Texas A&M granted me the opportunity to serve as the company commander of the Ross Volunteer Company for 2020-2021. The Ross Volunteer Company is the oldest student organization in the state of Texas. It serves as the Governor’s Honor Guard and the University’s “guardians” of tradition while training many of the Corps of Cadets’ finest young men and women to be citizens of outstanding character, physical strength, and mental fortitude. As the Commander of this unit, I fostered relationships with 144 juniors and seniors to motivate them to serve their people in their respective realms of leadership in the Corps or other parts of campus. Much like coaching a sport, I likely learned more from my peers and subordinates than they did from me. While in charge, it was my team's duty to ensure that the traditions that the University holds so near and dear to their hearts were upheld to the standard that so many generations before us had maintained. This included Company operations for Silver Taps and Aggie Muster alongside the daily operations of the unit at large. More than anything, the Ross Volunteer Company made me proud to be an Aggie and taught me new limits for myself physically. Nothing worthwhile ever comes easy, and the relationships I made in the unit directly reflect that. During my time with this group, it was a rather unique experience due to operations in a COVID-19 environment. We were dealt a different hand than usual but we still had to maintain the continuity of a 130-year-old organization. This is where I gained serious reinforcement of the ideal to improvise, adapt, and overcome.
Tree Platoon at the Drill Competition held during COVID-19
Meatball Platoon marching in the King Rex Parade at Mardi Gras
Campus Aggie Muster Ceremony in Reed Arena
