The Commandant has NEVER disbanded an outfit since he became Commandant, and he has no intention of starting now. I don't believe in disbanding outfits - I believe in fixing whats broken in an outfit - NOT in doing away with an outfit due to the actions of a few in that outfit.

I have REACTIVATED NINE outfits since becoming Commandant, and will reactivate 2 more next fall, thanks to continued growth of our Corps. No truth at all to any rumors about this Commandant disbanding ANY outfits in the Corps. Pure BOGINT.

So Relax - I-1 isn't going anywhere. It will still be an outfit in the Corps as long as I'm Commandant.

Well if the outfit is is losing its logo and identity etc, that is the same as being disbanded.

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I've heard the whole outfit is getting broken up, and the culture is basically being rebuilt from the ground up ( new logo, new identity ect.)

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This is correct. Of course they are not technically "disbanding I-1" as the Commandant said, but what they are trying to do is just as bad. Here is what I've heard. Maybe its a rumor and Gen. Ramirez will correct me on it, but I've heard this from multiple people.

They are moving out all zip, butt, PH cadets and moving in cadets from other outfits (this has already happened so definitely not a rumor). They will not be called Rey Eye One, they will not say "Ord Ord", they won't say "Never Say Die". Basically it will be another outfit with the name I-1. It is just another step toward getting rid of any individual outfit identity within the Corps.

Anyways, we have a Facebook group going with about 200+ Ords (oops I said it, sorry Trigon) who are pissed off and ready to fight back. PM me if you want the info on that group. I'm not sure what we're going to do yet but it'll probably involve cutting off financial support to the CCA. We may take all the money we raise at Ord Reunion every year and give it to another cause, I'm not sure. We're just waiting to see what the Trigon does.

Thanks for the answer General.

But if it is true that there is a plan to whitewash I-1 of its traditions I know many of us Ags (I-1 and otherwise) are ready to talk with our wallets. Its a shame, one of the outfits that consistently led the way in minority recruitment, officer commissioning, and developing leaders could be sacrificed so easily. I'm sure whatever incident there was could be dealt with proportionally.

I agree, If cadets made a mistake, then the cadets will, and should, be punished. However, to "re-brand" Red Eye One, into something else does more than simply punish those cadets. It punishes almost 50 years of cadets, soldiers, community leaders, police officers, and those who donate money from 1969 to today.

Furthermore, Red Eye One has been in the lead in incorporating minority cadets, contract cadets, and even female cadets. The Ord Ord Company had a female commander before the Corps did, has had more Hispanic Commanders in its over 40 year history than the corps of cadets has had in its entire history.

I'll say it again: RELAX. I would expect that you're all old enough, mature enough, and wise enough to know that you should ALWAYS be wary of sentences that begin with "I heard..." What was "heard" is once again PURE BOGINT.

I won't go into detail about whats going on with I-1, nor what I have done to resolve whatever problems may currently exist with that outfit. That is MY responsibility to deal with, and under my prevue to fix however I deem appropriate. You don't have to agree with my decisions, but trust that I make the decisions I make for the good of the cadets and the Corps - period.

Given that, I have NEVER said that I would "re-brand" that outfit and do away with the things that give I-1 its unique identity. I am NOT changing the outfit logo, I am NOT changing the outfit hump-it to something else other than "Ord Ord," and I am not changing "Redeye One," or "Never Say Die." Not sure where that started, (once again, the danger of "I heard...") but its NOT TRUE. I do not intend to change any of those things for I-1.

I hope this clears things up for those who appear to be hyperventilating on this thread over mere rumors. I will continue to do what I feel is best for our awesome cadets and our Corps, regardless of how others may feel about it, but as far as I'm concerned wrt this matter, that means NOT deactivating I-1, NOT changing its identity, and NOT doing away with its own unique and iconic outfit traditions.

Thanks for your support of our Corps. "Never Say Die!"

Given to what the commandant has replied he has a point... lots of people have heard things but let me point out fact:

21 members of the outfit have been removed into other outfits.
Some yes were removed for doing really bad things (for the sake of this post not being removed I wont go into detail.) & the cadets cant be excused for those actions.
Other people were removed for not following orders which I agree with the commandant in the Army you get removed for not following your leader but since I know the corps builds leaders for the "private and public sector" not everyone can be removed under that pretense
Lastly, more people were removed for being an ORD.

Are freshman currently falling out with the ord ord wildcat? Answer is: NO
I can only speak for myself but I have a slight feeling that others feel like that even though the commandant has stated in his previous post that he is not "re-branding," not letting fISH fall out with the outfits wildcat is a re-brand.

Opinion: He may not take away the hump it, the logo, the wildcat, and everything else that makes us I-1 but it doesn't mean that thoughts or ideas never ran his or his staffs mind (that's something I can't prove.)

Fact: What I have seen and lived through: Other brigade outfits starting off with small changes like ours and completely evolving into cookie cutter outfits. They fit the description of what the new Corps is to look like.

Fact: I am thankful no cadet has gotten their Army career hurt over it (Thank you for that sir.)

Opinion: I am disappointed to see the Corps turning into something that it was never meant to be: a business. The trigon makes executive and administrative decisions to better the Corps and cadet experiences but what happened to the standard, justice (cadet boards, due process, demerits for crying out loud), and the right to be heard; after all the Corps is a student organization.

Questions: I wonder if I will see the commandant on the quad tonight and if I will hear the ord ord wildcat? Also, does this mean since all of my family members got moved to other outfits I can't invite them to the BBQ's the outfit's old members put on for current and old people? (last BBQ we had they couldn't even come near current outfit members- problem is that's where all of the old people and parents that fund the BBQs stand)

Respectful Statement: Only Ord's can say Ord Ord and Never Say Die- the quad knows that. Doing otherwise disrespect's the last 50 years of tradition.

You are free to believe what ever you choose to believe, Ord12, and express your beliefs however you choose to express them. I served 31 years in the US Army to protect that right. I may not agree with you, but its your right, and I support your right to express your opinions, no matter how wrong they may be factually.

About the only "fact" you got right in your diatribe is that no one has lost their Army career. No one has, and no one should, as far as I know (just to be clear, I'm the Commandant - NOT the Army ROTC Professor of Military Science, who determines who commissions into the Army and who doesn't). Everything else you posted is purely emotion-filled opinion.

Not going to address this matter any more. I've told you my decision wrt I-1 logos, hump-its, and slogans, and that is the TRUTH. IF there are those who think otherwise in the Corps, we'll address that with them immediately and ensure that the guidance is followed.

You've gotten the FACTS from ME, and that isn't going to change. You can argue it if you'd like, but I am done addressing this matter.

Thanks for your support of our Corps. "Never Say Die!" (A slogan thats been around a LOT longer than I-1 has and is use by many other organizations than one company in the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M)

Say folks, I think General Joe is quite open to private discussions. May I suggest shooting him an email first, before coming to TexAgs or other public forums.

If he's unresponsive personally, at that point you might be justified to take it public.

I don't suggest that we cover up everything, but I do suggest that "family squabbles" be kept to ourselves as much as possible. The Internet is forever, and the Corps has enemies, both within and without the university. No need to hand them ammunition.

Sir,

For starters I thank you for serving this country for 31 years and fighting for that freedom. No one is questioning your experience or why you were chosen for the job.

My reply was no diatribe and I clearly stated which ones were my opinions. If I stand on the quad and count how many people started in I-1 and how many people have been removed from I-1 and count 21 then that's a fact, because it can be proven. Unless you and your staff moved them all back to the outfit they were originally in (if you did then I sincerely apologize for posting a lie.) I also, stated the fact that the freshman were not wildcatting with an "ORD ORD" (If that changed this morning, which it could have because I didn't wake up to watch formation then I also apologize for that.)

Now if those things did not change then l stand by my factual statement and I will live by the Aggie honor code: "An Aggie does not lie, cheat or steal or tolerate those who do."

Thank you or your honesty on the I-1 logos, hump-it and slogan; I know you are a man of your word and will hold true to that. I thank you for facts that I hope to be proven wrong upon.

Last but not least: You are correct "Never Say Die" has been around much longer than I-1 alone; its been used by : Black Sabath, Bon Jovi, Waylon Jennings, there are 1920s films titled Never Say Die. My comment was a respectful statement of how things work on the Quad. (But I apologize for making myself broad in my statement- but you sir are able to say what you please after all you did fight for that right, thank you again for that.)

I am guessing (mere speculation) since you did not answer my questions that I had you prefer to not have a comment and I respect that.

By the time cadets move back into their freshly renovated dorms and Quad in around two years, this Commandant will have completely invigorated, rehabilitated, modernized and expanded every aspect of our Corps. In just a handful of years, what was once an increasingly archaic Corps will have been forcefully yanked into the 21st Century and set up to remain the most vital student organization at A&M, the rejuvenated keeper of Aggie traditions and a freshly respected source of high-quality military officers and Texans. IMO, all Ags--particularly former cadets--owe our Commandant all the support we can muster and a vote of thanks as he works to complete this formidable task. If joining the SEC was a "hundred year decision" for the University's future, what the General is doing for our Corps is no less important. Get.On.Board.

I'm going to go out a limb with this:

Many of you need to calm the egg down and chill.
Most of what is posted here just confirms the prevelant believe that that CoC is nothing more than a huge frat, and you people seem to care more about your perceived important outfit traditions than being part of a greater good.

As explained to me, "ord ord" came came from a freshman having "relations" with an operclasmen female and her in the throws of extacy yelling those now famous words.

I don't know how true that is, since Aggies and CoC people lie can be better liers than TV evangelists.

One thing that has always upset me was the partisan love and devotion for some outfit rather than the greater corps.
Which feeds the "the corps is just a frat" mindset.

Also keep in mind, the corps is less than 5% of the student population, and is of less relevance every year.
No one cares.

I would think, if I had a question I would ask te comanndant or someone else and see what those in charge said, before jumping in on undergrad hearsay.

quote:

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I'm going to go out a limb with this:

Many of you need to calm the egg down and chill.
Most of what is posted here just confirms the prevelant believe that that CoC is nothing more than a huge frat, and you people seem to care more about your perceived important outfit traditions than being part of a greater good.

As explained to me, "ord ord" came came from a freshman having "relations" with an operclasmen female and her in the throws of extacy yelling those now famous words.

I don't know how true that is, since Aggies and CoC people lie can be better liers than TV evangelists.

One thing that has always upset me was the partisan love and devotion for some outfit rather than the greater corps.
Which feeds the "the corps is just a frat" mindset.

Also keep in mind, the corps is less than 5% of the student population, and is of less relevance every year.
No one cares.

I would think, if I had a question I would ask te comanndant or someone else and see what those in charge said, before jumping in on undergrad hearsay.

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1. The view that the Corps of Cadets is, as you put it, "just a frat" is prevalent only among the uninformed. I think it would be more fruitful to correct this misconception rather than forcibly altering the fundamental nature of the Corps to conform to some silly uniform, lobotomized ideal that has no relevance to the values of the Corps.

2. While I often question my own mastery of the concept of irony (especially after watching English television for any length of time), i believe it might qualify as first-order irony that you recount some story "as explained to you" just before admonishing so called jumps to undergrad hearsay

3.What boggles my mind is how you would consider a love for the Corps to be mutually exclusive with a love for one's outfit. They can happen at one time.

4. You've demonstrated no connection between the change in proportion of cadets to the general population,and pesky appreciation for outfit tradition. Moreover, this has nothing to do with how well or poorly the Corps as a whole does at recruitment. In fact, I'd say the wholesale removal of nearly 2-DOZEN cadets from a single outfit to be a much more pressing and relevant threat to recruitment than some inane believe that "the corps is just a frat." I think actual frats would probably have an issue with that description as well - but that's just speculation.

Cheers,
PB09

Ord04--My 30 years in uniform give me a similar perspective as yours, but I also understand that while a good leader should have an appreciation of his subordinate's concerns, those concerns cannot be the primary driver--the mission always comes first. So, if in the Commandant's judgement your old outfit is so broken that radical corrective measures are necessary to restore it to standard, then so be it. I'd also point out that you are no longer a "subordinate", just an interested bystander, like me. IMO, the Commandant has gone well beyond courtesy in responding to your original question and the subsequent disputation of his answers considering that he owes no one on this board an explanation of anything.