News

Corps Holistic Development Series: A Living Leadership Laboratory

July 25, 2024 by rnelson

“I joined the Corps of Cadets with the intention of leaving. I thought that my path was going to be at the United States Naval Academy, but I was wrong. I realized that I was the artist of my own life, and the tapestry was exactly where I’d found myself planted: Texas A&M.”

A spring 2024 graduate of Texas A&M, Alexa Reichert spent her four years at the university as part of the oldest, largest and most visible student organization on campus: the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets. Beginning in Company A-1 and finishing her time in the Corps as the Third Battalion Commander, Reichert says that her growth as a leader within the organization was evident across all four years.

“I stayed because I knew there was something at A&M that I found as a cadet that I wouldn’t find anywhere else. When I was 18 years old I couldn’t explain it, but as a recent graduate, I can confidently say that the spirit of Aggieland is alive and well to those who seek it,” Reichert said.

“The leadership laboratory that the Corps provided me consisted of hard conversations and maturing in how I dealt with adversity. It was specifically through my leadership exercises in the Corps that I learned how to advocate for myself and help others accomplish a common goal,” Alexa continued.

Though heavily involved within the Corps, Reichert also found that her membership in the organization propelled her to reach new heights as a sociology major and as a member of the Texas A&M Gymnastics Team. Utilizing many different elements of the Corps experience, Reichert was able to push past her self perceived limitations and develop skills that have extended beyond her time in the organization.

“The Corps has prepared me as a leader by giving me opportunities to challenge myself and my mental, spiritual and physical abilities. Each lesson that I’ve learned in the Corps, even the hard ones, have been worth it in terms of how much I have grown. Whether it was utilizing the Corps specific academic advisors or working through injuries with the Corps physical trainers, I felt ready to break past the obstacles thrown my way, both on the Quad and off,” Reichert said.

“For me, the Hollingsworth Center in particular promoted leadership development on a very personal level. They always encouraged deep personal reflection and decision making that was genuine and swift, but also just. Being able to take classes with them helped me network and gain mentorship that I continue to lean on today. I was able to form my own leadership style and apply it during my time as a Commander in the Corps and also in my involvements outside of the organization,” she continued.

Post-graduation, Reichert now works for Texas A&M and the Corps of Cadets as an Corps Term Recruiter. Through this unique opportunity, Reichert will be embedded with Texas A&M’s Prospective Student Center in San Antonio, Texas. As a Corps Term Recruiter, Alexa will help prospective students learn more about the Corps of Cadets and the wide range of opportunities that are available to them as members of the organization.

“It is a privilege of mine to now serve as a recruiter for the Corps of Cadets. I am able to help people realize their potential for success that spans far beyond the classroom. The Corps develops leaders that will go on to serve those around them in a variety of ways, across many different endeavors. Being able to instill that sentiment in interested young men and women serves as a powerful reminder of what the Corps of Cadets offered me,” Alexa said.

Corps of Cadets Launches Enhanced Onboarding Experience For Cadets

June 25, 2024 by rnelson

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.

Texas A&M Corps of Cadets to Conduct March-In for the Lone Star Showdown

June 25, 2024 by rnelson

The Corps of Cadets will continue its gameday tradition of marches before home games for the game against the University of Texas at Austin

The Texas A&M Corps of Cadets is excited to announce a campus march will be conducted prior to the Lone Star Showdown against the University of Texas at Austin on Nov. 30, 2024. An iconic part of the Aggie gameday experience, the Corps of Cadets conducts march-ins prior to every home game in Kyle Field.

Though the Corps hasn’t conducted march-ins prior to home games during Thanksgiving week in the past several years, this year’s march-in will celebrate the return of the football rivalry with the University of Texas while showcasing the full Aggie Spirit for old and new fans alike.

“It is only fitting that the Corps of Cadets welcomes t.u. back to Aggieland with one of the best gameday traditions out there,” said Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Patrick Michaelis, commandant of cadets.

While march-in details are pending the announcement of game time, Aggies and football fans alike can expect a show of pageantry and school spirit from the Corps. The campus march will begin on the Quad, home of the Corps of Cadets, where the firing of the Spirit of ‘02 cannon by Parsons Mounted Cavalry will signal the start of the march. The Corps, led by the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band, will lead the Corps off the Quad.

The Corps of Cadets, Texas A&M’s premier leadership development program, is as old as the university. Known as the Keepers of the Spirit and Guardians of Tradition, the Corps plays a key part in upholding several of the traditions for which Texas A&M is known.

“The Corps is special to a lot of Aggies. This rivalry is one of the most well-known in college sports. There isn’t a better way for the Corps to show its support and stand as the 12th Man than showing up in full force”, Michaelis said.

Details for Corps’ march-ins will be posted as game times are announced at corps.tamu.edu/events.

Amy Thompson, [email protected], 979-862-1922

CCMU Remains One Of The Nation’s Elite Shooting Squads

May 21, 2024 by rnelson

The Corps of Cadets Marksmanship Unit recently completed its 12th season, achieving high levels of success across multiple national events.

“All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find it was vanity, but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible,” T.E. Lawrence.

The above quote sits centered on a printed sheet, just below the Corps of Cadets Marksmanship Unit (CCMU) logo. Eight copies of the sheet have been made, one for each CCMU team member who is set to compete the next day at the SIG SAUER Relentless Warrior Championship in Epping, New Hampshire. One of the team’s coaches, Kevin Jimmerson ‘89, gives the team final words of motivation for the evening.

“Look at that quote on that sheet of paper you just received. That’s us. We dream with our eyes open. Tomorrow is a wide open table. Anyone can do this, but remember that it’s a marathon. I don’t ask that you win, because this isn’t about winning. It’s about looking around and taking care of your buddies. It is not about one of us, it's about all of us,” Jimmerson said.

A token of the moment, members of the team begin moving around the room to sign each other’s sheets. Once each sheet has been signed, paracord and metal links are placed in front of them.

A paracord necklace with a metal link laying on top of the quote sheet that was given to each cadet. — **Each cadet who competed at SIG received a link and quote sheet as a symbol of their place on the team.**

“There is not a ‘weakest link’ on this team. I want each of you to take a link, tie the paracord around it and wear it while we compete this weekend. If you’re ever up there and you need reassurance, grab onto that link and know that we are in this together,” Jimmerson explained.

The following morning, the CCMU is fully geared up at the SIG SAUER Training facility. It is a cold, snowy morning, but the weather conditions seem to go largely unnoticed by everyone in attendance. The team’s participation in this event comes just weeks after their first place finish at the Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP)’s National Championship in Talladega, Alabama, and they’re focused on closing out the season on a high note at the Relentless Warrior Championship.

Cadets smile in front of a Sig Sauer poster in the snow. — **Held annually in Epping, New Hampshire, the SIG SAUER Relentless Warrior Championship is one of the CCMU's most prominent involvements.**

“Going to compete at the SASP and SIG National Championships is always nerve-wracking, knowing you have to outperform the best in the sport. My teammates have an inspiring drive to compete and a motivation to always improve. The CCMU is unique because we compete in so many shooting disciplines. Our competitors typically only shoot SASP or SIG; we shoot both and more, such as the Texas Tactical Police Officers Association’s SWAT Competition and the Mammoth Sniper Challenge. At times, it feels like the team is in a constant state of gearing up, tuning and preparation,” Chance De Vos ‘24, Commanding Officer of the unit, said

“I am incredibly proud of my teammates and all of the hard work they have put in the last two semesters. Long nights catching up on school work into early mornings of dry fire, and then weekends of full-day practices and matches. It's why I believe that the CCMU forges the best cadets on the Quad,” he continued.

The Relentless Warrior Championship is lined with notable competitors for the CCMU. Teams from each of the United States Service Academies, senior military colleges and the Canadian Royal Military Academy are all present, with some members of these squads even having prior active duty military service under their belts. It's a stage filled with heavy hitters, but is also one on which Texas A&M has been consistently well represented.

“Texas A&M has a reputation to uphold, and it truly is an honor and a privilege to be able to represent the university and the Corps at all of the events we attend. The pressure to perform and live up to the CCMU's reputation is on and to be able to go out and compete truly is an incredible opportunity,” De Vos said.

CCMU cadet smiles with his dad and sister at the SIG SAUER academy. — **Family members of several CCMU cadets traveled from across the nation to watch and support them as they competed at SIG.**

Though over 1,800 miles away from Texas A&M’s campus, half of the team’s members have family who have traveled to support them across two days of intense, 3-Gun format competition. Family members have arrived from California, Utah, Texas and Massachusetts to support their cadets in the team’s much anticipated final match of the season, and their presence makes all the difference.

CCMU team gathered in cadet Charlie Roach '25's house for dinner after the competition. — **Cadet Charlie Roach's family hosted the team for dinner at their home in Topsfield, MA.**

“It was very nice having my family come watch the team and I shoot. I felt the same sense of joy and support from them that weekend that I did from them when they came to my peewee league soccer games. The feeling of, ‘my mom and dad are here to see me! Yay!’ Having my family's support means a lot to me, and I know my teammates also enjoyed having their families come to watch us as well. It makes me feel accomplished and thankful that my family supports me,” Charlie Roach ‘25, who is originally from Topsfield, MA, said.

Throughout the competition’s two days, cadets push through several complex course trials, each featuring the use of rifles, pistols and occasionally a prop gun provided by Sig Sauer. Some courses require cadets to maneuver around obstacles, to include exiting a parked car and traversing through a plastic tunnel. One trial even features a challenge where cadets are required to grab a weighted bag and toss it over a wooden fence before continuing on to the course’s pistol portion.

Before and after each course, members of the CCMU can be seen jotting notes down on their pocket sized notebooks. Prior to the start of each course trial, cadets’ notes detail the specific course rules. After a course’s conclusion, cadets retrace their steps, detailing their shot placement and other mental takeaways.

A cadet makes note of her shot placement after a completing a course. — **Following the conclusion of each course, CCMU cadets retrace their steps and take notes on their shot placement.**

“We take notes before and after the stage because your brain is for thinking, and paper is for remembering. Under the stress of a stage, it is often easy to forget important information. Writing it down helps build that pathway in your brain, allowing you to reference and remember important details when you’re under the stress of the match,” Rheily Garcia ‘24 said.

In between courses, cadets mingle with each other and members of the other teams, forming relationships with each other that will last long beyond the competition. Also within these small windows of downtime, they take time to ground themselves by looking to their link and paracord, recalling that they are moving together as a unit.

“One of my favorite parts of SIG especially is being able to build relationships and camaraderie with the senior military college and service academy teams. Building these relationships is beneficial to cadets' development now and will be important when our contracted cadets become officers in our military as part of a joint force,” De Vos said.

**Teams from each of the Service Academies and the Senior Military Colleges are present at the Relentless Warrior competition.**

At the conclusion of the competition, the CCMU cadets, alongside the other teams, attend a banquet where the final results are announced. Members of the team are dressed in either the Corps’ Alphas or Midnights uniforms, depending on their classification. Among the many unique uniforms worn at this final event, the three pairs of senior boots in attendance are among the most notable details. For the three senior members of the unit, this evening is the culmination of their years of hard work and dedication to the team.

“During my sophomore year in the Corps I had the opportunity to teach the then freshman class on CCMU how to be good teammates, students and cadets in addition to weapon handling and marksmanship. Watching their growth and achievements as they have developed into capable shooters and leaders in their own right has been the best experience of my college career. I have learned that teamwork and hard work are everything and serving those around you is the most rewarding thing you can do,” Ayla Myrin ‘24 said.

A cadet howdy hat rests on the team's three 2024 Relentless Warrior awards (High Lady, Team 2nd Place, and M17 Shootout Champion). — **In the past eight SIG Championship competitions, the CCMU has never finished below second place.**

As results are announced, the CCMU’s reputation as one of the nation’s most decorated collegiate shooting squads is further solidified. Finishing second overall as a team, the CCMU also received the Top Gun and High Point Lady Shooter awards, among several other individual marks. Of the eight CCMU shooters who competed, seven placed within the top twelve. These awards compliment the rest of the team's 2023-2024 season, which included a tenth consecutive national championship title at SASP, a top ten placement at the Mammoth Sniper Challenge and a top 50% finish at the Texas Tactical Police Officers Association’s SWAT Competition.

Though an undeniably successful season for the team, the CCMU is no stranger to these levels of achievement. Founded in the fall of 2011, the CCMU’s legacy is lined with national titles, high point individual marks and other accolades. The team’s dominance at every level has led to a variety of support from industry leaders such as Global Ordinance, Staccato, Glock, Adams Arms and Kryptek, which aid the team in firearm and apparel needs. Though a significant help on the equipment front, a financial gap in team travel and ammunition costs poses a threat to the team’s ability to compete.

“For just over a decade, the Corps of Cadets Marksmanship Unit has served as a dominant force in the competitive shooting realm. These cadets and their coaches pour countless hours into their preparation for these competitions. The results, the awards they bring home, are a direct result of their dedication to their sport,” Brigadier General (U.S. Army, Ret.) Patrick Michaelis ‘93, Commandant of the Corps of Cadets, said.

If you are interested in helping the national champion Corps of Cadets Marksmanship Unit compete at every level, please contact Kelly Corcoran at the Texas A&M Foundation here.

Story By: Robin Nelson '22

Corps Hosts 9th Annual Intentional Leadership Conference

March 1, 2024 by rnelson

Each spring, the Corps of Cadets’ Hollingsworth Center hosts the Intentional Leadership Conference (ILC). Open to all members of Texas A&M’s campus community and other visitors, the ILC seeks to grow participants’ understanding of ethical leadership through various panel discussions and keynote speakers.

Though only spanning two days, the ILC is an impactful experience for all participants. Through discussion and advice from industry leaders and trail blazers, those who attended this year’s conference were given a platform to ask questions and learn from some of the best.

In its 9th year, the 2024 ILC focused on “Transformational Leadership: Bridging the Gap for a Better Tomorrow”. One conference speaker, Mandy Scott ‘87, the first of two female members of the Ross Volunteer Company, elaborated on the meaning of transformational leadership in the “Leading Change” panel.

“People have been leading transformationally long before the term was coined. Transformational leadership is all about organizational collaboration toward a shared purpose and goal. It isn’t a top down thing, but rather, something that drives change through collaboration at every level,” Scott said.

Andrea Abat ‘89, one of the first female members of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band, reinforced Scott’s idea of transformational leadership during the same panel discussion.

“Leadership is at the core of all change. Whether it’s in your home, in the military or in another industry, leadership should always focus around the L.O.V.E. acronym. True transformational leaders must look at how you are fostering Loyalty, Ownership, Values and Engagement amongst those around you,” Abat said.

At another session, “Leading by Example”, delegates heard from former cadets who were trailblazers throughout their Corps experience. Speaking on their previous experiences in the Corps and how it has translated to their current endeavors, panel presenters left lasting impressions on attendees.

“Attending the Lead by Example panel really gave me insight into what makes an impactful leader. The fact that transformational leaders are the chief servants of their organization was heavily emphasized throughout,” cadet Lucas Scroggins ‘24 said.

“I now recognize that transformational leaders are only successful when they remain connected to their organization and the members whose day-to-days they are ultimately shaping,” he continued.

Caring about others, a sentiment that was carried on throughout the entirety of the conference, was captured in the final keynote address from Texas A&M President, General (USAF, Retired) Mark A. Welsh III. President Welsh encouraged participants to grow past perceived leadership struggles and invest in those around you.

“To be a transformational leader, you can’t provide instability. You cannot waiver in your opinions. You cannot waiver in the face of a problem. You must provide stability to those around you,” Welsh explained.

The ILC provides a complementary leadership development opportunity to the classroom and leadership laboratory experiences provided through the Corps of Cadets. By extending an invitation to the broader campus community to attend the ILC, those outside of the Corps gained a glimpse of the education and training that prepares cadets to lead beyond graduation.

Story By: Robin Nelson ’22