A salute to the past and a glance to the future

 It is important when beginning anything new to look where we've come from. This is especially true at Texas A&M and even more so within the Corps. While I can’t speak for the 30+ year history of A-Company, I can tell you my experience from the past 3 years.

I joined A-Co in the Fall of 2010 really having not a clue what I was getting myself into. All I knew is that my friends from high school, Carson Talley and Robby Handley, were going to be seniors in the outfit, and if it was the right place for them, then it was the right place for me. Freshman year brought forth a world of “new”; new school, new lifestyle, and new challenges to meet. I soon learned that the rigor of the corps was nothing compared to the rigor of computer engineering, but I also learned that I didn't have to face these difficulties alone. I had my fish class buddies and the support network of my upperclassmen to help me through my first year of college. During that first year I learned the importance of time management and how to work with those around me to complete physically and mentally demanding tasks.

Sophomore year brought a whole new lifestyle in addition to more responsibility. For arguably the first time ever, my decisions and actions had vast impact on the well-being and day to day lives of those around me. As outfit clerk I learned the importance of completing tasks promptly and going beyond what was asked of me. Sophomore year is often regarded as the most difficult year due to the constant pressure to perform perfectly in all aspects and set the example for the freshman. Luckily, I had a great deal of help with all of my outfit duties from my ol’ lady (roommate) Adam Hallmark.

Junior year is where paths start to diverge for most people in the corps. There isn't a constant pressure to be unified and accountable to those above you. For the first time, peer leadership takes becomes the prominent factor in the effectiveness of a class. I had the honor of serving as the outfit First Sergeant this past year. The first sergeant has the job of maintaining the relationship between the junior and senior classes, ensuring that the freshmen are trained properly, and guiding the sophomores on how to train properly. The job was without a doubt the most difficult that I've done, but the knowledge and experience that I've gathered cannot be replicated elsewhere. I also had the great honor of working with one of the greatest commanding officers A-Co has had- Garrett Williams. Garrett refocused the outfit’s efforts and got us headed in the direction that we needed to be going. We started a new tradition of running 100 miles a semester to emphasize our motto, “Wolves Run Together”.  At parent’s weekend, we were presented the Hochmuth award for outstanding military proficiency.

As we look to next year, the biggest challenge we face is not only maintaining the success that we've had this year, but pushing forward to accomplish even more. We have goals in place and plans made, but most importantly, we have the people we need to get the job done. I can’t wait to see where the classes of '14, '15, and '16 take the outfit next year and what the Class of 2017 (Whoop!) has to bring to the table.