Corps Units

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sayhowdyags06
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7:26p, 4/24/23
AG
My nephew will be a freshman in the Corps this coming Fall. He has done Spend the Night with the Corps twice both with the same squadron. Being a typical teen boy he is all set on that one unit. Well they have to list 5 on their preference form. My sister has also started hearing some unfavorable info about the unit he has picked. So we are looking for candid info, the good, the bad, the ugly on all the AF Squadrons. Info on him: he is an athlete: baseball predominantly, multiple year varsity player. Also played football and basketball. He is also big into fitness specifically strength and conditioning more than running. Can and will run if asked but not for pleasure. Not a future marathon racer for sure. As much as he is a jock he still places lots of importance on his academics as well as his faith. He also comes from a long line of military servicemen and even more Aggies but will be the first cadet in the family. He is REDASS! His picture has been hanging in the Future Aggie Wall in the Corps Center for years.
He and my sister have read ALL the descriptions and just want to make sure he make the best pick. So give me the scoop to pass on as my sister is STRESSING me out!!!!
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CharlieBrown17
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10:20p, 4/24/23
AG
Unless someone shows up still in the corps, any answers you get will be rumors or reputation from the past imo

From what you said about him, I'd let him pick the squadron he wants as his first choice and if it's as promised to your sister, he's the kind of guy to turn it around.

Then again, he could always just join the best damn outfit on the quad, Sq 16, like me.

And I'm sure someone from Outlaw 8 or Gator 2 will be by shortly as well.
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OldArmyCT
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5:22a, 4/25/23
AG
I just left my 50th reunion held over Muster. 99% of the attendees were CT's. Most sat with their old outfit buds but we all interacted like it was a family reunion. The one thing that stood out to all was that the Corps today picks leadership from all over rather than within units. I.E. if there are 3 CO-level cadets in an outfit they'll farm them out to another unit with a vacuum, and the Trigon also picks XO's and in some instances PL's. In short the chances of staying 4 years in a unit and leaving as CO are not what they were in the old days. A few questions:
How does his sister know which units are good and which bad?
Don't they try and assign cadets to units by their major?
If an outfit has too many defections the Trigon will bring in new cadet leaders. Retention and grades are the big determinants in selecting leaders. I won't mention diversity, mainly BC there are some red ass females out there who clearly outshine a lot of males but who still don't earn the respect they should get when selected for slots over males.
And the reverse as well.
My Corps wasn't like the old Corps and this Corps isn't like my Corps. But some of the best kids you will meet today are in uniform.
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CanyonAg77
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In reply to OldArmyCT • 8:25a, 4/25/23
AG
I don't think the outfits are assigned by major anymore. Not for decades.

CB17 is correct, at least 1/4 of the outfit is new every year. The upperclassman drop out or move to staff positions in the wing or brigade. New leaders are moved from other outfits if the unit doesn't have someone with the qualifications or grades.

Bottom line, the units change from year to year, much less over decades.
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Rabid Cougar
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8:26a, 4/25/23
AG
40 years since I last wore the uniform. My old outfit went away and has returned and won a Corps wide award/flag, something that was unheard of back in my time. I echo Old Army's comments.
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CanyonAg77
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In reply to sayhowdyags06 • 9:26a, 4/25/23
AG
The only other thing I can suggest, is contact the Corps of Cadets Association, and see if they will send you a copy of their magazine, The Guidon, with the unit awards for the 2022-2023 school year. Figure out what unit is the most gung-ho athletically the past year.

Or look at the news items here, see if the major unit awards or other articles through the year mean anything to him.

https://corps.tamu.edu/home/news/
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Aggie118
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10:18a, 4/25/23
AG
Just have him write down Squadron 17 five times. He won't regret it for a second.

I was CO not long ago and I can tell you the things which he values are also what Squadron 17 values.

*I should note that while 17 is Air Force, I commissioned in the Army.
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Jock 07
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10:49a, 4/25/23
AG
Sounds like a great candidate for E-1. Army outfit but can still commission into the USAF or USSF (As I did, along with many others) if that's why he is focused on the wing.
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sayhowdyags06
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11:25a, 4/25/23
AG
Thanks for all the info so far. A lot this helps.
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OldArmyCT
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4:49p, 4/25/23
AG
Wow. The Sqn 6 1SG my fish year decided he wanted a Marine commission. That meant Marine boot followed by their OCS, there was no Marine or Navy ROTC at A&M in 1967. He reverted to 1 button, Trigon moved another guy into the position.
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oldord
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3:11p, 4/26/23
AG
Gen Ramirez will make him a CO as a fish if he shows up wearing a dress and makeup.

Interesting about OLDCT"s comments. Definitely different than in my day. The outfit had a better shot at picking leaders through action rather than a resume.

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CanyonAg77
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In reply to oldord • 3:15p, 4/26/23
AG
Ramirez is not Commandant.

And I think you're full of crap.
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bigtruckguy3500
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3:30p, 4/26/23
Anyone that is more than 3-4 years removed from the Corps is giving you outdated info if they tell you something about their outfit or others. A unit's culture can do a 180 in just 1 or 2 years. And there have been outfits that have gone from some of the largest, and earning the General Moore award, to barely surviving and bottom tier in all major awards in just a few years. Some outfits do indeed have a good track record of maintaining high standards, but there's still lots of variability year by year.

Lots of factors to consider in picking. There are 3-4 outfits, from what I recall, that are big into athletics. There are 3-4 that are very big into grades. 2-3 that are very much into PT and running fast. 2-3 that are bottom tier at everything and somehow just survive. And the rest are a mix of the above in various proportions.

Doesn't answer your question, but hopefully gives some insight for him when deciding what he wants.

That being said, almost invariably, everyone joins the best outfit on the quad.
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TXAggieMom11
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10:00p, 4/26/23
My boys are years out of the Corps but from watching it over their years I notice how cyclical outfits are. My oldest, class '11 outfit was top on the Quad his 4 years. My youngest, class '19 his outfit was in rebuilding. His class left the unit on the upside and is doing great. My oldest outfit was on the downside during my youngest 4 years but this year really swung up and have several in leadership across the Quad.
If your son wants to take a look at a Navy/Marine unit look at N-1. If interested at an Army unit look at E-1.
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Quad Dog
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9:32p, 4/29/23
AG
My usual advice is to find an outfit that has found itself a purpose beyond giving their freshmen hell.
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Quique
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In reply to bigtruckguy3500 • 9:58p, 4/29/23
AG
This. Exactly.

Pick a unit, jump in with both feet, practice resilience & discipline & selflessness, observe good and bad leadership skills, and practice them for 3 more years. The outfits change and morph faster than most realize. Make it what you want it to be. Great laboratory. I learned more from the leadership exposure in the corps 25 years ago than I did from my engineering degree. The corps has changed and will always chang, but it remains a great leadership lab and in some ways it is significantly better than it used to be. I was in D2, brother was B2, and my son is a freshman and going into his sophomore year in C2…. Their all have a mix of solid dudes and troubled dudes and everything in between, which is what makes it an awesome ride.
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HollywoodBQ
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In reply to oldord • 1:55a, 4/30/23
AG
oldord said:
Gen Ramirez will make him a CO as a fish if he shows up wearing a dress and makeup.

Interesting about OLDCT"s comments. Definitely different than in my day. The outfit had a better shot at picking leaders through action rather than a resume.
There's a new Commandant now. I'll bet the Commandant's Twitter reflects this change

I have to admit it's kind of a trip that I was in the same Year Group as the new Commandant. He was a solid guy when I knew him. Unfortunate haircut though.

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JABQ04
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12:58p, 4/30/23
AG
I mean the band has all ROTCs, if your looking for the best outfit….

Can't go wrong with B-Battery.
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CharlieBrown17
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In reply to JABQ04 • 9:43p, 4/30/23
AG
JABQ04 said:
I mean the band has all ROTCs, if your looking for the best outfit….

Can't go wrong with B-Battery.


Especially if you're looking to secure a college education but not an understanding of the difference between your and you're
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txaggie_06
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In reply to Jock 07 • 1:18p, 5/2/23
AG
This. We had people do that my year too. Nothing wrong with option, its just their choice and what works best for you
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JABQ04
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In reply to CharlieBrown17 • 1:35p, 5/4/23
AG
CharlieBrown17 said:
JABQ04 said:
I mean the band has all ROTCs, if your looking for the best outfit….

Can't go wrong with B-Battery.


Especially if you're looking to secure a college education but not an understanding of the difference between your and you're


Ooohhhh look at me I can spell
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WILDMAN95
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In reply to JABQ04 • 11:59p, 5/7/23
AG
JABQ04 said:
I mean the band has all ROTCs, if your looking for the best outfit….

Can't go wrong with B-Battery.


Whoop!
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The_Waco_Kid
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8:41a, 5/20/23
AG
There's AA batteries, AAA batteries, but only B Battery makes you sound like you have a stutter.
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The Kraken
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In reply to JABQ04 • 12:09p, 5/31/23
AG
JABQ04 said:
I mean the band has all ROTCs, if your looking for the best outfit….

Can't go wrong with B-Battery.
Why be in B-Battery when you can be in B-Company?
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Velvet Jones
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7:34p, 5/31/23
AG
Hellbent.
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bco2003
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In reply to Velvet Jones • 7:34p, 5/31/23
Postal
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6:27a, 7/8/23
AG
I'm not trolling. I was a CT in the wing, had a 4-yr USAF scholarship, and I'm at 18.5 years active duty now. I loved my outfit, but I knew nothing about it. The are 2 reasons why I joined: a family friend at church had been in that outfit and that outfit called me during the summer 3 day orientation to see if I wanted to join. We had a good outfit, and as others have said, an outfit's culture is completely dependent on who is there now.

From a CT, join the FTAB. I knew of people who didn't play an instrument in high school, but they joined the band. The band is somewhat immune from a bad culture because they are expected to perform. You get to march on Kyle Field and not around the track. And I always like hearing the echoes of the band do their hump it all along the quad.
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JABQ04
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In reply to Postal • 8:02a, 7/8/23
AG
Glad you see the light.

I think, though, the days of non musical members of the FTAB are over. I've heard there's an actual focus on musical ability now. I could be wrong
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FTACo88-FDT24dad
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In reply to JABQ04 • 9:05a, 7/8/23
AG
JABQ04 said:
Glad you see the light.

I think, though, the days of non musical members of the FTAB are over. I've heard there's an actual focus on musical ability now. I could be wrong
You have to submit a "tryout" video, or at least my son did when he joined the FTAB in the fall of '20. Maybe that was COVID driven? But I am pretty sure the days of not being able to play an instrument are a thing of the past. Notice I didn't say play it well….
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sayhowdyags06
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4:49p, 7/11/23
AG
Update:
Thanks for all the info above. Found out today he will be the Loudest and Proudest Member of Challenger 17!!
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bqce
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5:13p, 7/11/23
AG
Being in the Aggie Band was the best decision I ever made. I heard there are auditions now, so tell your son to pick up some drumsticks and start practicing. It's way easier than trying to learn the clarinet.
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bqce
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In reply to sayhowdyags06 • 5:14p, 7/11/23
AG
sayhowdyags06 said:
Update:
Thanks for all the info above. Found out today he will be the Loudest and Proudest Member of Challenger 17!!
It's never too late to change
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