First Week

I hope everyone is enjoying the last day of the week before the weekend.  I know I am.  Thank you for being understanding about the schedule for the schedule this weekend.  Things are going good, the fish are starting to really pick up what we are teaching.  We still have a ways to go, but progress is being made.  fish Lopez really impressed the upperclassmen (mainly me) at chow this morning.  If that is your child, maybe mention to him that you heard he was standing up, sitting down and busing really well in Duncan this morning.  I already told him as well as the rest of the fish class that what he was demonstrating this morning was what we were looking for, but it might be cool if his parents mentioned it as well.  Keep encouraging your kids; they will make it and be better because of it.

In Relentless Pursuit,

Garrett

9/1 - 9/2

fish parents, this upcoming weekend will be an A-Co focus weekend for the freshmen.  This means that the freshmen cadets will remain in College Station.  A-Co will start off Saturday morning with a run followed by a recap of the skills learned during FOW (making bags, wiring uniforms, etc.) as well as learning a few new aspects of cadet life.  After training is over, upperclassmen will be available to answer specific questions about academic matters (how to study for certain profs, etc.).  This weekend will be run by the 1st SGT Patrick Casey and the PSG's (platoon sergeants).  Every other member is invited to attend, but not required.  This is not something I just came up with on the fly, but has been approved by the Combined Band Commander.  The cadets will be free around 12:30 on Saturday, but I would ask you not take them home for the remaining time.  Not only do they have to be back at 11:30 on Sunday morning, but we are just getting over being homesick and seeing everyone/thing again would set us back to square one.  It should be a very beneficial weekend to all involved.  We had these a lot at the end of last year and they were very well received by freshmen as well as upperclassmen.

First Run

For those of you keeping track of our mileage total, check off 2.5.  We lost a few fish, but they all joined back up after we turned around.  I was extremely happy with the results of the run today.  We ran at about a 7:50 min/mile pace with only a handful of fish fall out.  I told the fish that when we get to the level we want to be, this will just be a quick warm-up.  We are not there yet, but we will get there.

Don't forget to be in an attitude of relentless pursuit as you attack the day.  Don't let the day come and happen; go and pursue it.  Don't be passive, be active!  That is my challenge to you today.

Psalm 32:8
Garrett
 

Testing the waters

There is really no explanation to this post. I'm seeing if this will be acceptable. If it is fine expect a few more pictures over the next few days. Obviously this is the day your freshmen started looking like fish. I tried to choose group pics so maybe everyone could see their kid. If you can't don't worry there will be more pictures later. Enjoy and have a great day.
Garrett

First day of class

     Today is the day everyone has been waiting for... or maybe dreading.  At this time most of the freshmen have attended or are on the way to their first class.  It is definitely an eye opening experience.  I remember my first class as I sat down with more people than went to my entire high school.  In the span of about 4 classes I had been in the same room with more people than my town's population.  I know I'm from a very small town, but I don't think anybody is ready for a history class with 350+. 

     

     Just so you know, FOW is over, meaning that we will only be doing Corps activities from about 5:30 until 8:30ish am.  After that the rest of the day, barring evening formation, is personal/academic time.  I would be willing to bet that most of the stress in the next week will be from class and not the Corps.  

     As soon as we know for sure times for the Florida game on Sept 8th I will give everyone the BBQ times.  These BBQ's are not required by any means, but I would encourage you to attend a few.  The guys that cook for us do a great job.  Remember the goal is not to make a huge profit, so the prices will fluctuate between 6-10 dollars per person depending on what we are serving.  The first game prices will be on the low end of the scale, so please if you are in town join us for the BBQ.  Also keep in mind that College Station was not designed for game day traffic, so eating with the outfit saves a lot of time and traffic stress.  Not to mention every restaurant being extremely crowded.  I know I'm biased, but I think that outfit BBQs are the best option for food on gameday weekends.   

       I have informed the fish that although they made it through FOW, they have not made it yet.  They will have made it when they march 2nd pass of final review.  I gave them my word that I will be their commander until the very end, and in turn have their word that they will be fish until 2nd pass.  The moment we think we have made it, we tend to get complacent.  And I hate complacency!  That is why the outfit will be in Relentless Pursuit as long as I am in charge.  I refuse to let my people be ok with just settling.  We are striving for excellence. 

     We have a goal of running 100 miles as an outfit this semester.  We haven't been able to go on an outfit run yet... but that changes on Wednesday.  We will be running somewhere between 2.5-3 miles.  This is something that the outfit is really excited about, and something the freshmen will learn to be excited about.  I ended outfit meeting last night with this quote.  "Better get your running shoes tied tight, cause we're hitting it on Wednesday." - Garrett Williams

In Relentless Pursuit 

Garrett

 

Boom...

And just like that the "biggest secret on the Quad" was out.  At 10 o'clock Parson fired the canon and chaos ensued.  Well, at least for five minutes.  Last night your fish experienced one of the most memorable things in the Cadet Corps.  AIROUT.  Nobody breathes a word about airout until the night it happens.  The freshmen are put to bed thinking that the day is over only to be woken up to loud music and lots of yelling.  Believe it or not, but this is the one time that the upperclassmen really get to be loud when dealing with the fish.  Everybody looks forward to it, in fact, I would be willing to bet that your fish already has plans for next year.

Now that I have caused you to wonder why you thought the Corps was a good thing and why you entrusted your child to me let me explain some things.  Yes we were loud and yelled at your fish in the middle of the night.  Yes they didn't know what was going on and might have been scared.  But this event symbolizes the culmination of FOW.  They made it.  Aside from a few meetings today and the review tomorrow, your fish is now truly a cadet in the Corps.  Is there a lot of work still to be done? Yes, but they made it.

After the initial shock of being yelled at while sleeping wears off, the fish were taken to the end of the Quad where they had a fish yell practice and got to have a good time with their buddies.  Following the yell practice, the freshmen ate watermelon and cookies with the zips behind the dorm.  It was and always will be an extremely fun and vivid memory.

Talk to your fish about it... in fact, I would encourage you to talk to your fish about the experiences they are having , not the standard "how are you today? hope it's not to hard."  Ask them specifics about actually what is going on.  Don't waste your time with "is it hard?" because if I have my way it will be.  It will be tough, demanding, draining, and hard, but it will also be enriching, teaching, developing, and memorable.  

Remember, for me, it's about way more than the Corps.

1 Cor 9:24-27
Garrett

 

FRAGO

Your freshman will be free tomorrow from 5:00 pm or (whenever drill ends) until 9:45.  On Saturday, they will be free after the fish review.  There will not really be anytime before to hang out.  You might get to see your fish in passing, but we will be working hard to get the freshman ready for the review so no promises.  Have a great day.

Garrett

Howdy, fish __________ is my name...

     "Howdy, fish _________ is my name sir!"

     Tonight was the night all of my buddies have been waiting for.  Tonight was when we got to meet our fish.  We have been waiting for this day since we were fish ourselves.  And let me tell you it was as awesome as we had imagined it.

     Before the whipout party, the day had been pretty mediocre.  Drill, some training, meetings for me, and eating.  Pretty normal stuff, and then... the highlight of the day, perhaps the week.  It's always fun to meet and interact with your zips, but it gets really fun when you take into account where we were.  I'll give you a picture hint.

     In case you can't read the writing it says Kyle Field.  That's right, Kyle Field.
 
     Tonight I led your children into the stadium to meet all of my buddies.  The first time they stepped onto Kyle Field it was to meet us.  That means the world to us.  Let me assure you that it is something we do not take lightly.  Tonight your child gained 10 more protectors, overseers, mentors, leaders, caretakers, and every other role I have been filling up to now.  My buddies have met their fish and it is a very high honor to them.

"Nice to meet you Mr. Williams sir!"

It's going to be a good year.

Garrett

FOW Review

     Fish review is going to be at 9:00 Saturday morning at Simpson Drill Field.  After that your cadet will be free until 11:45am on Sunday.  Please ensure that they are back NLT 11:45 because we have to turn in accountability shortly after that.  Normally I would have them back sooner than that to make sure everyone is on time, but I  want yall to have the max amount of time with them as well.  So I'm asking you to PLEASE make sure your child is back by the correct time.  If this fails to happen, they will have to report back earlier next time.
     Please keep in mind, the fish are starting to hit their first wall... they need encouragement from you, not pity.  The Corps is a learning experience, in fact, I'm learning more now than I did any of the other years combined.  Granted I'm learning different things and skills, but i'm still learning.
     I know this entry was pretty short, but it's late and we have a PFT at 0530 tomorrow morning.  I'll make it up to you later, but I at least wanted to get the times out to you.

Garrett

The start of something new

In processing - check.  Room assignment - check.  Meet old lady - check.  Learn music, March with Band, Get goose bumps while playing Noble Men - check, check, check.  The next logical step in the life of the fish BQ's is to get a haircut.  And boy do some of them need one.  Starting tomorrow at 1230, your children will look like squared away Q's for the next 4 years.  I want to remind you that I will be taking pictures of the event, but will be unable to post them until later.  I would also like to inform you that the road is fixing to get harder for your cadet.  Thus far in FOW we have been focused on academics; starting tomorrow that focus will shift to the corps.  Your freshmen will meet their direct trainers, the "dreaded pissheads", tomorrow.  I would like to assure you that the horror stories you have heard will not be true in my outfit.  Yes the heads will have high standards, but so do I.  They will expect more out of your kid than your kid even does out of himself, but so do I.  They will be stern, but I will at times this year as well.  The point I am making is that the "mean pissheads" are leaders that have the freshmen's best interest at heart, just like I do.  Although I  trust the cadre with anything, I assure you my first sergeant and I will still be very present.  Please do not worry about how your child is being treated.  We will treat everyone fairly and with respect.  It's a growing process and sometimes you child will not like what they are going to hear, but they will not be disrespected.  I would like to remind you, if you ever have any concerns about anything please let me know.

In other news, we have received the time for the Florida game, it will be at 2:30.  We will have a BBQ that first game, but my leadership team and I are still deciding if we want to do it before or after the game.  The tentative menu is something really simple like hamburgers and hot dogs with chips and drinks.

I've included a quote that I think applies to all classes within the Corps, as well as life after.
"Be miserable.  Or motivate yourself.  Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice." -Wayne Dyer

Garrett

Couple of Issues

     First of all let me say that all of your children are doing well.  Today, we were actually marching on the drill field.  Although the freshmen didn't have their instruments it was still really cool as they "marched" as a member of the Aggie Band for the first time.  I'm not sure what all the fish thought, but I know that most of the Bugle Rank had chill bumps when we turned for the first time and saw everyone behind us... Wow.  Mario, my old lady (we also march on Bugle Rank beside each other), made the comment as we were marching "That was so cool!"  I know I keep saying it, but today might have been more fun for the leadership in the band than for the freshmen.  However, the fish will get to play the War Hymn and attempt to march at the same time for the first time tomorrow.  I still remember that day three years ago.  My greatest memory in the Aggie Band goes to marching on Kyle Field for the first time, but my most vivid memory was the first time I marched up and down Joe T. Haney drill field playing the War Hymn and Noble Men.  Make sure you ask your kid about it because it will probably be the highlight of FOW.
   
     Issues (not pertaining to fish)
     The first issue is that I have noticed that the time stamp on this blog is about two hours behind when I actually post.  Not sure why this happens, but in my last post I mentioned that the freshmen were all in bed and I was heading to practice.  It was not 8:53, but actually 10:53.  Just wanted to mention it in case anyone was wondering why their kid was getting to sleep so much in the Corps. haha

     Just a reminder that the Outfit dues are $35 and Band dues are $15.  If you haven't paid, it's not a big deal I just didn't want it to be a surprise later in the year when your kid starts asking for more money.

     I'm sorry that I am unable to post pictures of FOW, but I'm having to follow Corps policy.  Although I'm pretty sure that I will be able to post outfit related pictures on here after FOW, I'm still in the process of confirming that.  Because I can't post pictures of the fish, I thought I would include a picture of myself in meetings.

Hope that will suffice until I can get some pictures of people you really want to see on here.

It's going to be a great year and I can't wait to get started.

Garrett

Well, day one of FOW 2012 is in the books.  Everyone is in bed and I'm headed off the bugle rank practice... it's going to be a long night.  Just wanted everyone to know - your fish are fine.  They have a pretty taxing day of meetings tomorrow... the challenge will be to stay awake in all of them.  I enjoyed talking with everyone this afternoon and am looking forward to getting to know everyone better in the future.  I wanted to wrap up today with the quote that my mom used in her discussion.  "Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is doing it scared." -Jill Briscoe

Garrett 

In Relentless Pursuit

     If you are around this outfit for any amount of time this year you will probably hear the phrase "In Relentless Pursuit."  I thought I would explain a little of the background behind this saying and motto.

     Last year shortly after I learned I would be commander, I read this story on Mike Powell in Sport Illustrated (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1194725/1/index.htm).  I remember thinking after reading that article, "If only I could bring that mindset to my outfit."  So I printed out several copies of the article, using all my ink in the process, and distributed them around the outfit.  I also sent the link out to cadets that would be stepping into leadership roles this year.  The mindset change had to be initiated at the top if it was to gain any traction.  The three words "In Relentless Pursuit" kept looping over and over in my mind over the course of the next few days.  I remember thinking, "If the outfit stayed in a mindset of relentless pursuit all the time and applied it to everything we do, we would be pretty unstoppable."

       The other thing that helped to inspire this attitude of Relentless Pursuit is 1st Corinthians 9:24 - "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize?  Run in such a way that you may win."  To me this Bible verse is an encouragement not to grow complacent, to not settle for anything other than all you have to give.  If you have an attitude of Relentless Pursuit you are not going to settle for something less than your best. 

     Parents of upperclassmen cadets, you heard me talk about this last year.  I just wanted to reassure you that nothing has changed; we will still be putting everything we have into everything we do.

     New fish parents, I hope you like the motto, because you will hear me say it a lot this year.  I hope that your child takes it to heart, because when it comes down to it - there is more at stake here than the Corps.  I am trying to set your child up for life.  This whole thing is bigger than the Corps. I understand that it doesn't always seem like that and that your kid will tell you otherwise, but we (the upperclassmen) really do care about the future of your child.  And not just the future as in the next year.  We are trying to develop young men and women who will be successful in life, not just the Corps.

     My challenge to you today, August 14, is to find something in your life to Relentlessly Pursue... because tomorrow August 15 at 2:30 the Wolf-Pack will begin our Pursuit.  

Garrett

   

It's good to be back

Nothing in the world smells quite like new dorm.

One last time

     It seems like just yesterday that I was headed down to College Station to begin my career in the Corps of Cadets.  I had no idea that my journey would include Guidon bearer, Aggie Band load crew, First Sergeant, Ross Volunteer, Bugle Rank and A-Company Commander.  It has been a great ride so far and I cannot wait for this year to start and see what is in store.  The freshmen will arrive on Wednesday and by that afternoon we will already be in Relentless Pursuit of our goals.  This is an exciting time for me and the rest of A-Company as we await the freshmen's arrival. 

     Parents of incoming freshmen - your child is about to receive a mindset change.  This process will be hard and tiring, but it will be worth it.  I do not settle in my personal life and I do not expect your child to either.  I have high expectations for my outfit, but I will always be fair.  I give you my word, I will always be fair.

     I will be using this blog as a way to keep you informed of what is happening and going on in your kid's life as well as explaining the purpose of what we are trying to achieve.  This will also be a place that I share my heart in order for you to learn about me.  Sometimes I will be brief and talk only about the plan and upcoming events, but other times I will share my experiences.  I think that this blog has the potential to be a very powerful tool for me and a very valuable resource for you as parents.  I am looking forward to meeting everyone and getting this year started.

In Relentless Pursuit,
Garrett Williams