addition to her success at Cadet Summer Training, Katie also earned the Magellan Federal Award for scoring the highest in her regiment in the female division of the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT).

After graduation, Katie plans to commission into the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant, where she will serve as a Military Intelligence Officer.

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