Internship

Cadets Intern On Capitol Hill

February 15, 2024 by rnelson

This spring, cadets Tabitha Ford ‘25, Elizabeth Lewis ‘25 and Volodymyr Ploskanych ‘25 are interning on Capitol Hill through Texas A&M’s Policy Internship Programs. Comprised of Agricultural Natural Resources Policy Internship Program (ANRP) and Public Policy Internship Program (PPIP), these programs are collectively open to all academic disciplines at the university. Both programs seek to place students into policy-related internships at the state, national, or international level, allowing students to apply what they are learning at Texas A&M in a professional setting where policies are being made.

As part of her time in the ANRP, which is open exclusively to students majoring within the College of Agricultural & Life Sciences, Ford is interning for Congressman Keith Self. A biochemistry major, Ford hopes to one day enter the field of medical research, and sees this opportunity as one more step in her preparation toward that goal. She says that her experience in the program has been enhanced by the skills she has learned as a member of the Corps.

“The time commitment of the Corps of Cadets is a big one, and definitely helped me to develop my time management skills for the workplace. Additionally, a lot of networking is done in the Corps by simply having the confidence to go up to someone, shake their hand and introduce yourself, which has contributed greatly to my ability to network confidently,” Ford explained.

“Assertiveness, the ability to work in a team, and working under pressure are all things I learned in the Corps that have been invaluable to my successful experience in Washington D.C. so far,” she continued.

To Ford, even the smallest tasks from her time in the ANRP have proven to be valuable.

“Even if your only task is answering phones, become the best person at answering phones in the world. Eventually, people will notice and you’ll slowly be given more and more responsibilities and opportunities to expand your knowledge and skill set. You can learn from everything,” Ford said.

Also a member of this semester’s ANRP cohort, Elizabeth Lewis, an ag leadership and development major, is interning for her local district’s representative, Congressman Jake Ellzey. With her future goal of attending law school and practicing either ag policy or estate law in mind, Lewis says that her time in the program has validated what she’s learned as a cadet.

“My time in the Corps has given me the skills to work with people in challenging situations, which has proved to be incredibly helpful throughout my internship. The Corps has also given me a sense of discipline that has been amazing for establishing and maintaining my routine in D.C.,” Lewis said.

Through his participation in the PPIP, Ploskanych, a sociology major, hopes to learn more about the human side of the policy process and how it impacts the world around him. As an intern for Congressman Michael McCaul, who serves as the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Ploskanych has been given space to learn more about foreign policy in the U.S.

“The PPIP is understandably a major opportunity for A&M students and a very valuable experience. Above all else, I want this semester to make me a better man for my fish (freshmen) next year and my buddies,” Ploskanych said.

Originally from Ukraine, Ploskanych and his family emigrated to the United States in 2006, and moved to Texas ten years ago. He says that being born in Ukraine is part of what inspired him to apply for the PPIP.

“I became interested in the public policy sector because Ukraine has tragically become a significant point of foreign policy. I thought my language and cultural insights could be of some use in the field,” Ploskanych explained.

As he continues on his journey with the program, Ploskanych also cites what he has learned as a member of the Corps of Cadets as his foundation for success.

“The Corps genuinely does a good job of preparing you for professional situations such as this. I think that freshman year teaches you most of what you need to know for life. Put care into your appearance, work with your peers as a team, say ‘Sir’ and ‘Ma’am’, take constructive criticism and be motivated,” Ploskanych explained.

For others interested in joining the Corps of Cadets and pursuing opportunities like the PPIP or ANRP, Ploskanych has a few words of advice.

“Absolutely do it and do it absolutely. If you stick with your buddies and really make an effort to be involved, you will have an experience to cherish for the rest of your life,” Ploskanych said.

Home to cadets from across all majors, interests and goals for the future, the Corps of Cadets serves as Texas A&M’s premier leadership development program. Leveraging a traditional, military structured developmental model, members of the Corps take what they’ve learned from within the program and apply it to their personal and professional goals.

Story By: Robin Nelson ’22

Cadet Research Project Honors Aggies Who Are Missing In Action

December 11, 2023 by rnelson

Through his research project under Texas A&M’s History and Anthropology departments, cadet Jackson Baker ‘25 has compiled the first comprehensive list of Aggies who have gone Missing In Action.

Members of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets represent a wide range of interests, hobbies and career goals. For cadet Jackson Baker ‘25, his work with Texas A&M’s History and Anthropology Departments as a History Research Intern has reflected his passion for honoring Aggies who have served but never returned home.

“As a History Research Intern, I chose to focus on identifying, categorizing and mapping the locations of all Aggie servicemen from World War II through the Vietnam War who are currently Missing in Action (MIA). My research also seeks to identify ways for Texas A&M to honor the service and sacrifices of those MIA Aggies,” Baker explained.

A project that has been ongoing since May of 2022, Baker has worked closely with his supervisor, Dr. Erika Bravo ‘16 & ‘20, who is Texas A&M’s Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency Research Partner Historian.

“Jackson had a vision early on that Aggies who are still unaccounted for need to be formally memorialized by the university. In order to do so, a complete and accurate list of names needed to be produced. The few published sources Jackson had to work with were not complete or always accurate and Jackson had to do a lot of thorough checking himself through different records in addition to organizing the information he found,” Bravo said.

“Wanting to produce a story map that would interactively display the potential loss locations of the MIA Aggies, their photos and their stories took a lot of time and effort. Jackson had to seek out experts in GIS and learn how to use software in addition to putting in all the data. Jackson has exemplified the Aggie core value of selfless service through this project, his love for history and research, and his passion for honoring our service personnel who never came home,” Bravo continued.

Baker presented his findings and interactive map design on November 9th, 2023 at Texas A&M’s Conflict Archaeology and Military History Conference. Attendees included faculty and students from the history and anthropology departments and greater research field, but the room was filled with Baker’s Corps buddies who sought to support him and his work.

“It was great to have my buddies there with me. The first thing we were told as fish (freshmen) is that we marry and bury our buddies, meaning they’ll be with you for the rest of your life. The Aggies who are Missing in Action were never able to have that chance with their own friends. This project underlines that point for me, and I am thankful everyday for the support I have from my buddies,” Baker said.

Baker’s project is deeply rooted in Texas A&M’s military history and core values, and he hopes that his work will be furthered by others in the future. Though the project originated from Baker’s original work, there is potential for other students and faculty members in the department to expand upon its findings.

“I hope this research will serve as a platform for future students and faculty to track progress towards future recovery efforts. I hope that my research will continue to be edited, added to and further researched as others take over the project in the future,” Baker said.

“I believe it is very important for students to know about the service and sacrifices of these Aggies, as their lives represent true selfless service. I also believe it is our duty as a school to remember and honor those who gave their life and have not yet returned home.”

Baker has used his time, both at Texas A&M and in the Corps of Cadets, as an opportunity to work toward recognizing those who gave their lives in defense of America’s freedom. Though just one of the many ways that cadets have represented the Corps off the Quad, Baker’s work has certainly made a difference at Texas A&M and in the stories of those Aggies who are Missing In Action.

Story By: Robin Nelson ’22

Interested in learning more about Jackson’s interactive map and additional research on Aggies who are MIA? Interact with the presentation below or visit tx.ag/TheDutyOurs.

Dawson Richburg ’23

December 15, 2022 by rnelson

Hometown: Katy, Texas

Major: Poultry Science

Outfit: Company E-2

Currently a member of Company E-2, Dawson Richburg ’23 also works as a Research Assistant with Texas A&M’s Poultry Research Facility.

“Being a part of the Corps of Cadets has given me insight into what makes a true leader. I have come to understand that failure is a part of life, and the only thing that matters is how you choose to respond to it. As a cadet, I’ve been able to live the true Aggie tradition and become a part of the Texas A&M spirit,” Dawson said of his time in the Corps.

After graduation, Dawson plans to obtain his Ph.D. in Poultry Breeding and Genetics and one day work in the field of poultry research.

Corps of Cadets Builds Future Partnership With Bush Combat Development Complex

November 29, 2022 by rnelson

Cadets pose with key leaders from the Bush Combat Development Complex ahead of their tour.

For generations, the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets has prepared young men and women to serve at the forefront of our nation. For some, their service to our country is not performed as a member of the Armed Forces, but in other vital capacities. Through the Bush Combat Development Complex (BCDC), new opportunities to serve are being made available to these cadets.

Located on Texas A&M’s RELLIS Campus in Bryan, the Bush Combat Development Complex serves as a production resource that provides our nation’s defense organizations with the technology needed to readily secure and defend our country against the challenges of the 21st Century. With a five year, 96.2 million dollar contract from the U.S. Army Futures Command awarded to them in September, the Bush Combat Development Complex’s push toward the future is now stronger than ever; and they’re looking to the Corps of Cadets for support as they advance.

Major General Tim Green '86 introduces cadets to the Bush Combat Development Complex.

Through the Bush Combat Development Complex’s National Security Fellowship Program, a program that grants recently graduated cadets the opportunity to conduct graduate level research through the complex, a pipeline between the Corps is being established.

In order to be eligible for the Fellowship Program, former cadets must be U.S. citizens, must have at least a 3.25 GPA in a relevant field of study and must also be accepted into a graduate program with the Texas A&M College of Engineering. With expansion plans to other fields of study set for the near future, the Fellowship Program looks to soon welcome cadets from all academic specialties.

“We are passionate about providing our Aggies with the tools they need to protect our tomorrow, today. As such, we are excited about a developing opportunity through the BCDC Fellowship Program that will provide a pipeline for students in the Corps who have an

interest in serving in national security research to work with us,” Major General Tim Green (USAF, Ret) ‘86, Director of the Bush Combat Development Complex, said. “In fact, Brigadier General Michaelis and members of his staff are engaged in constant discussion with us about building these opportunities for cadets. As we host both government and industry leaders, the one question we constantly receive is how they can recruit students who have a heart for service to the nation and are able to obtain a U.S. security clearance. The natural source for that is through the Corps of Cadets.”

The plan to incorporate the Corps of Cadets into the Bush Combat Development Complex’s research initiatives was a natural partnership given the shared values of the complex and the Corps.

“Just as Texas A&M has been producing leaders of character for our state and nation since 1876, it only makes sense that we would be involved in the research to provide these leaders with the tools they need to hopefully deter combat, but if necessary, have them deploy-fight-win and return home safely with those that our Aggies will lead in the future. This is personal to the Bush Combat Development Complex, as many of us are former military, with several of our staff also being former Texas A&M cadets themselves,” Major General Green explained.

Over the last decade, the percentage of cadets choosing to pursue careers in the public and private sectors has greatly increased. Currently, well over half of all graduating seniors in the Corps pursue careers in these sectors. Opportunities, like those available through the Bush Combat Development Complex, give cadets the opportunity to serve our nation without having to contract into the military.

Cadets use off road vehicles to tour the BCDC's Innovation Proving Ground facility.

“As our facilities continue to come online in the coming months and these organizations join in on BCDC research efforts, I think it will be a natural draw from both government and industry to have cadets who meet the criteria join in fellowship and internship opportunities that could happen right here at BCDC, particularly for engineering students,” Major General Green said.

Through this upcoming partnership with the Bush Combat Development Complex, the Corps of Cadets will continue to prepare our nation's top leaders on an even larger scale. As the Corps continues to march toward the future, opportunities such as this partnership allow our cadets to serve at the forefront of every sector.

“These fellowships exemplify the quality of cadets who are coming through the Corps. The partnership with the Bush Combat Development Complex provides a pipeline of excellence for those who want to serve the greater good and shape the future of our national security posture. I’m very proud of where this partnership is going, and I am looking forward to the impact that the cadets who are selected into this program will create,” Brigadier General Patrick Michaelis ‘93 (USA, Ret), Commandant of the Corps of Cadets, said.

Story by: Robin Nelson '22

Harrison Daniels ’22 Accepted Into Lee Strasberg Theater & Film Institute

June 6, 2022 by rnelson

The Corps of Cadets is home to nearly two thousand students who are pursuing various educational and professional pathways. Engineering majors, Political Science majors, Business majors, and many others all frequently find their place on the Quad; but of them all, there is only one Performance Studies major that wears a Corps uniform in the classroom.

His name is Harrison Daniels, and he is a senior in Company E-2. Originally from Calgary, Canada, Harrison has had quite the successful Corps career. As a third generation Aggie, the decision to join the Corps of Cadets seems to be one that came naturally to Harrison.

“I joined the Corps because I wanted to get the complete experience here at A&M. I wanted to fully immerse myself into a different culture and really take it all in. Both my grandfather and my dad were Aggies before me, so it just made sense.”

Originally an Economics major, Harrison made the decision to switch to Performance Studies during his freshman year.

“I didn’t really know until my freshman year that this was my passion. I signed up for an acting class and I just absolutely fell in love with it. I’d acted in high school and just never really had taken it seriously, but I felt like something was missing without it. When I took that class my freshman year, it instantly clicked and became something that I really looked forward to. That was when I really began to pursue acting more,” Harrison said.

Harrison’s passion for theater will not end after his time at Texas A&M, as he was accepted into the Lee Strasberg Theater & Film Institute in New York City. Notable alumni from the Lee Strasberg Theater & Film Institute include Hayden Christensen, Chris Evans, and Angelina Jolie. With this acceptance, Harrison is excited to further develop his acting skills at the next level.

“I applied to acting school because I really wanted to focus more on that aspect. Even though Performance Studies here isn’t focused specifically on acting, it definitely created a very solid foundation for me. I accepted my offer of admission to the Lee Strasberg Theater & Film Institute’s Two Year Conservatory program because I believe that they have one of the best programs in the nation. I think that their alumni and their faculty really speak for themselves in terms of success.”

Though his time with Texas A&M and the Corps of Cadets is drawing to a close, Harrison says there are many things that he has gained throughout his experience that will stay with him forever.

“My favorite part about being at Texas A&M and in the Corps of Cadets has been the unique experience. It has shown me two different parts of the world and allowed me to understand people from entirely different backgrounds than me. It has prepared me for my future in a really amazing, nonconventional way,” Harrison explained.

If you are not from Texas, but still considering a future with the Corps of Cadets, Harrison has some words of advice.

“For other international students coming to the Corps, just fully embrace it. It is definitely going to be a bit of a culture shock, but once you commit yourself to the change, you’re going to have a blast.”

The Corps of Cadets welcomes students with a variety of passions and interests from a multitude of backgrounds. Whether you’re from College Station, Texas, Calgary, Canada, or anywhere across the world, there is a place for everyone in the Corps.

Story by: Robin Nelson ’22