I'm a freshman this year at A&M, and will be here for 5 years to get my degree. I was going to join the corps this year, but waited, as I knew I could do it next fall and still go through all 4 years. I've had multiple family members go through corps and say they love it; however, more recently I've heard from some buddies that it is going down fast, and I've even had a couple quit because of how easy it is for the fish. Is it worth it to join, even though it is going downhill. I also am highly considering contracting. I want to have the same experience that my brothers have had, but is that realistic?

Sign up, don't look back. Best path to get the skills for a commission. Hard, but then things that are worth it always are.

A redshirt fish....a novel concept.

Join. You won't regret it. Your chances of success are excellent. You are already acclimated to college and to A&M, all you have to do is learn the Corps way of doing things. The year of maturity you will have over your fish buds will serve you well. Just be a mentor to your buds, don't look down on them for their ignorance and immaturity. I'd even keep my mouth shut about having been at college.

As far as the "old army has gone to hell" crowd, they've been saying that since 1877. The Corps is not the same as it was in my day, or even what it was 10 years ago. Make it yours, make it the best it can be during the short time it is in your care.

WBBQ and Canyon are spot on.... sign up and decide for yourself whether or not the Corps is for you.

The thing that cadets never seem to realize when they're actually in the Corps is that the one constant through the history of the organization is CHANGE. Cadets always think that the Corps they're in is the way it's always been, and that whatever happens after they leave makes the Corps easier, softer, and sends it on the road to Hell. The Corps I was a member of in the mid-70s was different from just a few years prior, when the Vietnam conflict was raging. That Corps was different than the post-WWII Corps of the late 40's-early 60's. Any organization that's worth it's salt is always looking to adapt it's procedures, it's requirements, it's practices to the current mission and environment. An organization that doesn't do that will be dying on the vine, quickly.

Join up. Don't worry about the naysayers, there's always going to be people that try to tear down any organization. You'll have a much richer and more rewarding undergraduate experience at A&M as a cadet. As an ex-cadet from almost 40 years ago.... and as a parent of two recently-graduated cadets... I can tell you that one thing is still true: there are many graduated Aggies who weren't cadets that wish they had done it, after they got out of A&M, but you rarely hear of any former cadets who spent 4 years in the program that say they wish they hadn't.

Just do it. Stick it out, give it your all. You won't regret it.

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however, more recently I've heard from some buddies that it is going down fast, and I've even had a couple quit because of how easy it is for the fish. Is it worth it to join, even though it is going downhill.

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Biggest load of crap I always hear. I'll admit that I believe the Corps has gotten a lot easier than when I was there, in certain aspects, but it was also a lot easier for me than it was for most cadets before me. I still enjoyed my time completely, and would definitely recommend it to anyone.

And already knowing how to study, how to deal with college professors, etc, should also make things easier for you, and you might be able to help out your buddies. The only thing is, you're going to be class of '17 (same as your sophomores) and your fish buddies are going to be class of '18, so that could get awkward at times, especially if you pull out a lot. But that's nothing to worry about.

Do it! You'll be glad you did.

I think you have the option of what year to get on your ring, so the class year thing should not be a problem.

Do it. I had a buddy who was his class president his "real" freshman year, and then joined his "real" sophomore year. He got his corps class on his ring.

Go for it!

You will never go wrong by taking a challenge, even it you think it was "tougher in Old Army". There will be times that are difficult for you and you will grow when you overcome them. What we did has nothing to do with what you do. You'll be better for having gone through the experience.

Be sure and check out Company A-2. I have a big soft spot for them.

Thank y'all for your advice! I want to be challenged and disciplined, and be able to go through a tough year. It has changed a lot, but I am hoping for the best. Growth and leadership doesn't come through laziness and immaturity! I just really want to be pushed to the limit and allow myself to grow. Especially if I commission, I believe it is highly important that I be pushed beyond what I think I am capable of.

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I believe it is highly important that I be pushed beyond what I think I am capable of.

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Well Said. Thanks to my time in the Corps of Cadets, I know exactly what I'm capable of. You'd be amazed what you're capable of.

You will never make such close friends. Also known as your "buddies".

All my buddies were at my wedding and my buddies will be at my funeral.

Marry 'em and bury 'em.

Non-Reg life is too easy, put a little challenge in your life.

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I'm a freshman this year at A&M, and will be here for 5 years to get my degree. I was going to join the corps this year, but waited, as I knew I could do it next fall and still go through all 4 years.

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I did this. It was one of the best decisions of my life. I hate to think about how much I would regret it if I hadn't joined.

Nobody quits the Corps because it is too easy. Thats a load of bs

[This message has been edited by Carl hungus (edited 3/2/2014 8:21p).]

Join. The Corps is a lifetime experience. You will benefit from membership long afterwards. It is not easy (nothing worthwhile ever is). Whether you take a commission, became the head of a company, a professional or whatever career choice you make, the Corps will assist you in developing self-control, in managing time and stress, and in management.

Worth every minute of grief. Loved every minute of the fun.

So OP, did you make a decision yet?

I am joining. I've been in contact with Col. Hawes and I am going to look into different outfits. I do want to contract, so I want to be in an outfit that I know will challenge me.

The split second that you put on your boots, you will thank the Almighty that he gave you guts to stick it out and not quit. Everytime I thought about quitting, I told myself if you do will never wear boots. I wasn't a quitter then or now! Join the corps and make some memories.

OP don't let the Trigon force you to join an outfit you don't really want to be in. They'll try "recommending" one to you, then may try forcing you into that particular outfit. Stick to your guns and make sure you get what you want. It's your experience, not theirs. You're just a number to them.

Are there really any consistently "bad" outfits anymore? If an outfit doesn't perform well, it's common these days for their next 1st Sgt and company commander to come from other outfits that are doing well. Also, I heard that they've mostly done away with outfits specializing in certain majors. If this is true, then unless there's a sentimental reason for a fish to join a particular outfit, I'd say just go where the Trigon puts you. That's what I did, and the 12 of us that made it to our zip year were good to go.

Join the hardest outfit. They will break you but you will come out a different person.

And when I say a hard outfit, ask some past Ags, don't ask the bulls because they don't know what they are talking about.

I've had some family go through Sq. 17, but I've had a couple of buddies go through E-2 as well. I ran cross country in high school so I'm also looking into H-1. Those are my main 3 right now. I would like to commission Navy, so E-2 and H-1 are my top right now, but if Sq-17 was NROTC that's what I'd join most likely. If I can commission Navy and do Sq.17, that might be the best place.

Also, would I get class of 2017 or 2018 on my Aggie ring?

You get what you want on your ring, within reason. By the time you're ready to order, you'll know which class with which you identify.

Hint: It will probably be the one you go through the Corps with.

You can join a squadron and still go NROTC. It's not the norm, but they'll allow it.

I worked in the Cadet area for a few years, I never heard a Senior admit the regretted joining, I've heard those that never joined, regret they didn't. You have nothing to lose, this is the absolute best way for a commission.

Yeah I did AFROTC in E-1. They' might try and discourage you but it is doable.

It will be one of the best decisions you have ever made in your life! I never had a brother, but I can say of my buddies that had true brothers by blood, most of them are closer to their Corps Buddies. I still keep in touch with most of mine and several of my upper and under classmen as well. The experience will stick with you for life, especially if you nut up and stick it out. Have fun as a fish and pull out every chance you get. You can get away with it and the memories will be priceless.

P-2 is still a pretty good outfit from what I hear.

CLASS of '96
P-2 C.O.
Jarhead
President of the Malaysia Aggie Club

Old Army died when they started letting fish put gravel in front of their tents!

On a more serious note: (for me) the Corps produced a good product, good times, great buddies- it was worth it.

Do it. I transferred over from a county college after I graduated in '08 from HS. I'm class of 2012, but graduated in May 2013 and have 13 on my ring because that was the class I was with in the Corps.

There are aspects of my life in the Corps I regret, but there is no regret about being in the Corps. Definitely helped reshape me. Go for it.

One thing though, Join as a fish. Don't do the whole "frog" in thing. Your buddies will resent you a little for not going through the fish stuff with them. If you are going to be there at least 4 years make sure you don't miss that part.

CLASS of '96
P-2 C.O.
Jarhead
President of the Malaysia Aggie Club

Officially registered for the Corps as of yesterday. Only 4 months till FOW.

[This message has been edited by G.W_Busch (edited 4/19/2014 1:01a).]

Glad to hear it. One of my boys transferred in from the local community college. He's a junior now. Just got his boots from the loaner pool, and has been expending a great deal of saddle soap, mink oil and elbow grease getting them ready to wear.

Just saw him last weekend for Parents Weekend. Finally got to meet some of his buddies about whom we've head so many stories. Seemed like a good bunch. It was a pleasure to hang out with them for a bit.

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I want to be challenged and disciplined, and be able to go through a tough year.

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That's exactly why my son joined. And every time someone asks him about the decision, he says the same things; "Yes, it's been hard, and yes, I'm so glad I did it."

I'd be willing to bet you'll feel the same way.

God speed, man. There'll be some tough challenges, but there will be some great opportunities too. Don't shy away from either.