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I don't know what the OP is talking about, but I've been on campus a few times over the past few years, and seen a few marchins, and the average cadet is certainly sloppier than I remember when I was a cadet. Chewing gum in uniform and no shirt stays (or a horrible tuck in spit of them) are extremely common. And I cringe everytime I see a march-in. There are some very sharp outfits, but it just seems like the average cadet just doesn't care.
Perhaps, when I was a cadet, cadets knew to avoid me because they knew I'd call them out on their sloppiness. And my outfit took drill more seriously than most. So perhaps I am biased. But, at the very least, I get very annoyed when I see sloppiness coming from cadets.
As a group, those of us who went through the Corps years ago couldn't hold a candle to today's cadets. Are there some in there who aren't the sharpest dressed? Yes. And I can remember several such cadets when I went through.
Perhaps some of the complaints stem from an inflated view of ourselves as time goes by. Surely, I was a better athlete when I played than kids today, right?
My son is a senior on the quad. Yeah, I see things we probably would not have allowed years ago. But, I look back and it is clear to me that, most of the emphasis, resources, effort and focus on attention to detail -- the crapouts at any hour, the comebys at any hour, the excessive punishment related to the offense -- all came at the expense of grades.
The university does not tolerate the marginal grades that were allowed in the past.
If the Corps was going to remain a vital, prominent part of Texas A&M, things had to change. Emphasis had to shift from a two-light shine being more important than a calculus exam.
This doesn't mean cadets can be sloppy bags. But it does mean success in the classroom is the primary emphasis.
I've spent the last four years watching the Corps. These young men and women are sharp and smart -- very sharp and smart.
I look back and remember so many things we made a priority over many other things that should have been a priority.
None of this is to suggest cadets should get a free pass. I don't think they do. It's possible a few have brass that should be straighter. But we spent many nights counting threads, shining shoes, burning cables. We spent so many hours disciplining others to do the same. And the cost was sometimes high -- too high.
I am very proud of today's Corps.
