2022-2023 State of the Corps

2022- 2023 STATE OF THE CORPS

HOWDY!

With the 2022-2023 academic year officially over, the Corps of Cadets can now boast several major accomplishments and statistics. Throughout this past year, each of our cadets have served as fantastic stewards of our treasured Aggie core values. I look forward to highlighting their efforts across this annual review.

The Corps of Cadets remains an organization dedicated to each student’s success across their academic, professional and personal endeavors. Whether you are a long time supporter of our organization, or you are just getting introduced to the Corps, we appreciate you. Thank you for your relentless support and personal investment in our cadets.

I hope that, across this review, you will be able to appreciate just how exceptional each member of the Corps of Cadets is. These young men and women come from all backgrounds and walks of life , and have found the space to learn, lead and inspire as members of our organization. I remain confident in the fact that the Corps is achieving its overall mission of “developing well-educated leaders of character who are prepared for the global leadership challenges of the future.”

Our credentials - our cadets - are making a big difference for Texas A&M, the state of Texas, our great nation and the world!

THANKS & GIG ‘EM,

MARCH TO 3,000 UPDATE

As the Corps of Cadets continues on the March to 3,000 , there are a few key updates about our organization that I’d like to share with you.

Each of these updates were made with the future, continued success of the Corps in mind.

• The Corps of Cadets organization was reorganized this past fall to account for improved span of control and anticipated growth . For the first time in decades, the Corps reintroduced minor units to the leadership structure. Effective the 2023-2024 academic year , the Corps structure will include 4 major units and 11 battalion/group units .

• The Office of the Commandant has restructured into functional areas to strengthen collaboration amongst teams and provide more in-depth support to cadets .

• The Office of the Commandant has added term recruiter positions to the Corps recruiting team. Term recruiters are recent graduates of the Corps who will function as embedded recruiters in Prospective Student Center (PSC) locations . Houston and Dallas are the first target PSC locations where term recruiters will focus their efforts.

• Through collaboration with TAMU Health , the Office of the Commandant will add Corps Performance Coaches to our staff . These Corps Performance Coaches will integrate a focused approach to building life-skills and resiliency into the cadet experience . The focus will be on the whole cadet to include physical, mental, nutritional and spiritual health.

• The Office of the Commandant has worked with Faculty Affair s to fund and begin hiring four Professors of Practice . These Professors of Practice will facilitate the integration of leadership theory taught in the classroom with practical application to create an immersive leadership development experience that touches every aspect of cadet daily life . The Professor of Practice will have 20+ years of experience as either a military officer or C-suite leader and possess experience or equivalent education in leadership and organizational development.

We look forward to seeing these new developments in action across the Quad. The Corps of Cadets continues to be an organization that is dedicated to the success and well-being of each student , and we are excited to see the ways in which these updates will benefit the Corps experience for years to come. Stay up to date with our March to 3,000 progress by visiting tx.ag/Marchto3000 .

CORPS STRENGTH

The Corps of Cadets began the school year with a strength of 2,105 cadets. A few snapshots of the 2022-2023 Corps:

• 716 new cadets joined the Corps in the fall semester, with an additional 44 joining in the spring.

• The Corps ended the year with an 82% retention rate, improving by 11% over the previous academic year.

• The class of 2026 was 19% female at the beginning of the Spring 2023 semester.

• 21% of our cadets were from out of state.

• 3,708 scholarships were awarded to cadets, totaling $11,189,901 for the 2022-2023 academic year.

• The Corps accumulated 12,419 total community service hours for the 2022-2023 academic year.

The March to 3,000 initiative supports the Corps’ efforts to grow our membership, while retaining current cadets at a higher rate. We continue to focus on recruiting high-quality young men and women.

ACADEMICS

The Corps continued to see academic success in the spring of 2023. The organization posted a spring 2023 term overall GPA of 3.22 - the highest on record for the Corps! 72% of students in the Corps posted a 3.0 or higher, with 274 individuals posting a 4.0.

The class of 2023 is the 9th consecutive class to finish their time in the Corps with a term and cumulative GPA above a 3.0 . They posted the highest spring senior class GPA on record with a 3.26.

This year, we increased academic support efforts sponsored by the Office of the Commandant, and worked closely with the colleges to help our cadets succeed academically. The Corps of Cadets now upholds a reputation of academic excellence among the faculty and administration – something that is critical to the overall success of our Corps at Texas A&M.

HOLLINGSWORTH CENTER FOR ETHICAL LEADERSHIP

Cadets maintain many responsibilities, and extracurriculars, on and off the Quad. Though the Corps utilizes a military based cultural model, a majority of our cadets will seek professional careers in the public or private sectors following their time as a cadet and student at Texas A&M University. One professional development resource available to all cadets regardless of post-graduation career path is the Hollingsworth Center for Ethical Leadership . The Hollingsworth Center utilizes a 5-course curriculum designed to develop scholastic excellence and leadership abilities through classroom and practical application. Coursework is customized to meet the needs of each individual student. One course section this past fall was co-taught by TAMU Men’s Basketball Coach Buzz Williams .

Beyond the curriculum, the Center provides resources and opportunities for cadets including networking oppportunities, internships, job placement, informational sessions, distinguished speakers, and much more. The Center also hosts the Cultural Awareness and Diversity Expansion Team (C.A.D.E.T.) special unit and the Corps Cyber Operations special unit, which enchances cadets’ technical knowledge and prepares them to work in the field of cybersecurity.

The Hollingsworth Center also hosted the 8th annual Intentional Leadership Conference (ILC) centered on the theme of “Ethical Leaders: It Matters!” Attendees heard from inspiring speakers in both civilian and military career fields. Speakers included a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, corporate CEOs, Corps graduates in industry, and thought leaders from across the TAMU community.

In March, the Center hosted the first-ever Corps Rising Commanders Conference, where newly-selected rising outfit commanders received guidance on critical leadership topics. Sessions were taught by a combination of topical experts and outgoing commanders who shared lessons learned from their experiences.

This spring, 162 students completed all requirements for the Hollingsworth Certificate in Applied Ethical Leadership . In addition to the standard Corps leadership courses, cadets receiving this distinction completed a capstone ethical leadership course, documented their practical application in the Corps and local community, and created a personalized Individual Leadership Development Plan.

Learn more about the Hollingsworth Center and how it prepares our cadets for their futures here .

CORPS ATHLETICS

With several former high school athletes within our ranks , the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets proudly sponsors several highly competitive athletic programs. Whether it’s tennis, lacrosse, soccer, competitive marksmanship or something in between, each of our teams provides our students with an excellent opportunity to stay involved in the sports they enjoy.

Within these club level teams, our cadets proudly represent the Corps and Texas A&M in various competitions at the state and national levels . This most recent academic year proved to be very busy, but also very successful for many of our athletics teams.

Here are some highlights from the 2022-2023 season:

• Capping off an outstanding fall season, the Corps Women Soccer team won the Rec Sports Indoor Soccer Championship title with an impressive 12-1 final score.

• In February, the Corps Marathon team competed in the Austin Marathon, where cadet Will Massey ‘25 qualified for the Boston Marathon. This is now the second consecutive year the Corps has had a cadet qualify for this monumentous event.

• In March, the Corps Triathlon team competed in the Ironman Texas Competition in Galveston. Cadet Jessica Buonerba ‘23 placed second in her age group.

• In April, the Corps Men Lacrosse team defeated Texas A&M Corpus Christi by a score of 9-3 to end another successful season for the team.

• The Corps Baseball team had another incredible season , sweeping a number of their series. Our baseball team has also consistently qualified for their division’s championship.

As you can see, our athletics teams are home to several exceptionally gifted cadets.

We look forward to seeing all that our cadets will achieve as members of their respective teams next season!

CADET INTERNSHIP SPOTLIGHT

Throughout this summer, several of our cadets have participated in unique internship opportunities across the nation. Using what they have learned as members of the Corps of Cadets , these students are putting their skills to work in various positions in the public and private sectors.

Here’s a quick look at what some of our cadets are doing this summer:

KASEY ANDREWS ‘23 | B-BATTERY

Kasey Andrews ‘23 is currently interning with the Office of Congressman Nathaniel Moran in Washington D.C. This opportunity was presented to Kasey as part of Texas A&M’s Agriculture & Natural Research Policy Internship Program (ANRP) , which enables students to earn academic credit through their participation in policy based internships.

JOEY WELSH ‘24 | COMPANY S-2

Joey Welsh ‘24 is currently working as a Sales Intern with Sewell Cadillac of Houston. Through this opportunity, Joey has learned more about the auto sales industry and gained hands on experience with product presentations, auto financing, sales and customer service.

LUCAS TROSPER ‘24 | 1ST WING STAFF

Lucas Trosper ‘24 is also participating in the Agriculture & Natural Research Policy Internship Program (ANRP). Within his work as an intern with the U.S. Beet Sugar Association, Lucas is interacting daily with professionals in the industry and gaining valuable experience for his future in the field.

ASHLEY WILLIAMS ‘24 | SQUADRON 20

Ashley Williams ‘24 is using her summer break to intern with Liberty Youth Ministries. Throughout her internship experience, Ashley is assisting in the coordination and facilitation of Liberty Youth’s Summer Youth Camp, learning more about event planning and creating life-long bonds with the camp’s students.

We are very proud of each of our cadets who are taking advantage of their summer vacations to better themselves and their communities! They are all fantastic representatives of the Corps , and have helped maintain our reputation of developing well rounded leaders for success in every industry.

The Texas A&M Corps of Cadets remains the number one producer of military officers for the country, outside of the three service academies.

In August & December of 2022, the Corps commissioned 87 new officers . This May alone, we commissioned 149 cadets into the Armed Forces – an indication of the confidence the Department of Defense has in the Corps to produce some of our nation’s finest military officers. These newly commissioned officers will now enter the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force as Second Lieutenants and Ensigns.

We should all be proud of the tradition of service to our great nation that our cadets continue to display –a tradition that spans over 145 years.

ROTC PROGRAM UPDATES

ARMY ROTC

• Army ROTC commissioned 77 Second Lieutenants this year, with 22 cadets earning honors as Distinguished Military Graduates.

• 95% of cadets received one of their top three Military Specialties of choice.

• The Army ROTC program’s commitment to academic excellence remains steadfast with the program posting above a 3.0 GPA for both academic semesters, significantly ahead of the national average.

• The Texas A&M Army ROTC Program competed in the 2023 Army Small Arms Championships at Fort Benning, GA. The team earned the following honors: Top Excellence in Competition Cadet in six individual matches and the LTG Freakly Trophy . The team competed against five other colleges and against active duty teams from across the Army.

• The Texas A&M Army ROTC Ranger Challenge placed first overall out of 18 teams in 1st Brigade’s Ranger Challenge competition at Fort Knox, KY. and First Place ROTC Team and 4th Overall Team in the annual Sandhurst Competition at West Point.

Naval ROTC (NROTC) commissioned 53 officers in the 2022-2023 academic year35 Navy Ensigns and 13 Marine Corps Second Lieutenants

• New officers commissioned into the following specialties: Surface Warfare, Submarine, Naval Reactors, Naval Aviation and Cyber Warfare. Newly commissioned Marines were assigned to Aviation and Ground specialties.

• Navy ROTC Scholarship Students posted a Fall 2022 GPA of 3.16 , with 25% of students receiving a 3.5 or higher.

• 13 Marine option juniors and seniors will attend Marine Officer Candidate School in Quantico, VA this summer.

NAVAL ROTC AIR FORCE ROTC

• 70 cadets were commissioned in 2022-2023, with three cadets competitively selected for the United States Space Force.

• Nine cadets earned Air Force ROTC (AFROTC) Distinguished Graduate honors.

• 36 cadets were selected for rated positions—22 Pilot slots, three Remotely Piloted Aircraft slots, seven Combat Systems Officer slots, and four Air Battle Manager slots.

• 13 cadets who attended Field Training in 2022 were named Distinguished Graduates (DG) - nearly doubling the average DG selection rate of 10%.

• 65 cadets received flight scholarships.

• A cadet was selected as Black Engineer of the Year Stars and Stripes Conference Speaker

Our Army, Air Force and Naval ROTC programs work very hard to ensure that our military contracted cadets are receiving the best training possible on their paths to commissioning. As you can see, each of these programs have earned several highly significant honors and achievements throughout the last year.

We are very proud of these programs, their cadre members and their cadets who dedicate themselves to excellence in everything they do. We can’t wait to see what next year holds for our ROTC programs!

ACROSS THE QUAD

CAITLYNN WALSH ‘24 SELECTED TO SERVE AS 2023-2024 CORPS COMMANDER

The Corps of Cadets is proud to name cadet Caitlynn Walsh ‘24 as our newest Corps Commander. The third-ever female to hold this position, Caitlynn assumed her new role in April at Final Review.

P rior to being selected as Corps Commander, Caitlynn served as the Corps Sergeant Major.

Caitlynn’s path to Texas A&M and the Corps of Cadets is a little unconventional. Learn more about our rising Corps Commander, Caitlynn, here .

MARIA HALL ‘23 PURSUES PASSIONS THROUGH TEXAS A&M WOMEN IN AVIATION

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

Co-founded in 2020 by cadet Maria Hall ‘23, Texas A&M Women in Aviation is a university organization focused on connecting, engaging and inspiring women to be the best they can be.

Learn more about Maria and her involvement with Texas A&M Women in Aviation here .

STEVEN SALAZAR ‘26 WINS NATIONAL COLLEGIATE JUDO CHAMPIONSHIP

The Corps of Cadets is home to students who have a variety of interests, hobbies and goals for the future. Among these students is cadet Steven Salazar ‘26, a Kinesiology major from Whittier, California. Throughout his time in the Corps, Steven has also continued his passion for judo.

As a member of the Texas A&M Judo team, Steven recently competed and won on the national stage, carrying the lessons he has learned as a member of the Corps with him along the way.

Read more about Steven and his path to the National Collegiate Judo Association (NCJA) Collegiate National Championship here .

SAMSON BAGUMA ‘24 FINDS COMMUNITY IN THE CORPS OF CADETS

Home to students from all across the globe, the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets provides developmental opportunities to each student who desires to make their college experience more meaningful.

Among our international students is cadet Samson Baguma ‘24, who moved from Uganda to Texas in high school. Though his first visit to Aggieland was during day one of Fall Orientation Week, Samson quickly fell in love with Texas A&M’s campus and knew that it was where he was always meant to be.

Learn more about Samson’s experience in the Corps of Cadets here .

IN CLOSING

As made evident through the phenomenal highlights we’ve recapped today, the Corps of Cadets continues to be Texas A&M’s premier leadership development program. Through the Corps’ unique military based cultural model, young men and women from every background are able to create their purpose, pursue their passions and prepare for their futures.

We are incredibly proud of all that our cadets have accomplished across the last year, and we can’t wait to see what the 2023-2024 academic year will hold for our great organization. I encourage you to sign up for one or more of my newsletters if you’ve not done so already, so I can continue to update you throughout the coming year on the achievements of our Corps.

Thank you all, again, for your support of the Corps of Cadets. I look forward to keeping in touch with you throughout the year, and hope that you all have a great summer!

Thanks & Gig ‘Em,