After my time at A&M here in the Corps of Cadets and serving in many facets both across the quad and across campus, I am once again not even a little bit surprised by the current move of the Commandant's office. I was just informed, as of today at noon, four current cadets are now being forced out of the Corps prematurely, and without warning and cause. Three times in the last few weeks several announcements were made claiming that RW's needed to be served by the end of the semester, with an opportunity to serve a RW on the weekend of Dec. 5-7. Today, Dec. 3 they were brought into their CTO office, and berated for attempting to serve their RW this weekend and are now being forced out. I am not condoning the behavior to get these RW's, however, acting against clear cut policy is unnecessary.
Once again not surprised with the Corps...
11,498 Views |
40 Replies |
Last: 11 yr ago by Fly Army 97
Thankfully I have found out there was an error by staff, and things are getting handled accordingly. All we need now is Muschamp as our new DC and things will look a lot better in Aggieland and for Texas A&M Football, Gig 'Em and God bless.
Maybe they should have served their weekends on time. The only cadets at risk for dismissal are those who have allowed RWs to become overdue.
Umm what
Seriously, take a step back and think before you hit the panic button calling people out. It was only an hour between your posts, you did not even give the system a benefit of the doubt or allow time for the problem to work itself out, you just jumped up and started berating it.
In the end, all is well yet you hit the panic button making it seem like the Hindenburg just rammed the Titanic.
In the end, all is well yet you hit the panic button making it seem like the Hindenburg just rammed the Titanic.
Too bad it was all resolved before commandant79 got a chance to smack this fool down on here.
quote:
Too bad it was all resolved before commandant79 got a chance to smack this fool down on here.
I wish the previous commandant would have had the guts to post. He did some really weird crap in my book. It would have been interesting to hear his take.
In my Corps experience the problem wasn't good cadets being kicked out, it was bad cadets being allowed to stay in.
quote:
In my Corps experience the problem wasn't good cadets being kicked out, it was bad cadets being allowed to stay in.
I'd agree its still that way to an extent. From what I hear it is better than it has been in recent years past, but its hard to catch everyone that needs to go.
The "Former commandant" was there during my years and he was fantastic towards the cadets. So speak for yourself about his "weird" actions. GVA loved the Corps and this University. He didn't try to change the Corps into a military academy because damn it that's not what it is.
quote:Well, I am speaking for myself, and for the cadets I knew when he was there.
The "Former commandant" was there during my years and he was fantastic towards the cadets. So speak for yourself about his "weird" actions. GVA loved the Corps and this University. He didn't try to change the Corps into a military academy because damn it that's not what it is.
Your mileage may vary.
I liked GVA a lot. I didn't really know anyone who had any beef with him (except a couple dirt bags who got kicked out)
So, everyone was thrilled when he pulled Corps Brass and made everyone furl guidons over a false allegation?
quote:I find that hilarious, because that's exactly what he seemed to do. Recall that he wanted to be like the Academies and put COs over different outfits than the ones in which they came up in? He thought that someone from Squadron 99 could not be a good CO, because he wouldn't discipline his buddies. So GVA would bring over the guy who had been the 1st SGT of Company 55 and make him CO of Squadron 99.
GVA loved the Corps and this University. He didn't try to change the Corps into a military academy because damn it that's not what it is.
quote:One of my classmates and good friends had a son who was a 1st SGT, and in line to be CO of his outfit. The son commissioned and is still an officer in an elite position. Not long before Final Review, GVA called him in and told him he would be XO, and GVA was bringing in a minority female from another outfit to be CO, in the name of diversity.
I didn't really know anyone who had any beef with him (except a couple dirt bags who got kicked out)
Only the integrity of the now-XO and his pledge to follow GVAs orders kept his entire outfit from open mutiny. The diversity hire was a disaster the next year (surprise!)
I'm going to hazard a guess that my friend, his son, and the son's outfit are not big GVA fans. Heck, even the diversity hire is probably pissed that GVA set her up for failure.
Umm we had full Corps brass training my entire tenure of the Corps. At least we got to PT and give the fish a real Corps experience.
quote:I take it you weren't there when GVA made all the upperclassmen take off their Corps Brass? That's to what I refer, not the Corps Brass training.
Umm we had full Corps brass training my entire tenure of the Corps. At least we got to PT and give the fish a real Corps experience.
And obviously you're too young to recall when all such decisions were left to the outfits. Or to recall when GVAs buddies did not have offices in the dorms.
They lost their brass for like two weeks due to hazing.......
quote:Ummm, no. It was over mis-interpreted pictures that the mom of a special snowflake saw.
They lost their brass for like two weeks due to hazing.......
There's nothing fundamentally wrong with making someone CO of an outfit they're not from.
quote:.quote:Ummm, no. It was over mis-interpreted pictures that the mom of a special snowflake saw.
They lost their brass for like two weeks due to hazing.......
I was there when it happened and I don't think it even lasted a week before everyone got their brass back. As far as the incident goes that "special snowflake's" mom happened to work in Rick Perry's office. From what I heard Perry called in and brought some heat. What I hear from cadets now is outfits leadership, co, xo, 1sgt, seems to usually come from a different outfit.
I was there when we had our brass taken away (for like 2-3 days). I was angry at the time, but in retrospect he was making a point that I'm not sure all the cadets really appreciated at the time (or even still don't). I was lucky that I had good upperclassmen/chain of command that conveyed the point he was trying to make. Certain MUCs and COs took the easy way out and just blamed leadership for unpopular decisions.
And I agree that there's absolutely nothing wrong with getting a CO from another outfit. If you don't like it then train your underclassmen to be better leaders and make good grades. Good grades don't make you a good leader, but we're past the point where "2.0 and go" is acceptable. With the added responsibility of running an outfit/major unit, you can't give leadership positions to someone that's a grade risk.
And I agree that there's absolutely nothing wrong with getting a CO from another outfit. If you don't like it then train your underclassmen to be better leaders and make good grades. Good grades don't make you a good leader, but we're past the point where "2.0 and go" is acceptable. With the added responsibility of running an outfit/major unit, you can't give leadership positions to someone that's a grade risk.
GVA loved certain cadets and certain activities.
On the day I graduated, I had to go to all three ceremonies (mine, my roommate's, and the fake commissioning were all in different ceremonies). GVA sat himself at the end of the stage, near the steps down. He would stand up to shake some cadets hands, but not all. More than once I saw him shake a special cadet's hand, and then openly turn his back on the very next cadet whose hand was outstretched. At first I thought it was an honest mistake, but after the 5th or 10th time, I realized it was intentional.
He did the same thing with outfits. He picked some he liked, and ignored the rest. And his commander selections were often disastrous. Everyone in the Corps new a certain dumpy kid in E2 was a ****bag, but GVA went ahead and made him the brigade commander. Of course this dumpy **** was an abortion of a "leader", and lost his Army contract before the year ended for a DUI and an honor violation.
These are both extreme examples that stuck with me, but they fit in with his general "leadership" style as the commandant
On the day I graduated, I had to go to all three ceremonies (mine, my roommate's, and the fake commissioning were all in different ceremonies). GVA sat himself at the end of the stage, near the steps down. He would stand up to shake some cadets hands, but not all. More than once I saw him shake a special cadet's hand, and then openly turn his back on the very next cadet whose hand was outstretched. At first I thought it was an honest mistake, but after the 5th or 10th time, I realized it was intentional.
He did the same thing with outfits. He picked some he liked, and ignored the rest. And his commander selections were often disastrous. Everyone in the Corps new a certain dumpy kid in E2 was a ****bag, but GVA went ahead and made him the brigade commander. Of course this dumpy **** was an abortion of a "leader", and lost his Army contract before the year ended for a DUI and an honor violation.
These are both extreme examples that stuck with me, but they fit in with his general "leadership" style as the commandant
Didn't his wife also send some sort of nasty letter over the perceived snub of GVA by the VP of student affairs or something?
And the handshake business is something I wouldn't accept out of a three-year-old, much less a three-star.
And the handshake business is something I wouldn't accept out of a three-year-old, much less a three-star.
If I remember correctly, the corps brass thing lasted a day or 2 tops. And the thing about him only shaking certain cadets hands... I very much doubt it. I remember he shook my hand and I had never so much as had a conversation with him in my life before that point. In my experience, the people who disliked him were the same people who would get upset they were not allowed to do stuff like tornado a fish's room.
I have a video of him turning his back on my roommate somewhere, I'll post it if I can find it
What year are you Tango Mike?
quote:
What I hear from cadets now is outfits leadership, co, xo, 1sgt, seems to usually come from a different outfit.
Not true. Maybe about 20-30% come from other outfits.
This is one of those classic examples of overreaction. A few guys get moved and all sudden "EVERYONE IS GETTING MOVED!" In reality unhappy cadet gossip just blows things out of proportion.
Still waiting on that video, tango mike....
BQ class of '05 here. Was a fish during the GVA transition. Looking back on things, there were definitely some issues that he tried to fix that needed fixing (grades, laziness, etc.), but in my opinion he wasn't able to recognize quickly enough when the initial fix was a failure, or when the cadets put in charge of implementing the fix clearly weren't getting the job done.
Regarding the issue of inserting a new CO/XO from a different outfit, B-Batt was one of the first under GVA to have this done. Both the CO & XO for the class of '03 were brought in from other BQ outfits. Both guys were well liked in the band and well respected, but that transition caused our outfit to basically implode for the year. I have a lot of respect for how both of them handled it, but I can also understand the reaction. It created an extreme attitude of empathy throughout the classes that lasted for at least the next three years. B-Batt went from being a highly motivated 2-cord outfit to being one of the least motivated and lowest performing outfits (can't say I'm too proud of that).
I think the failure is that peer leadership is very different than pure merit based leadership. You expect your peer-leaders to be guys you were fish with, that shared your struggles and are loyal to your buddies, outfit and class (probably in that order). Who cares if the guy from A-Batt was also a fish and stood on the wall and did everything else, he did it with A-Batt and wasn't there with you. It may seem petty, but put it into the perspective of a 19-20 year old kid. IMO if you truly want to shuffle CO/XOs, then the outfit structure should be shuffled every year based on major. Cadets will be loyal to the Corps first, then their outfit second.
As far as him disrespecting cadets he didn't like, I honestly don't know about that one. I butted heads with him personally at least twice during my junior year because I was almost dismissed for non-compliance with the newly implemented height/weight restrictions. I would not call either of those meetings cordial, but I managed to take care of my business and stay in the Corps, and he still shook my hand when I graduated.
Regarding the issue of inserting a new CO/XO from a different outfit, B-Batt was one of the first under GVA to have this done. Both the CO & XO for the class of '03 were brought in from other BQ outfits. Both guys were well liked in the band and well respected, but that transition caused our outfit to basically implode for the year. I have a lot of respect for how both of them handled it, but I can also understand the reaction. It created an extreme attitude of empathy throughout the classes that lasted for at least the next three years. B-Batt went from being a highly motivated 2-cord outfit to being one of the least motivated and lowest performing outfits (can't say I'm too proud of that).
I think the failure is that peer leadership is very different than pure merit based leadership. You expect your peer-leaders to be guys you were fish with, that shared your struggles and are loyal to your buddies, outfit and class (probably in that order). Who cares if the guy from A-Batt was also a fish and stood on the wall and did everything else, he did it with A-Batt and wasn't there with you. It may seem petty, but put it into the perspective of a 19-20 year old kid. IMO if you truly want to shuffle CO/XOs, then the outfit structure should be shuffled every year based on major. Cadets will be loyal to the Corps first, then their outfit second.
As far as him disrespecting cadets he didn't like, I honestly don't know about that one. I butted heads with him personally at least twice during my junior year because I was almost dismissed for non-compliance with the newly implemented height/weight restrictions. I would not call either of those meetings cordial, but I managed to take care of my business and stay in the Corps, and he still shook my hand when I graduated.
quote:Don't know about other academies, but USAFA assigns all incoming cadets randomly to the 40 outfits. At the end of the dooolie/fish year, they do a fruitbasket turnover, reassigning all of the fish to new outfits for their sophomore year. And since the seniors have all graduated, only the junior and senior classes are in the same outfit.
IMO if you truly want to shuffle CO/XOs, then the outfit structure should be shuffled every year based on major. Cadets will be loyal to the Corps first, then their outfit second.
Since half the squadron members are new each year, it's hard to maintain an outfit "personality" from year to year, for good or ill.
On a side note, the COs and 1st Sargents only serve one semester, including the summer. So you have 3x as many people in leadership.
Would not work at A&M, unless you only shuffled within the Band, the Regiments, the Wings, etc.
I agree with you, and it was merely my observation on what I thought it would take for that type of leadership movement to work. Personally, I like the current outfit dynamic in the Corps. I think it allows the members to make deeper connections with their fish buddies.
The 20% number stated earlier in the thread does seem unreasonably high to me. Especially considering that it takes way more than a motivated CO/XO to make an outfit work properly. I would be interested to hear from somebody that was in an outfit that brought in outside leadership and actually thinks it was a positive.
The 20% number stated earlier in the thread does seem unreasonably high to me. Especially considering that it takes way more than a motivated CO/XO to make an outfit work properly. I would be interested to hear from somebody that was in an outfit that brought in outside leadership and actually thinks it was a positive.
quote:
Still waiting on that video, tango mike....
you'll have to hold your breath a little longer. I'm not at home, and I'm not going to have my wife or my mother look through hundreds of video files to satiate your curiosity
quote:I did see it happen and it worked out. Small outfit, some grade problems with a lot of the senior class, and so the new CO was brought from a brother outfit from the same dorm, and lots of mutual friends.
I would be interested to hear from somebody that was in an outfit that brought in outside leadership and actually thinks it was a positive.
But as said above, saw it done simply as a diversity hire and it was disastrous.
Featured Stories
See All
18:05
2h ago
1.8k
TexAgs Internship Program
by TexAgs
11:07
1h ago
337
Right-hander Clayton Freshcorn enjoys pitching on the road
by Ryan Brauninger
Spring Football Snippets: Practice No. 3
by Olin Buchanan
23:45
4h ago
1.4k
Talkin' spring football with the Voice of the Aggies
by David Nuño
rockwalltxag
who you got as our kickoff and punt returners this year
in Billy Liucci's TexAgs Premium
19
All I do is Nguyen
***** Official Houston Astros 2026 Season Thread *****
in MLB & Other Baseball
18