FIRST BRIGADE, UNITED STATES ARMY CADET COMMAND
AGGIE WARBATT
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY ARMY RESERVE OFFICERS’ TRAINING CORPS
Issue 4 School Year 2021-2022
Freshman Orientation WeekPag e 7
FALL 2021
ag e 8 P Army Branch Day ag e 2 P Spartan Ranger Challenge
ew N Patriot Scholarship
WARRIOR BATTALION
Issue No. 4
FIRST BRIGADE, UNITED STATES ARMY CADET COMMAND Texas A&M University Army ROTC
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
AGGIE WARBATT
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY ARMY RESERVE OFFICERS’ TRAINING CORPS
Spartan Ranger Challenge 21
Bulletin ✦
Branch Day
✦
CHANGE: Active Duty Branching
✦
Branch Results
✦
Patriot Scholarship for Army ROTC Scholarship Cadets
Story by Cadet Katie Humphreys ‘23
Table of Contents Topic
Page
Spartan Ranger Challenge
2
Cadet Battalion Cdr
3
U.S. Army ROTC Cadre Cadet Leadership
4-5 6
Fall Orientation Week
8-9
Active Duty Branching
10-11
Branch Results MS22
10-11
New 2nd Lieutenants
14-16
Fall FTX
18-20
Senior Boots
21-22
Scholarship Photos
23 25-26
Upcoming Events
GIG’EM
30
I
n October of this year, the Texas A&M University’s Ranger Challenge team element of the Rudder’s Ranger Company took 2nd place in a tough and challenging competition against all other teams within 1st Brigade, US Army Cadet Command in the Spartan Ranger Challenge at Fort Knox in order to qualify to compete at the the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at West Point, New York. After 36 non-stop hours, over 25 cumulative miles traveled, and 12 back-to-back skills events, Texas A&M placed 2nd, closely following the University of North Georgia. Both teams will appear at West Point this coming April. Now, the team has begun their preparation for Sandhurst 2021. Jennifer Paton, Platoon Sergeant for the team, oversees the physical training plan for the cadets. She reflects on the difficulties that the Aggies faced at Sandhurst 2020, and the plans to overcome them. ”The steep terrain and cold were big obstacles we faced during the competition," Paton said. "We are working to simulate the hilly terrain that we will be faced with at West Point, and improve our physical endurance under these conditions so we can be highly competitive this year." Cont. on Page 12
@tamuarmyrotc
THE WARRIOR BATTALION
Page 2
Issue No. 4
Texas A&M University Army ROTC
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
Cadet Battalion Commander teams we were also able to introduce all MS levels to what their summer at Advanced Camp will include. The program was finally able to give specific advice about Advanced Camp as the MS4’s and MS5’s were able to attend camp over the summer. MS4’s ended their semester with a smile after all the hard work they put in and they received their branches on 1 Dec.
Jacob Mitchell ’22
Fellow Cadets, I am incredibly grateful to have served as the Cadet Battalion Commander of the Warrior Training Battalion at Texas A&M University Army ROTC during the fall semester. The Warrior Training Battalion has had a busy semester and will follow with an even busier spring semester. WTB started the semester off with the Rudders Rangers summer FTX, which allowed the program to test this year's Rudders leadership and prepare them to teach the incoming MS1’s and 2’s. We also completed Megalab and fall FTX. During that time, our Ranger Challenge team was able to compete in the 1st Brigade Ranger challenge competition, taking home second place and a ticket to the United States Military Academy Sandhurst Competition. Along with the ranger challenge GIG’EM
The Texas A&M Corps of Cadets also had an eventful fall semester. Classes were finally in person and we returned to the traditional and familiar Texas A&M experience everyone knows and loves. The yells and whipping of rally towels of a full capacity Kyle Field and a fighting Texas Aggie win over number one Alabama were moments we won’t forget. Our semester concluded with the annual elephant walk that symbolizes the end of a “zips” time at Texas A&M, as the seniors march to their resting place as an elephant does to pass away. As I transition back to Rudders Rangers and start preparing for my future as an Aviation officer, CDT Logan McNaughton, from Company L-1 will take my place as the Cadet Battalion Commander. As another future Aviation officer and my Battalion XO, I have much faith in Logan and have no doubt that he will lead the Battalion successfully in the spring semester. Overall, I am extremely proud of how the Battalion conducted THE WARRIOR BATTALION
The AGGIE WARBATT is a quarterly publication published by Texas A&M University Army ROTC Program at College Station, Texas. Professor of Military Science Col. Blake A. Connors Photographer /Art Director / Editor Lt. Col. Lan T. Dalat Director of Recruitment /Marketing Mr. David R. Manning Chief Military Science Instructor Sergeant Major Derrick Solomon Cadet Battalion Commander Cadet Lt. Col. Jacob Mitchell Battalion Public Relations Ms. Christina Rose
DISCLOSURE The AGGIE WARBATT is a newsletter produced for members of the U.S. Army ROTC. The contents of the AGGIE WARBATT are not the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army, or the 1st Brigade, US Army Cadet Command. It is published quarterly in accordance with AR 25-30.
training and everyday tasks over the semester, and especially how the command teams and staff worked to have successful training. Once again I am very grateful to have served as the Cadet Battalion Commander for the Warrior Training Battalion and am proud of all the members of the Battalion. Very Respectfully,
Jacob Jacob Mitchell, CDT, Aviation Page 3
Issue No. 4
Texas A&M University Army ROTC
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
Army ROTC Leadership Professor of Military Science
Chief Military Science Instructor
Executive Officer
Blake A. Connors Colonel, Infantry
Lan T. Dalat
Derrick Solomon
Lt. Col., Signal Corps
Sergeant Major, Infantry
Admin (S-1)
Recruiting/Marketing (S-2)
Operations (S-3)
Daniel R. Samuelson
David R. Manning ’83
Camille Cunningham
Captain, Logistics
William McLaurin MSG, Ops
Dept. of Army Civilian
Tempist J. Holden SSG, HRA NCO Assistant Professor
Logistics (S-4)
Major, Military Police
Tasha Chambers SSG, HRA NCO
Inez Fields HRA Tech
Instructor
Kristen LeForte
Captain, Logistics
Efrain Galvan Supply Tech
Signal (S-6)
Carl Bird
Captain, Signal Corps
Mike Brown Supply Tech
Instructor
Rudder’s Rangers Brent W. Bushong Alexander D. Roysden Jacob Brightwell Captain, Infantry
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Master Sergeant, Infantry
THE WARRIOR BATTALION
Captain, ADA
Page 4
Issue No. 4
Texas A&M University Army ROTC Program Director
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
Instructor
Instructor
Instructor
MS I
Brian Wood
James A. Clark
Nathan L. Webb
Jose L. Flores
Captain, Logistics
Master Sergeant, Infantry
Program Director
Instructor
Instructor
Instructor
Kristen LeForte Captain, Logistics
Steven M. Legate
Sergeant First Class, Armor
Calvin J. Hickman
Anthony Miles
Program Director
Instructor
Instructor
Instructor
Staff Sergeant, Armor
Contractor
MS II
Staff Sergeant, Armor
Contractor
MS III
Michael Casper
Ben K. Thurman
Captain, Civil Affairs
Sergeant First Class, Infantry
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Terrion L. Gulley Staff Sergeant, AG
Michael R. Terzian Instructor
Assistant Professor
MS IV
Russell P. Huebner ’06 Major, Infantry Texas ARNG
GIG’EM
Michael Fung Captain, Armor
Carl Bird
Captain, Signal Corps
THE WARRIOR BATTALION
Page 5
Issue No. 4
Texas A&M University Army ROTC
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
Army ROTC Cadet Leadership
Logan C. McNaughton Battalion Executive Officer
Anthony J. Niemiec Battalion S1
Jacob Mitchell
Battalion Commander
Evan C. Dadey
Battalion Command Sergeant Major
Luke I. Griego Bryson T. McDougall Parker J. Brown Battalion S2
Battalion S3
Battalion S4
Robert W. Baker
Asa J. Muthig
Devon C. Dolan
Bryce J. Brown
Jesse S.C. Dennis
Emily M. Hudechek
Ian D. Johnson
Emma L. Vender
Michael R. Grantham
A Co. Commander
A Co. Executive Officer
A Co. 1st Sergeant
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B Co. Commander
B Co. Executive Officer
B Co. 1st Sergeant
C Co. Commander
C Co. Executive Officer
Clay H. Parham Battalion S6
Arthur Waltzman Rudder’s Rangers Cdr
Jack D. Anderson Ranger Challenge Cdr.
C Co. 1st Sergeant
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Page 6
Issue No. 4
Texas A&M University Army ROTC
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
Freshman Orientation Week
Fish Review at Simpson Field on Aug. 28, 2021
First Day of Army ROTC for Freshman Class of 2025 on Aug. 26, 2021 GIG’EM
THE WARRIOR BATTALION
Page 7
Texas A&M Army ROTC
Issue No. 4
Texas A&M University Army ROTC
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
Talent Based Branching
Spence Park, Texas A&M University
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COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS - On Thursday, 2 September 2021, two days after the start of the Fall Semester, over 400 Army ROTC cadets from freshman to senior attended the first-ever Branch Day hosted by Cadre and staff assigned to 1st Brigade, U.S. Army Cadet Command with the support of III Corps at Fort Hood, U.S. Army Reserve, and Texas Army National Guard Soldiers bringing together a pool of experts representing the Combat Arms, Combat Support, and Combat Services Support branches that provide valuable information to the Cadets. In support of the Army’s People First philosophy, the Army is undertaking the most comprehensive reform of personnel management since the Officer Personnel Act of 1947. The 2019 National Defense Authorization Act granted several new authorities that provide the Army flexibility to determine the characteristics of a future talent-based system. Army ROTC Cadets are not exempt from this reform. As a matter of fact, they are at the very front end of this reform. Beginning with Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 or October 1st, 2020, the U.S. Army Cadet Command had implemented a new system to branch Cadets from its 274 ROTC programs across the country under the new system titled Talent Based Branching. With 17 different branches available for Army Cadets to compete, Cadets must begin building their branching resume in the Talent Based Branching system on the first day of ROTC. So, without the knowledge of the branches, Cadets would have a tough time building that resume. Under the leadership of U.S. Army Colonel Blakeslee A. Connors, Professor of Military Science at Texas A&M Army ROTC Battalion,
Branch Day was created to ensure Army Cadets getting early exposure and knowledge of the various branches within the Army. On Spence Park, four large white festival tents erected along with several other canopies served as the venues for branch representatives to inform and educate Aggie Cadets. Colonel Clint E. Tracy, Chief of Army Cyber, Electro Magnetic Activities (CEMA) from III Corps provided introductory information on Cyber capabilities to the Cadets. Meanwhile, 1st Lieutenant Dylan Ynclan, Military Intelligence (MI) officer of 504th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade, a former student of Texas A&M shared his MI experiences with a group of Cadets. Concurrently, Texas Army National Guard Captain Alcantra demonstrated the MK19 grenade launcher along with two up-armored HUMVEEs to an interested freshman cadets. In addition, members of the 3rd Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB), a Security force assistance brigade of the United States Army based in Fort Hood, TX provided great details on various branches that made up the SFAB and its capabilities. During the beginning of their senior year, MS IV Cadets must rank their preferences from one to 17. Prior to the accession process, all Army Cadets across the nation are ranked in the national Order of Merit List (OML) based on many factors to include Academic achievements, physical fitness, Advanced Camp performance, leadership involvement with Ranger Challenge or the Color Guard. At Texas A&M, the leadership opportunities extended to their leadership roles within the Corps of Cadets, Rudder’s Rangers, and the Warrior Training Battalion.
THE WARRIOR BATTALION
Page 8
Army Branch Day
Issue No. 4
Texas A&M University Army ROTC
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
September 3, 2021
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THE WARRIOR BATTALION
Page 9
Issue No. 4
Texas A&M University Army ROTC
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
Branch Results for Active Duty Mission Set 2022 "Active Duty "National Top 10%" DMG"
YES
YES
Duty Assigned
Last Name
First Name
MI
ACTIVE DUTY
ADCOCK
BRENT
S
ACTIVE DUTY
AKKI
ASHWIN
ACTIVE DUTY
AMES
NATHANIEL
ACTIVE DUTY
ANDERSON
ACTIVE DUTY
"Basic "Control Branch" Branch" FA
FA
SC
FA
C
FA
FA
JACK
D
IN
IN
BAKER
ROBERT
W
MI
IN
ACTIVE DUTY
BEADLE
JOHN
C
AD
AD
ACTIVE DUTY
BROWN
PARKER
J
AR
AR
ACTIVE DUTY
BROWN
BRYCE
J
FA
FA
ACTIVE DUTY
CAUDLE
WILLIAM
C
OD
OD
ACTIVE DUTY
COOKSEY
ASHTON
L
FA
FA
"ADSO(s) Required"
BRANCH
Cont. Next Page GIG’EM
THE WARRIOR BATTALION
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Issue No. 4
Texas A&M University Army ROTC
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
Branch Results for Active Duty Mission Set 2022 (cont.) "Active Duty "National Top 10%" DMG"
Duty Assigned
Last Name
First Name
MI
"Basic Branch"
"Control Branch"
ACTIVE DUTY
DADEY
EVAN
C
IN
IN
ACTIVE DUTY
DENNIS
JESSE
S
IN
IN
YES
ACTIVE DUTY
DOLAN
DEVON
C
IN
IN
YES
ACTIVE DUTY
FORTIER
CONNOR
P
IN
IN
YES
ACTIVE DUTY
FUNK
JUSTIN
D
FC
AR
ACTIVE DUTY
GAMEZ
STEPHEN
M
AR
AR
ACTIVE DUTY
GUSTAFSON
ERIN
E
MI
AR
YES
YES
YES
YES
ACTIVE DUTY
HANE
RYAN
C
IN
IN
YES
YES
ACTIVE DUTY
ILORI
JONATHAN
A
FA
FA
ACTIVE DUTY
JAIMES
OMAR
TC
TC
"ADSO(s) Required"
BRANCH
Cont. on Page 17 GIG’EM
THE WARRIOR BATTALION
Page 11
Issue No. 4
Texas A&M University Army ROTC
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
Rudder's Rangers FTX Story by Cadet Katie Humphreys ‘23 Cont. !om Page 2 Along with preparing to compete against other teams, the cadets are competing against themselves. As there are only 11 cadets that will go to West Point to represent A&M, the 33 Ranger Challenge members are constantly improving themselves to earn a ticket to West Point for this upcoming event.
The team trains all weekday mornings and 2-3 times a week in the evening. For many new members, the intensity and demands of the training can be surprising. Dylan Guieb, A&M junior, and a first-year member of the team, discusses the reaction he had to the new obstacles he faced with this new training. "This is my first year in Ranger Challenge, and I think the PT is a lot more difficult and some of the workouts are unorthodox which spices everything up a bit," he explained.
The Sandhurst Military Skills competition is an annual event that tests cadets' physical endurance, marksmanship, military knowledge, teamwork, and mental toughness over a 48-hour period. Army ROTC programs, service academies, and foreign military teams across the world all attend for hopes of winning the title.
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THE WARRIOR BATTALION
Page 12
Issue No. 4
Texas A&M University Army ROTC
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
Ranger Challenge Teams preparing for the upcoming Spartan Ranger Challenge Competition
Ranger Challenge Teams compete in Spartan Ranger Challenge at Fort Knox, Kentucky GIG’EM THE WARRIOR BATTALION
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Issue No. 4
Texas A&M University Army ROTC
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
WINTER 2021 Commissioning Ceremony
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THE WARRIOR BATTALION
Page 14
Issue No. 4
Texas A&M University Army ROTC
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
2LT Brady G. Beene, USA Infantry
2LT Jordan R. Capola, USAR Engineer
2LT Harrison P. Conn, USA Field Artillery
2LT Patrick S. Cox, ARNG Field Artillery
2LT Theodore Evans, USA Field Artillery
2LT Stephen Gamez, USA Armor
2LT Trainor M. Gray, USA Military Intelligence detailed Infantry
2LT Luke Griego, USA Air Defense Artillery
2LT Tyler Griffith, USA Infantry
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THE WARRIOR BATTALION
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Issue No. 4
2LT Spencer D. Hidden, ARNG Field Artillery
2LT Nathaniel Peckman, USA Armor
2LT Beene, Brady G
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
2LT Jungyoung Kim, ARNG Military Intelligence
2LT Ian Macdonald, USA Armor
2LT Collin A. Struck, USA
2LT Jacob Widman, USA Cyber
IN
2LT
Griffith, Tyler F
AD
Infantry
2LT Capola, Jordan R EN
USAR
2LT
Higdon, Spencer D
NG
FA
2LT Conn, Harrison P AD
FA
2LT
Kim, Jungyoung
NG
MI
2LT Cox, Patrick S
FA
ARNG
2LT
Macdonald, Ian A
AD
AR
2LT Evans, Theodore
AD
FA
2LT
Peckman, Nathaniel
AD
AR
2LT Gamez, Stephen
AD
AR
2LT
Struck, Collin A
AD
TBD
2LT Gray, Trainor M
AD
MI DET IN
2LT
Widman, Jacob L
AD
CY
2LT Griego, Luke I
AD
ADA
GIG’EM
AD
Texas A&M University Army ROTC
THE WARRIOR BATTALION
Page 16
Issue No. 4
Texas A&M University Army ROTC
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
Cont. !om Page 11 Branch Results for Active Duty Mission Set 2022 (Cont. from Page 11) "Active Duty "National Top 10%" DMG"
YES
YES
Duty Assigned
Last Name
First Name
MI
"Basic Branch"
"Control Branch"
ACTIVE DUTY
JOHNSON
TYSON
A
CM
CM
ACTIVE DUTY
JOHNSON
IAN
D
FC
IN
ACTIVE DUTY
LIM
HAEIN
SC
SC
ACTIVE DUTY
LINDNER
WILLIAM
R
IN
IN
ACTIVE DUTY
LOCKHART
JARED
B
IN
IN
ACTIVE DUTY
LORENZ
DAVID
A
FA
FA
ACTIVE DUTY
LUCE
PRESLEY
V
MI
IN
ACTIVE DUTY
MARTINEZ
ALONDRA
QM
QM
ACTIVE DUTY
MCDOUGALL
BRYSON
T
IN
IN
YES
ACTIVE DUTY
MCNAUGHTON
LOGAN
C
AV
AV
YES
ACTIVE DUTY
MITCHELL
JACOB
D
AV
AV
YES
ACTIVE DUTY
MUTHIG
ASA
J
EN
EN
ACTIVE DUTY
NIEMIEC
ANTHONY
J
AR
AR
ACTIVE DUTY
OLMSTEAD
MATTHEW
J
OD
OD
ACTIVE DUTY
OMARA
KEILIN
R
MI
MI
ACTIVE DUTY
PICKETT
MATTHEW
R
IN
IN
ACTIVE DUTY
PIERCE
JARED
M
AR
AR
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
ACTIVE DUTY
SCOTT
ZACHARY
S
IN
IN
YES
YES
ACTIVE DUTY
SHERWOOD
BRANDON
R
IN
IN
ACTIVE DUTY
SHUCK
PARKER
R
CY
CY
ACTIVE DUTY
SMYTHE
CONNOR
M
AV
AV
ACTIVE DUTY
TRUEBLOOD
NASH
C
TC
TC
ERIC
R
AR
AR
ACTIVE DUTY VAUGHN MATTHEWS
YES
YES
GIG’EM
ACTIVE DUTY
VENDER
EMMA
L
AV
AV
YES
ACTIVE DUTY
VILLEMAIN
NATHAN
A
IN
IN
YES
ACTIVE DUTY
VU
BENJAMIN
IN
IN
YES
ACTIVE DUTY
WALTZMAN
ARTHUR
J
IN
IN
ACTIVE DUTY
WARD
PRESTON
T
FA
FA
ACTIVE DUTY
WATKINS
NOAH
E
AR
AR
THE WARRIOR BATTALION
"ADSO(s) Required"
BRANCH
BRANCH
BRANCH
BRANCH
Page 17
Issue No. 4
Texas A&M University Army ROTC
Celebrating the successful Fall FTX
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
Cadet Zhang sends report using tactical radio during leader reconnaissance
German Army exchange officer assists Cadets during FTX
Colonel Thompson visits Cadets at Texas A&M
Cont. on Page 28
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Cadet Zhang sends reportTHE using tactical BATTALION radio during leader reconnaissance WARRIOR
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Issue No. 4
Texas A&M University Army ROTC
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
Fall FTX 2021 Story by Joshua Legg ‘22
C
OLLEGE STATION, Texas (November 12-14, 2021) – Contracted and non-contracted cadets from Alpha and Bravo companies conducted an intense field training exercise (FTX). The Fall FTX was designed to be a recruiting tool for non-contracted cadets. The FTX allowed these cadets to perform team-building exercises on the obstacle, endurance, and leadership reaction courses in addition to basic rifle marksmanship. “I enjoyed being able to learn about more squad tactics from another perspective and learning how to run a fire team which gave myself insight on how to lead and get closer with my squad.” Carlos Tamez shared his insight. The fall FTX also afforded our contracted cadets the opportunity to show off the training and skills they have developed throughout their time in the corps. While discussing the fall FTX, Cadet Steven Petracca explained, “Well planned and well executed, all training points were hit and emphasized over and over again.” Over the course of the first two days, the contracted and noncontracted cadets were kept integrated. However, on completion of the marksmanship training at the range, the non-contracted cadets returned to their dorms, while the contracted cadets loaded their equipment onto buses to be taken to a training area. These cadets were then exposed to field conditions and patrol base operations. For many, this was their first time sleeping outside with nothing but a
sleeping bag and their ruck. Saturday proved to be an important day of the field training exercise, Cadet Hayden Hutchison mentions that, “One thing I liked about the FTX was the extended period of time we got to group and zero our weapons on Saturday.” According to Cadet Coleman, “I enjoyed the strict utilization of weapons training. Knowledge on the subject will allow cadets from Texas A&M to show off their training and knowledge upon commission.” Saturday night, the Seniors took their squads and showed them the tips and tricks of Army fieldcraft that make life a little more comfortable while in the field. These tips included which snacks to bring and how to efficiently pack a rucksack. Additionally, they were taught how to correctly field strip an MRE by taking it out, eating the entree when there is time, and saving the snacks for when you are on the move. The following morning these cadets conducted night and day land navigation to further sharpen their skills and prepare them for Advanced Camp. The Fall FTX proved to very successful and a great experience for these cadets. When asked what they most enjoyed about the training, the participants offered enthusiastic responses. Cadet Leary enthusiastically stated “The FTX mitigated this singular loathsome aspect by filling me with knowledge of Army tactics through the practice of shooting and ops: boosting my overall expertise of, and enthusiasm for the Army ROTC!”
Cadets shoot M4A1 carbines at RELLIS Range during their Fall FTX GIG’EM THE WARRIOR BATTALION
Page 19
Issue No. 4
Texas A&M University Army ROTC
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
Rudder’s Rangers Cadets conduct Round Robin training to include Weapons, Radio, and Claymore Mine.
GIG’EM WARRIOR BATTALION Captain Casper briefs MS23 Cadets during the Fall THE FTX at Camp Bullis, Joint Base San Antonio, TX
Page 20
Issue No. 4
Texas A&M University Army ROTC
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
Aggie Senior Boots Written by Cadet Bryce A. Reed ‘22
T
he Aggie boots started over 100 years ago when the Corps of Cadets changed from the typical dress gray service academy styled uniform. Cadets at this time liked the look of the military boots typical of Army Officers and mounted Soldiers, which the Army changed after World War I. Senior cadets often interacted with cadre members that wore riding boots and wanted to adopt this style of footwear for the senior uniform, that of a cadet officer. At this time, military boots were fairly similar to the current design, however, they were lace up along the front which was not aesthetically pleasing. To cover up the laces, butterflies were created in the 1930s and 1940s to show other organizations that the cadet was a part of and insert a personal flair to their appearance. Because at this time Texas A&M was an all male military college every aspect of life was centered around commissioning military officers. Before 1959 every cadet was placed in a unit that trained them how to be proficient at a designated branch of the military, the distinction between the officer cadets and the noncommissioned lower classes was aided with the use of these boots, which were used even in field environments. There are many photographs of the Cadet Connor Fortier ’22, Corps Commander leads the Corps of Cadets during one of the March-In for school year 2021-2022.
GIG’EM
early Corps of Cadets, especially the artillery and cavalry units training while wearing their senior boots. After the reorganization of the Corps of Cadets in 1959 many things changed, but the use of senior boots did not. The senior boots stayed a solidified part of the uniform tradition within the Corps of Cadets after THE WARRIOR BATTALION
Page 21
Issue No. 4
Texas A&M University Army ROTC
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
Boot Loan Program
E
ach year many rising senior Cadets cannot afford the hefty price tag on senior boots which is between $900-$1900. The Boot Loan Program, which is housed in the Sanders Corps Center was established in 2003 to help ALL senior Cadets have the opportunity to wear senior boots. In 2021, the program has about 350 boots that have been donated by former Cadets and of those about 125 are issued out each year. Once a pair boots are donated to the program, they are entered into the Boot Loan system and assigned an identification number, which is associated with the donor’s information. A cadet tries on boots and finds the right fit. The boots are logged as checked out and the deserving Cadet is given the donors information and past “history” of the boots. The Cadets make contact with donor to say thank you. After Final Review each year, the cadets return the boots to the Loan program for the next lucky Cadet to use. The CCA is proud to sponsor the Boot Loan Program and has helped bring in over 60 pair of boots, 5 Sam Browne belts and 4 sabers to put into the program
Today, the senior boots are one of the last holdouts of tradition that has remained nearly unchanged within the Corps of Cadets since nearly its inception. Many cadets today carry on their family tradition of Corps involvement by wearing boots worn by their parents or grandparents. Most cadets however, order their senior boots from Holick’s during their sophomore year. This is because there is such a long wait and there are many measurements and fittings required to make sure the boots fit perfectly for the individual cadet. During these fittings, it is traditional for a cadet to bring their “old lady” aka roommate to pull their boots for the first time. After the junior cadet wears their senior boots for the first time during the second pass of final review, many former upperclassmen will return and pull their boots signifying their promotion to cadet officer. The application process to get Aggie boots, Sam Brown belt, or saber is very simple. The cadet would GIG’EM
put in an application to Ms. Lisa Kalmus ’91 in the Sam Houston Corps of Cadets Center during their junior year better known as their “Butt” year. Once that is completed she will contact the cadet about an appointment to get sized for their boots. She measures the arch, and the length of their foot to determine the best boot for that cadet. She is known for taking a guess and choosing the right boot to fit, based purely off of her years of experience.
THE WARRIOR BATTALION
Page 22
Issue No. 4
Texas A&M University Army ROTC
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
$2.5 million Scholarship Awarded Army ROTC 4-Year Scholarship Recipients Benitez-Devilbiss, Rachelle M.
Jones, Christopher T.
Strickland, Brayden L.
Cecil, Mark S.
Lankford, Logan C.
Talt, Glover
Crawford, Reece W.
McGrath, William R.
Tevis, Jeffrey F.
Desormeaux, Marie-Elena C.
Scheffler, Noah C.
Wall, Jay D.
Doyle, Harrison B.
Schultz, Julie K.
Waterman, Matthew N.
Durney, Kevin
Sims, Luke J.
White, Gavin K.
Free, J Cooper R.
Smith, Ashton Robert W.
Army ROTC 3-Year Scholarship Recipients Baker, Lillian J.
Hausken, Jillian C.E.
Mayer, Hayle A.
Chalfont, Luke A.
Hurt, John R.
Nashan, Arik T.
Conn, Clayton G.
Kreiser, Rachel
Nimocks, Kai A.
Dente, Vincent J.
Lankford, Wyatt D.
Petropoulos, Aidan
Erskine, Logan H.
Leary, Nathanael P.
Rojas, Juan
Farrington, Cole
Lisenbee, Ami
Russell, Adam E.
Gaines, Conner T.
Logan, Connor L.
Schwab, Ethan A.
Golson, Ty E.
Lord, Victoria M.
Smith, Major G.
Groessel, Joshua
Lozano, Jackson H.
Stinger, Ryan
Hafer, Jake F.
Luebke, Mitchell P.
Villarreal, Aurora D.
Hamilton, Jayda L.
Manning, Jack W.
Weaver, Daim D.
Hansen, Corwyn G.
Martinez, Miguel C.
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Issue No. 4
Texas A&M University Army ROTC
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
$50 Million
Patriot Scholarship
S
tarting Fall Semester 2021, Army ROTC Scholarship recipients will get free room and board in addition to the fully funded tuition and fees based on the type of scholarship. The newly established “Patriot Scholarship” was announced by Dr. M. Katherine Banks, Texas A&M University President on Veterans Day 2021. “Throughout history, Aggies have answered the call to serve and protect our country,” Dr. Banks said. “The Patriot scholarships will help us continue to fulfill our core values of leadership and selfless service by investing in young men and women who truly embody what it means to be an Aggie.” The Army ROTC program at Texas A&M produced around 100 Army Officers per year.
Central Texas Seventh Annual U.S. Service Academies Forum
ROUND ROCK, TEXAS - On Saturday, September 11, 2021, a member of Texas A&M Army ROTC recruiting team participated in the 7th Annual Central Texas Service Academy Forum in which more than 400 high school students and parents seeking information and nomination for the service academies. Historically, Texas A&M would not be at the forum that was clearly designed to educate and inform students and parent on the process of admitting to the service academies. Most students at this forum have shown interests in serving as active duty officers in the U.S. Armed Forces. Based on that fact, Texas A&M Army ROTC team attended the event with the purpose to educate and inform high school students on the benefit of attending one of the largest Senior Military Colleges in the country.
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Issue No. 4
Texas A&M University Army ROTC
Cadet Rodriguez prepares to throw a hand grenade
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
Buddy team at the Endurance Course
Cadet Leadership Reaction Course
GIG’EM
THE WARRIOR BATTALION Platoon Level Tactics Training at T.A. Clark
Page 25
Issue No. 4
Texas A&M University Army ROTC
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
Rudder’s Ranger Company Commander, Cadet Waltzman and Ranger Challenge Commander, Cadet Anderson show off newly donated pistols by generous Texas A&M Former Students.
Cadets conduct Land Navigation during the Fall FTX
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Issue No. 4
Texas Ole Ags Texas A&M University Army ROTC
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
Second Lieutenant Nam Cao 21’ My time spent at Te x a s A&M Un i v e r s i t y a s a part of the Corps of Cadets afforded me many opportunities for personal and professional development. Like many college freshman, I was eager to explore my interests and determine my future career path. The structure and experiences in my Army ROTC program strengthened my discipline and resilience, but the most valuable part of my college experience was my personal relationships with faculty and peers. The support and mentorship I received at Texas A&M University was the cornerstone to finding my place in the Army as well as my value set I wanted to carry into my life. Being a first generation American, I sometimes felt like an outsider in my community. At Texas A&M, I felt like I was part of a family. The culture in my ROTC program promoted diversity and acceptance in that I was judged on my merits and values and not what made me different than my peers.
the Company Commander of K-1. In this position, I grew substantially in my professional and educational career. As a Commander, I had many tasks and responsibilities in the maintenance of 54 cadets. Many of the tasks we did as a company involved promoting and safeguarding the moral, physical wellbeing, and general welfare of each person under my command. During my final year at Texas A&M, I was accepted into the Army Aviation Branch and I am currently attending flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama. The environment at Texas A&M bolstered the drive and motivation required to achieve my dream of being an Army Aviator. I know the skills that I learned during my time in the Corps of Cadets in leadership and personal development positively impact my time as a lieutenant and flight school student. My advice for current and future students of the Corps of Cadets is to understand the meaning of hard work. The essence of hard work is not being complacent. It is imperative students recognize the opportunities the Corps of Cadets has to offer and its benefits to future careers. Commitment and dedication to an organization reaps many rewards.
During my time in the Corps of Cadets I was assigned to Company K-1. The upperclassmen of K-1 were critical to my development, instilling discipline and courage in me and my fellow classmates. I learned the value of teamwork, camaraderie, and integrity. Freshman year was challenging, but I learned what was required to be a strong leader and the expectations required as a future officer. The lessons I learned early on and my continued persistence afforded me the opportunity of serving as
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THE WARRIOR BATTALION
Page 27
Issue No. 4
Texas A&M University Army ROTC
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP)
Y
ou may be able to take advantage of a program that allows you to participate in ROTC and enlist in the Army National Guard or Army Reserve at the same time, provided a vacancy exists in either a Guard or Reserve unit. It's called the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP), and it means that while you're still in college at Texas A&M, you can be gaining valuable experience and earning extra income. In the SMP, you will be paid at the rate of at least a Sergeant (E-5) for your Guard or Reserve service. In addition, you'll receive the ROTC Advanced Course allowance as well. You'll serve as an officer trainee in a Guard or Reserve unit and perform duties commensurate with the grade of second lieutenant. Once you graduate and receive your commission, you may continue your military service with your Reserve or National Guard unit or go on active duty. The ROTC Contract that is agreed upon will determine a cadet status. You are considered Non-Deployable during your time as an SMP Cadet!
The intent of the SMP Program is to increase officer accessions into the Reserve Components (RC) by increasing ROTC enrollment from enlisted RC members who are attending college. In addition, contracted nonscholarship cadets and Reserve Forces Duty (RFD) scholarship cadets can join a RC unit and the SMP. Advanced Course ROTC SMP students are paid for their Guard/Reserve training and receive the ROTC allowance as well as $1200.00 per year for books. Upon completing the ROTC program, the United States Army Officer agrees to an eight-year obligation, which can be served in the Reserve Forces, on Active Duty or a combination of the two.
The Benefits ROTC monthly stipend of $420 a month
SMP kicker $368 a month
GI Bill (amount varies depending on previous military service status)
Drill pay of E-5 ($5,181.75 annually)
Eligibility Requirements
Be enrolled in college and have completed at least 30 credits.
Have completed Basic and/or Advanced Individual Training.
Be under 30 years of age by graduation. Waivers can be granted if you are under 39 years of age by graduation.
You pursue an Army-approved academic major.
2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
You meet required physical standards.
Your ROTC Commitment
Participating in the SMP program requires you to take ROTC classes, which demand a few hours of your time each week. Upon graduation, you have an obligation to accept a commission and serve full-time in the Active Army, or part-time in either the Army National Guard or the U.S. Army Reserve. GIG’EM
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Issue No. 4
Texas A&M University Army ROTC
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
I am an Army Cadet. Soon I will take an oath and become an Army Officer committed to defending the values, which make this nation great. Honor is my touchstone. I understand mission first and people always. I am the PAST: the spirit of those warriors who have made the final sacrifice. I am the PRESENT: the scholar and apprentice soldier enhancing my skills in the science of warfare and the art of leadership. But, above all, I am the FUTURE: the future warrior leader of the United States Army. May God give me the compassion and judgment to lead and the gallantry to WIN.
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Issue No. 4
Texas A&M University Army ROTC
School Year 2021-2022 Fall 2021
UPCOMING EVENTS
SOW Rudders Winter FTX
7 Jan 2022 7-10 Jan 2022
1st Day of Spring Sem
17 Jan 22
Aggieland
12 Feb 22
Spring Mega Lab Spring FTX
25-26 Feb 22 31 Mar - 3 Apr
Spring Break
13-19 Mar 22
Final Review
30 Apr 22
Commissioning GIG’EM
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13 May 22 Page 30