The Texan Corps of Cadets is a student military organization at

Tarleton State University Tarleton State University is a public university with its main campus in Stephenville, Texas. It is a founding member of the Texas A&M University System and enrolled over 14,000 students in the fall of 2020. History John Tarleton Agricultural ...

located on the university's main campus in

Stephenville, Texas Stephenville is a city in and the county seat of Erath County, Texas, United States. It is on the North Bosque River, which forms nearby. Founded in 1854, it is home to Tarleton State University. As of the 2020 census, the city's population was ...

. Tarleton's original

Corps of Cadets A corps of cadets, also called cadet corps, was originally a kind of military school for boys. Initially such schools admitted only sons of the nobility or gentry, but in time many of the schools were opened also to members of other social classes. ...

traces its roots to 1917 but was reactivated in 2016 after becoming inactive in the 1950s. Tarleton is a member of the Association of Military Colleges & Schools of the United States.

Cadet life

Military service

Members of the Texan Corps of Cadets are not required to serve in the military upon completion of the program or their degree. Since 1917 Tarleton has participated in the Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (

ROTC The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC ( or )) is a group of college- and university-based officer-training programs for training commissioned officers of the United States Armed Forces. Overview While ROTC graduate officers serve in all ...

) which does require a commitment for military service upon graduation. While separate programs, they are both administered by the College of Liberal & Fine Arts within the School of Criminology, Criminal Justice and Strategic Studies. Cadets may pursue programs for

US Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

US Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...

, and US Marine Corps.

Organization

The Texan Corps of Cadets consists of a Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), Alpha Company, and Bravo Company. The Corps is led by a Cadet Colonel and Cadet Command Sergeant Major while HHC and Companies are led by a Cadet Captain and a Cadet First Sergeant. The Headquarters and Headquarters Company contains all Corps Level Staff and their assistants along with any MS5 and Green to Gold Active-Duty Option (ADO) Cadets. Alpha and Bravo Company both consist of two platoons of cadets led by a Cadet Second Lieutenant and a Cadet Sergeant First Class. Each Platoon averages about 25 Cadets broken down into three squads. Cadet Squads are led by a 3rd Year Cadet and two 2nd Year Cadets and average about 3-4 Freshmen Cadets.

Cadet Uniforms

Members of the Corps of Cadets wear distinctive uniforms around campus in order to show their membership within the program. Cadets will wear different uniforms depending on the day of the week, events of the day, or any special details they may be a part of.

Academics

The Texan Corps of Cadets offers students an opportunity to obtain a minor in Leadership Studies. All cadets live together in a residence hall at Tarleton called Traditions South. All Cadets wear their uniforms to class every day and must abide by the regulations set forth in the "Chisel".

Special units

Commandant of Cadets

* Colonel Kenny Weldon (1 July 2015 - 1 July 2022) * Colonel Douglas Simon (since 1 July 2022)

References

{{reflist Student organizations established in 1917 Military academies of the United States Military education and training in the United States Educational institutions established in 1917 Education in Texas 1917 establishments in Texas