Class system Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets

1 class system

1.1 freshmen
1.2 sophomores
1.3 juniors
1.4 seniors

1.4.1 senior boots

class system

as member of corps, cadet climbs through 4 classes of seniority. current corps of cadets uniform unique among military schools, bearing close resemblance army uniforms after world war world war ii. there slight differences in uniform worn each class year, noted below, including senior boots, calf-skin riding boots harkening army officer s uniform of world war i. cadets wear same basic corps uniform regardless of service affiliation.

freshmen

fish review fall of 2006

freshman cadets called fish . first year, fish year analogous experiences of rooks @ norwich university, knobs @ citadel, rats of virginia tech corps of cadets, rats @ virginia military institute, frogs @ university of north georgia, doolies @ united states air force academy, or plebes @ of other u.s. federal service academies.

a fish recognized fact garrison cap (aka biter) plain , not embellished braid, or black cotton belt. freshman biter worn deep tuck in back, forms peak reminiscent of fish tail, , first-semester freshmen wear brass a.m.u. devices on lapels, rather corps insignia or band lyre worn upperclassmen. freshmen , sophomores required wear metal taps on heels of shoes; facilitates marching in step. in addition, male fish must maintain extremely short hairstyle known colloquially fish cut.

corps fish not known first name , term fish applied in stead. in use, word fish written in lowercase letters. thus, john smith become fish smith. freshman last name not known speaker referred generic name fish jones. corps freshmen introduce upperclassmen cadets formalized procedure known whipping out, wherein fish bends or arm @ elbow, slaps against side of torso, grasps upperclassman s hand, , proceeds recite prescribed whip-out dialogue (example below).

fish: howdy! fish jones name, ma am!
upperclassman: s smith.
fish: howdy ms. smith, ma am! ms. smith, ma am?
uc: m college station, texas. you, fish?
fish: fish bryan, texas, ms. smith, ma am! course taking ms. smith, ma am?
uc: m taking general studies. you, fish?
fish: fish taking university studies, ms. smith, ma am! s nice have met ms. smith, ma am!

the freshman pops attention , sounds off , loudly greeting upperclassman howdy, ms. smith, ma am! point on, freshman expected remember name, hometown, , major of upperclassman @ future meeting, , expected greet him or appropriately. if fish not recall upperclassman s name, or must whip out again. freshmen must observe complex set of rules governing when , whipping out , greeting upperclassmen appropriate. example, fish in band must whip out other bandsmen anywhere on campus, need not whip out non-band cadets unless on quad.

as academic year progresses, upperclassmen units other freshman s own begin drop handles fish, meaning upperclassman has granted fish permission use or first name , speak more informally. upperclassmen may drop handles after meeting fish first time if fish conducts whip-out procedure in particularly impressive manner; indicate upperclassman intends drop handles , ask fish, s mamma call you? @ point freshman may give or true first name. freshmen still under obligation obey orders, upperclassmen have dropped handles them.

questions upperclassmen answered 1 of 5 fish answers:

yes, sir/ma am!
no, sir/ma am!
no excuse, sir/ma am! (given in response why question)
(class year), sir/ma am! (given in response question answer numeric value, regardless of actual answer)
sir/ma am, not being informed highest degree of accuracy hesitate articulate fear may deviate true course of rectitude. in short sir/ma am, dumb fish, , not know, sir/ma am! (given in response question above 4 answers not apply; answer recited possible)

a fish may give more detailed answer question if upperclassman asked says really? upperclassman may after fish has first recited appropriate fish answer, or after asking question, in event freshman may answer question normally.

additionally, every fish required know answers wide number of questions including, s chow? , how many days until final review? , , long list of university history, or campusology, questions. each morning , evenings, fish in each outfit run whistle jock, blowing police whistle , announcing impending formations or activities unit. whistle jock s announcement may simple naming upcoming event , uniform worn, or complex including weather, menu chow, sergeant and/or officer of day, , special announcements requested upperclassmen. evening chow, several fish each outfit run fish of day, setting outfit s table(s) @ duncan dining hall prior formation, returning dorms after chow assist seniors in removing boots.

corps fish not privileged live in room, , residence in dorm called hole. likewise, roommate in dorm called ol lady, though term used throughout cadet s corps career. furthermore, fish instructed not allowed want, think, like, or feel, , prohibited taking shortcuts using abbreviations (pt must called physical training, quad quadrangle, etc.). cadets started in same class year known fish buddies . corps fish sit mandatory evening study time (est) during school week after evening chow. allows period of quiet uninterrupted study each night, , fish periodically checked unit s sergeant of day ensure indeed studying.

freshman cadets in corps must maintain holes in spotless condition @ times, , prohibited keeping accessories such televisions, radios, posters, , food in these quarters. freshmen in uniform must keep number of unique items on person, such nail clippers, slide ruler, white glove or polishing cloth, university i.d. card, , copy of cadence, guide- , rulebook issued freshman cadets; dish card, bearing core values of corps of cadets, required. units require fish run, rather walk, inside dorms during academic day, , restrict them use of 1 side of dormitory hallways (the exact amount of room permitted delineated floor tiles).

march brazos


sophomores

the sophomore year busy , hectic second year in corps. sophomores in corps known pissheads. several stories circulate origin of name. according legend, name derived incident in mid-1900s when group of freshmen urinated on heads of several sophomores had grown tired of. more recent story credits nickname aggie bonfire, when sophomores work on lower levels of stack, , upperclassmen above them relieve themselves. however, name predates stacked bonfire, , accepted name refers normal demeanor of sophomores in keeping freshman class in line. sophomore s primary duty in corps train , drill freshmen final review in may, , sophomore graded performance of freshmen.

sophomores can distinguished black braids on garrison cap, nylon black belt, , rank insignia of private first class or corporal. drill sergeants, sophomores responsible seeing fish adapt , excel in corps life. sophomores expected perfect examples fish, , therefore considered bad form junior or senior correct sophomore in view of freshmen. sophomores correct own mistakes were, never was, latter deemed reflect imperfection.

juniors

as junior, cadet called sergebutt or more commonly butt. nickname result of serge material used make uniform trousers. when cadets wore college issue cotton khaki, junior privilege purchase tailor made serge uniforms easier maintain , required less ironing. corps junior, wearing white braid on garrison caps , white cotton belts, finds productive , engaging year in cadet corps. junior class runs daily operations of corps. juniors hold rank of cadet sergeant through cadet sergeant major, depending on position attained.

us secretary of defense robert gates (wearing senior boots) along senior cadets @ pentagon give gig em


seniors

senior cadets referred zips (short zipperheads ), referring black , gold zipper braid on garrison cap. senior may referred elephant, derives senior class elephant walk tradition held week before last regularly scheduled football game of year. seniors hold cadet officer rank, cadet 2nd lieutenant cadet colonel of corps.

senior cadets, seniors @ texas a&m, may order aggie ring, symbol of university , 1 s graduating class. senior cadet recognized distinctive brown calf-skin leather boots, known senior boots, sabre, , gold braid on garrison cap. seniors class allowed wear bider without break or fold in top seam.

senior boots


senior boots

within texas a&m corps of cadets, seniors given privilege wear distinctive brown leather boots, known senior boots. these boots 1 of visible , recognizable institutions of aggie corps, , remain 1 of lasting images of texas a&m university.

the tradition of senior boots came in 1914, when corps of cadets changed uniforms west point style. seniors wanted way differentiate other classes, began wearing officer boots, evolved senior boots worn today. 1925, boot style integrated official cadet uniform, knee-height officer boot, of light brown or tan. lucchese s bootery in san antonio became main supplier of boots.

by 1932, competition closer campus sprang up. joseph holick, founder of fightin texas aggie band, opened holick s year, , competition included victor s, russell s, , others. average price pair of boots in 1932 $32.50. during world war ii, due leather diversion war effort, aggie seniors had buy or inherit boots former cadets. 1977, price had risen $200. today, senior boots ordered during freshman year , cost $1,600 85% of seniors in corps still purchase them. don t purchase them financial reasons loaned pair senior year corps of cadets.

to assist in removing boots, seniors allowed yell need fish! @ point available freshmen in senior s outfit race—and fight—to assist.