Howdy,

my son is just wrapping up his freshmen year at A&M Galveston (class of '15) and will be moving up to CS in the Fall and joining the Corps.

Since acedemically he will be a sophmore with plans to graduate on time, he's contemplating "frogging" in after his Fish semester so that he can be with the rest of his class vs being a Fish all year.

I've been told that back in the day, the "frogs" were treated a bit differently, as outsiders if you will. But I've also heard that there have been changes that keep the frog unit together which has alleviated that problem.

My son is looking forward to being in the Corps. Unfortuantely he had to complete a year at Galveston before getting to CS. I'm worried about the experience he may have going this route.

Can anyone comment about this? I know the ideal scenario is to start as a fish for your first year, but in his case that would mean that he would never be a senior in the Corps if he graduates in 4 years (which may or may not happen, we'll see).

Thoughs and Advice from anyone?

What do you want to know?

There are now two options for out-of-cycle cadets: Squadron 18 and Company K-1. Sq 18 trains fish the same way other fish are trained on the Quad, except it can be a bit more intensive, given the accelerated training schedule. Once fish earn brass and are accepted as full members of the Corps, they have certain opportunities to stay within the outfit, but most are recruited out to other outfits across the Quad.

Cadets who enter the Corps via Sq 18 have just as many opportunities to succeed as "regular" cadets, including special units and command positions. In fact, there have been years where more outfit commanders on the Quad started in Sq 18 than in any other outfit.

Don't let anyone tell you it will be an impediment, because it won't be. A lot has changed in the last 10 years since we stood up Sq 18.

will he be out in 3 years? if not just fish in like a normal cadet that cleped in with sophmore hours. I enjoyed my short time in the band and would hate to loose any of thoose 4 years

to each their own

well, we're not 100% sure if he will be done in 3 years or not. His plan is to try and get into the Vet program there, and if that happens he'll be there for 5 or 6 years acutally.

But, in the event that doesn't happen he wants to be able to get his degree on time and still get his boots.

What i'm worried about is that he's not a typical transfer student coming in from another school. I mean, aside from being on the Galveston campus, he's been an Aggie every step of the way. Attended football and other sports, made the trip up to campus for muster, etc. etc. He has spent the past year being an Aggie and so I want him to feel like that year wasn't for nothing and he has to start all over as a fish for a full year and not be among his fellow '15 class mates.

I can understand paying dues for a semester, I just want him to be with the rest of his class as he expereinces the rest of his college life at the College Station campus. If he doesn't frog in, it seems like he's behind.

I wasn't in the corps, but as an Aggie class of '94, i know how important it was for me to identify and be with with my class. Just want him to have the same feeling but also to experience the Corps in the best way given his transfer.

Two of my fish buddies did a year at Galveston and then still did all 4 years in the Corps after transferring ( change of major). In the end they were really glad they did all 4 years

IMO, missing your fish year in the Corps should be avoided if at all possible.

When he is sitting around with his buddies in 10...20...30 years they won't be talking about that time they walked down the Quad in their Senior Boots. They'll be talking about their fish year.

Frogging in is an option so if he does go that route tell him to be the best frog in the Corps.

My buddy was class president of 2010 his freshman year and joined the Corps his sophomore year in the university. He now wears 11 on his ring, and did 4 years in the corps with us. I agree with the others who said join the corps however you can, but it's worth doing a whole fish year if you can.

quote:

---

IMO, missing your fish year in the Corps should be avoided if at all possible.

When he is sitting around with his buddies in 10...20...30 years they won't be talking about that time they walked down the Quad in their Senior Boots. They'll be talking about their fish year.

---

I agree.

I was in school for a year, then joined as a fish...not a frog. One of the best decisions in my life to join, and wouldn't have done it any other way.

quote:

---

IMO, missing your fish year in the Corps should be avoided if at all possible.

When he is sitting around with his buddies in 10...20...30 years they won't be talking about that time they walked down the Quad in their Senior Boots. They'll be talking about their fish year.

---

I was a non-reg so feel free to stop reading here... But....

An overwhelmingly large percentage of cool/fun/memorable corps stories I have read on this boards and others have started off with the phrase "When I was a fish..."or something similar...

I was a non-reg too... Puryear Hall from 90-94. I would say that most of the best Aggie stories, not just from the Corps, are from memories about being fricks (fish).

I think that if we know (or are planning) for him to be at A&M on a 5 year or longer degree plan, then it makes sense to be a fish the entire first year even though he's completed the first year of his degree plan already. So maybe we should map out that plan first and that will give us the answer. Ultimately it will be up to him. I guess he doesn't really need to decide that right away, right?


[This message has been edited by VA_Ag94 (edited 5/8/2012 8:57a).]

[This message has been edited by VA_Ag94 (edited 5/8/2012 8:58a).]

If he's planning on being here more than 4 years then obviously that should be his choice. If that changes however, let me know. I transferred from a military junior college and frogged in through Squadron 18. I would have loved to do it right it just couldn't work out for me with credit hours and tuition. PM me if you have additional questions about SQ18

How many people start work on grad school while in the Corps? I'm not sure I new anyone back in the day.

I had a few buddies get graduate certificates from the Bush school. They are 12-15 hour certificates.

We had grad school fish in my outfit.

SQ 18

One of my buddies had done a year in CS before joing up. He came in as a fish and did the entire 4 years. I would strongly suggest doing this if at all possible.

One of my buddies was working on the PPA program my senior year iirc

Word of advice.

Let him join as a fish. My son transfered from Blinn with soph hours. I told him not to frog and he did not. He came in as a fish and made a ton of friends that he still has contact with today. Class of 98 RAMF Huslin' 1. They suffered together and bonded together. In my opinion if he frogs in he will always be an outsider.

well, after much consideration (and advice from those on here and others) he's decided to join Squadron 18. We realize that in an ideal world the best thing is to start as a fish, but what we've learned is that the frogs also have a bond with eachother that seems as strong as any other outfit and the frogs are now kept together more after the first semester more so than in the past.

We wanted him to make whatever decision he felt the most comfortable with, with as much information possible. I think he'll be okay. It might not be the normal or "traditional" of the corps but that's fine. His route to A&M and his first year starting off at Galveston hasn't been that traditional route either.

I'm nervous and excited for him at the same time. I lived in the most red ass dorm on campus in my day (Puryear Hall, Pooh-AH! Whoop!) and we did gave the CTs a hard time from time to time (good bull kinda stuff of course). So it will be interesting to see the corps from a parents perspective now.

Thanks for all your comments and advice. They are much appreciated.

VA_Ag94 -

If your son or his fish buddies need anything, let me know. I try to do as much as I can for the outfit and we have a good base of alumni who do the same.

Thanks Ryan. Will let you know if we need anything. He's in for a hell of a ride!

VA AG, I just finished my time in the outfit. Let me know if you have any additional questions

And on the note of being an outsider, that is flat out wrong. My class worked hard to establish ourselves within the corps, and it showed. My class had two RV PL's, half of us are taking contracts and I can say that we've made great friendships with guys in other units. Sure, they give us hell about being frogs but thats part of it. Just like anything in life, there are good ones and bad ones. I've met cadets that spent 3 years in the Corps after a full fish year and found out they were some sorry dudes.