Texas A&M Corps of Cadets

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2019 STUDENT MEDIA CORPS VALUES Exploring Texas A&M’s oldest tradition Jhane Price and Jesus Perez, Class of 2018, stand at attention and salute during the national anthem prior to a Texas A&M football game at Kyle Field. Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear readers, in the Corps who wants people to under- in the Corps — is more than equipped for We want to address issues that often go stand what it means to be a cadet and answer this endeavor. While most of us don’t have undiscussed. We want to find perspectives ast semester, The Battalion was one the questions of any non-Corps members a personal experience in the organization, that are usually overlooked and explore them of nine college papers in the nation who have ever wondered about this influen- we are fascinated with how it has influenced more fully. We want to be a resource to this selected to participate in the Poynter tial group. campus life and want to learn more about university, the Bryan-College Station com- LInstitute’s 2018-2019 College Media Since the Corps is deeply rooted in how it functions. munity and beyond. Project. The program gives extra funds and A&M’s 143-year history, we knew there was We have a desire to highlight the exem- The Battalion’s job is to be the voice of advising resources to student newspapers a lot of ground to cover, so we have planned plary qualities of the Corps that have made the student body, so we encourage anyone interested in pursuing in-depth journalism in a series of special editions to address all nec- the university exceptional while also shining who has stories they want to share — wheth- their communities. When asked which sub- essary areas. a light on lesser-known — and often unsat- er they’re positive, negative or somewhere ject we wanted to delve into, the answer was The edition you are reading explores isfactory — elements that people may have a in-between — to come to us for this series. simple — Texas A&M University’s Corps of the history of the Corps and gives basic desire to overlook. You can email me at [email protected] Cadets. introductory material about terminology, Our intention is never to create con- or come to our newsroom in the Memorial The Corps is a unique part of Aggieland important campus monuments and student troversy for controversy’s sake, but rather Student Center room L400. and has completely shaped the student body uniforms. The second round of stories will to start conversations and take a hard look We hope this first edition will answer in ways no other institution has seen on feature Corps leaders and delve into what at what is often passed off as perfection. questions you may have had and provide their own campus. Even so, the nearly 2,600 inspires people to join the organization as Additionally, we want to dispel any negative a firm foundation for the rest of our series. Aggies that make up the Corps are not fully well as what causes people to leave. The final rumors that may be inaccurate representa- Thank you for reading understood by the rest of the almost 70,000 round, which will be released at the end of tions of cadets on campus and break down students due to the differences in lifestyle, the semester, will explore ongoing issues in the barriers that seem to exist between Corps Respectfully, rumors on campus and a general lack of the Corps including instances of hazing. members and non-regs. communication between the two groups. I know The Battalion staff — made up of Essentially, we want to tell the whole Megan Rodriguez We wanted to become a resource to anyone non-regs and students who spent four years story. Editor-in-chief IN THIS EDITION PAGE 4-5 PAGE 6 PAGE 7 PAGE 9 AGGIES IN WARTIME FIGHTIN’ TEXAS AGGIE BAND LIFE ON THE QUAD UNIFORMS AND GROOMING CORPS The Battalion | 3.6.19 2 Graphics by Nic Tan — THE BATTALION Texas A&M Corps of Cadets: Keepers of the Spirit & Guardians of Tradition ank you for cultivating the Spirit of Aggieland for more than 140 years CORPS The Battalion | 3.6.19 3 Milestones: Tracing the Corps of Cadets’ history 1862 - During the Civil War, President Lincoln signed the Morrill Act, laying the groundwork for states 1866 - Having rejoined the Union the year to establish land-grant colleges using before, the State of Texas approves plans to es- funding from federal land sales. tablish its own college under the Morrill Act’s terms. 1876 - The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas officially opened with 40 students and six faculty members. The all-white, all-male student body was re- June 26, 1886 - Muster originated on this day when quired to participate in military training. Maj. Robert alumni gathered to “live over again their college days, P.W. Morris, a professor of applied mathematics, was in the victories and defeats won and lost upon the drill charge of military discipline and has since been credited field and in the classroom.” The tradition was held on as the Corps of Cadets’ first commandant. various dates until it merged with San Jacinto Day cel- ebrations on April 21, 1903. 1887 - The Scott Volunteers were 1887 - The first Corps Trip took created this year. They became the Ross place, with the cadets traveling to Volunteers in 1898 in honor of former Dallas for the Texas State Fair. Texas Governor and A&M President Lawrence Sullivan Ross. The special unit is the second oldest student organization 1894 - The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band in Texas, only after the Corps itself. was founded and led by A&M’s first bandmaster, Joseph Holick. 1898 - The first Silver Taps was held in 1898 - The Spanish-American War honor of Lawrence Sullivan Ross in front occurred. At least 89 Aggies fought in the of Old Main, the predecessor to A&M’s war, 63 of whom served as officers. Academic Building. 1903 - The annual March to the Brazos was started to celebrate San Jacinto Day, 1907 - Yell Leaders were introduced when up- April 21. Abandoned after 1912, the tra- perclassmen ordered freshmen to entertain their dates dition was restarted in 1977 as a spring during a football game. Freshmen wore white janitor fundraiser for the March of Dimes. coveralls and coordinated yells. After being well-re- ceived, the role of Yell Leader was given to upper- 1913 - Yell Practice became an af- classmen. ter-dinner ritual. However, the first Mid- night Yell didn’t occur until 1931. 1914 - Seniors began wearing tall, brown boots to differentiate themselves from underclassmen. The boots became an official 1916 - The National Defense Act of 1916 cre- part of a senior cadet’s uniform by 1925. Joseph Holick, A&M’s ated Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) in first Aggie bandmaster, was also known for making senior boots universities and colleges, although implementation locally at his shop — Holick Manufacturing Company — which of the program was delayed by World War I. continues to serve members of the Corps today. 1917 - The U.S. joined WWI. Almost 50 Jan. 22, 1922 - The tradition of the percent of all Aggies that graduated during 12th Man originated when E. King Gill the war participated as soldiers, a larger per- was called down from the stands to serve cent of serving graduates than any other uni- Jan. 1931 - Reveille I be- versity in the country. as a substitute on the A&M football team. came the college mascot. Dec. 7, 1941 - The U.S. entered WWII. 1942 - More than 20,229 former cadets from A&M fought in World War II. There were 14,123 commissioned Aggies 1943 - The Corps of Cadets was fea- in the war — more than the number of tured in “We’ve Never Been Licked,” a commissioned officers from United States World War II propaganda film that was Naval Academy and the United States partially shot on location at A&M. Military Academy combined. 1947 - The Fish Drill Team was created. Ac- Jun 25, 1950 - The Korean War be- cording to Lisa Kalmus, museum curator at the gins. In the conflict, 1,900 Aggies served, Sam Houston Sanders Corps of Cadets Center, 58 of whom lost their lives. Nov 1, 1955 - The Vietnam War begins. freshmen were moved off-campus in efforts to 1960 - The Army insignia on cadet uniforms was During this conflict, over minimize hazing. To avoid placing freshmen traded in for Corps Brass. Designed by cadets, it in- 3,985 Aggies served and with upperclassmen, many of whom were World cludes the Latin phrase “Per Unitatem Vis,” which 161 died. War II veterans, freshmen lived at the retired translates to “Through Unity, Strength.” Bryan Air Force base 12 miles from campus, Kal- mus said. In their boredom, freshmen began the 1964 - Five black freshmen join the Corps, becoming Fish Drill Team. A&M’s first African-American cadets. The year before, three students became the first African-Americans to enroll 1965 - The Corps of Cadets was offi- at the school, and the Board of Directors had started permit- cially made voluntary for students. ting women to enroll on a limited basis. 1969 - William J. Mahomes became 1968 - Hector Gutierrez Jr. became the first African-American senior cadet to the first hispanic Corps Commander. complete four years and graduate in the Corps. 1970 - Edward A. Taylor became the first African-Amer- 1971 - Edward W.

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