Spring Break
Commanding a campus presence
Corps seeks to involve freshmen in University life
By: Nathan Ball
Issue date: 9/8/08 Section: News
Reid said there were times during his freshman year that he could not see the light at the end of the tunnel, but he hopes that his example, and that of all of the upperclassmen, will inspire this year's incoming Corps freshman to persevere.
Still, the Corps of Cadets may not be cut out for everyone.
Former cadet Matthew Cheesman, junior aerospace engineering major, said that in his sophomore year, a conflict with some other Corps members began to boil over. There were no longer any benefits to remaining part of a community where he was being put down and kept from succeeding, he said.
"I thoroughly enjoyed my two years in the Corps," Cheesman said, "I don't regret my decision to leave. It may have worked out in a different outfit with different personalities involved, but I am not going to lose any sleep over it."
Reid said this year is an opportunity to build on past accomplishments in addition to starting freshmen initiatives: "Corps staff focus last year was on raising our academic performance to the same level as the rest of the University."
Reid and Davis said that the skills and toughness freshmen learn their first year are necessary for them to become effective leaders on the battlefield, or in the workplace.
Cadet graduates who contract with the military have high chances of being deployed to a war zone like Iraq. If they stick together through that first year, Davis said, the freshmen become like brothers. "They will always be there for each other."
To become a good leader, one must first learn how to follow orders, Reid said. The freshman year is necessarily hard; without difficulty, he said the Corps experience would be much less effective.
Reid would like to change some people's perspective of the Corps of Cadets. "There are a lot of negative stereotypes," he said.
That is one of the reasons Reid said it is imperative for Corps members to increase interaction between Corps members and "non-regs."
"They are just as important to A&M's future as we are to its history."
Reid and Davis have both signed Army contracts and will commission as officers after graduation.
"Texas A&M was the only place I applied to. From age 9 I attended Aggie football games - this is the only place I ever wanted to be," Reid said. "I joined the Corps of Cadets because I wanted to be at the heart of the University."
Still, the Corps of Cadets may not be cut out for everyone.
Former cadet Matthew Cheesman, junior aerospace engineering major, said that in his sophomore year, a conflict with some other Corps members began to boil over. There were no longer any benefits to remaining part of a community where he was being put down and kept from succeeding, he said.
"I thoroughly enjoyed my two years in the Corps," Cheesman said, "I don't regret my decision to leave. It may have worked out in a different outfit with different personalities involved, but I am not going to lose any sleep over it."
Reid said this year is an opportunity to build on past accomplishments in addition to starting freshmen initiatives: "Corps staff focus last year was on raising our academic performance to the same level as the rest of the University."
Reid and Davis said that the skills and toughness freshmen learn their first year are necessary for them to become effective leaders on the battlefield, or in the workplace.
Cadet graduates who contract with the military have high chances of being deployed to a war zone like Iraq. If they stick together through that first year, Davis said, the freshmen become like brothers. "They will always be there for each other."
To become a good leader, one must first learn how to follow orders, Reid said. The freshman year is necessarily hard; without difficulty, he said the Corps experience would be much less effective.
Reid would like to change some people's perspective of the Corps of Cadets. "There are a lot of negative stereotypes," he said.
That is one of the reasons Reid said it is imperative for Corps members to increase interaction between Corps members and "non-regs."
"They are just as important to A&M's future as we are to its history."
Reid and Davis have both signed Army contracts and will commission as officers after graduation.
"Texas A&M was the only place I applied to. From age 9 I attended Aggie football games - this is the only place I ever wanted to be," Reid said. "I joined the Corps of Cadets because I wanted to be at the heart of the University."
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