Let's say you decide to quit the corps at Xmas break your senior year. Only one semester until Final Review. You quit the corps because of some adversity (found out can't serve in the military). So, you're a non-reg that last semester. At graduation, you elect to walk across the stage to get your diploma in your corps uniform. Is this an earned right?
What say you, past and present CT's?

Other than the person who is walking, will any one really know? Will anyone really care?

If he was a ****** then I'd have to have a conversation. If it was for a serious reason and he was a good buddy, I'd loan him everything that I could to make it happen as would the rest of my buddies.

Still trying to wrap my mind around punching in December of your Zip year.....

I did have a buddy who was "invited" by the school to leave at the end of our junior year due to grades. Even marched in his boots at Final Review. He went away, got his grades back up, returned and graduated but as non-reg. ( As a fish he brought his dad's boots to the dorm. Yep. Got our Cross fit WODs done everyday for a month)


For full disclosure - I walked in boots and uniform as a 5th year D&C Senior with borrowed midnights and SB.
S-2 Marauder '86

Gator90 said:

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Let's say you decide to quit the corps at Xmas break your senior year. Only one semester until Final Review. You quit the corps because of some adversity (found out can't serve in the military). So, you're a non-reg that last semester. At graduation, you elect to walk across the stage to get your diploma in your corps uniform. Is this an earned right?
What say you, past and present CT's?

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hypothetically speaking, right?

It's a weird one for sure. We'd probably need to know more about his extenuating circumstances about why he didn't stick around that last semester. What was this reasoning? Criminal record, Health issue, etc. It doesn't sound like it was financial if he remained at A&M but just not in the Corps.

When I was in the Guard, we had an SMP cadet who showed up one day wearing his E-4 brass instead of his one moon cadet brass because he found out he wouldn't be able to commission. Something to do with credit rating and possible fraud. So he reverted to being an Enlisted Man again.

As far as misrepresentation of himself - if he did 7 out of 8 semesters in the Corps, does it really matter which semesters. Heck, in the Band, we had dudes who missed not only single semesters but entire years. That's why most folks get their letterman's sweater their Junior year but some don't get it until their Senior year if they've missed a fall marching semester.

I think it would be strange and definitely not something I would do.

But on the other hand, it's not like he dropped out during FOW and then borrowed some midnights 4 years later.

PanzerAggie06 said:

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No.

It's not stolen valor lite. Not only is it not in the same ball park it's not even the same game. A different phrase would be more appropriate.

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Agree, I tried to differentiate but did not do a great job. I should have used a different phrase. Please accept my apologies.

What did he's buddies have to say...

A little weird, but I wouldn't really care. Back in my day anyway, zips barely participated in Corps activities during their last semester. Far too many of them were ghosts before they graduated.

Nope. This actually happened. Not sure what his buddies had to say. I polled my class buddies, and they told me no f'in way would they approve.
Apparently this cadet was granted permission to do this, and didn't pull it out.
To each their own I guess...

Hmm. Me thinks this isn't a hypothetical. Based on your location and occupation, I think I know who I'm dealing w/. One or your buddies? Was he in a Frat? I really don't have a problem with it seeing how last semester of zip year isn't really a commitment. If it's who I'm thinking of however, then I might have a problem.

And this is coming from someone who helped pack one his fish buddies' bags!

He earned his boots and wore them for a semester, so I'm ok with it if his buddies are. They would know better than anyone if he deserves it. I would never do it, and don't understand why he would though. How do you look your buddies in the eye when don't cross the finish line with them?

A lot of Gators on this one, would have a very hard time if someone punched and still wore uniform at graduation. There would have to be some serious reason and I can't think of any except early fatherhood.