Half Marathon Reminder

Hey everybody,

Just a reminder that we would love for you to join us on March the 24th for our half marathon and hang out. We will be starting in front of dorm 9 at 7 am sharp.  Even if you are not a runner please feel free to come out and support your child.  There can never be enough people cheering and encouraging.

Again, March 24th at 7 am... it's going down.  Hope you can be a part of it.

GW  

9 miles? Sure, we'll even make it back for formation.

This morning was super motivational for everyone.  We went on a nuke run (9 miles) and totally smoked it.  We had the option of skipping formation and just going to eat, but when I polled everyone mid run - the only cheer was to go to formation and show the rest of the band outfits that 9 miles was nothing for A-Co.  In fact we would run 9 miles and still make it to formation.  I think that the impressiveness of this feat might be lost on some because we had a nuke run last semester.  My First Sergeant put it well today after the run.  He told everyone that we had done something that most people will never do in their life and had done it in about an hour and a half.  Think about that.  He was right, not very many people go on 9 mile runs.  And even fewer make it back to formation.  I am incredibly  proud of the people that went on the run this morning.

Speaking of runs, the A-Co half marathon is approaching quickly.  The run will be held on Sunday March 24th at 7.  Everyone that has a tie to A-Co is invited.  Last year when we came up with the idea of an outfit half marathon we decided to take baby steps in order to not overwhelm our abilities.  The steps were: outfit, outfit past and present (to include families), and outfit plus public.  As we are still in the process of working all the kinks out, there is no registration or t-shirt at the end, but we would love for you to come and either run or support your runner on this day.  Afterwards we will be having a BBQ hangout behind the dorm.  Please don't expect the same quality of food as the football games due to everyone running, so the menu is hot dogs with chips and water.  The outfit will provide the food, all you have to do is show up!

We have been doing extremely well in our endeavors.  Recently we ran bloody cross, a three mile race on the Quad.  Traditionally band outfits do terrible at this event, but this year we ran exceptionally well.  We finished with a raw score of 21:04; for those of you keeping score that is a 7 min mile pace.  After a few penalties (from people not signing out properly, not anybody running) our official time was 21:34, good enough for 10th place!  We totally blew away the rest of the band and the majority of the Corps.  As of now we have also retained the #1 position in GM.  We were inspected this week and had .36 cuts per cadet.  Last semester we had around a .41 ratio.  This is proof that we have not stopped improving.

It will be fun to see how the rest of the semester shakes out.  I hope to see you in two weeks at our "Run with the Wolf-Pack" half marathon.

GW            

Motivation

Howdy everyone,

Sorry that it's been so long since my last post, but I got distracted with life.  I just wanted to catch you up a little on what's going on and also share some excitement with you.

Since we last talked, we have learned at A-Co was number one in the Corps in regards to inspections and about 14th in grades.  We were number one in the band for inspections and PT, and second in grades.  The band prides itself as being the best major unit on the Quad and I feel like we have a very strong argument that we are the best outfit in the band.  During previous years we would make that argument but not have a whole lot to back it up; well this year we have the numbers.  Like I told the outfit last week, we are on the cusp of greatness.  We are right where we need to be to be competitive with every other outfit in the entire Corps.  But like I told the outfit as soon as I said that, we can not get complacent or proud or take our foot off the gas and expect a great first semester to carry us.  It doesn't matter what happens before halftime, it matters how you finish.  We have to continue pushing to the wall. Just ask Michael Phelps if it pays off to push to the wall instead of coasting.  Copy and paste this link to see what I'm talking about  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNKrQBGdYW0).  

Parents, I want to challenge you.  Make it a point to encourage your kid to finish strong.  Past success doesn't do anything for you today or tomorrow.

On another note, I am super motivated by our run this morning.  We went on a 2.5 mile Combined Band Run in C's and T's.  (That means we wore fatigue pants and combat boots)  As you can imagine it's a lot harder to run wearing this than our normal shorts and athletic shoes.  Normally we run at the front of the formation because of our name - A-Co.  The order is usually ACO, BCO, ABATT, BBATT.  Only today the order was reversed, so we were running at the back.  Word on the street was that we were at the back so we didn't "run off and leave everybody behind."  I actually heard another outfit say that!  That makes me super excited, but I'm even more thrilled that we only had a total of 3 people fall out of the run.  Every other outfit had lost over 3 people before we had even gone half a mile.  I'm not lying when I say that the other outfit easily lost over 25% of the people they started with.  And as they fell to the side, ALL of A-Co ran by.  I am always proud of the outfit and the effort they everyone, fish-Zips display on a daily basis, but I was extremely proud this morning.  Make sure you ask your child about this run and what I had to say afterwards.  I'll just tell you, I was super jacked and I think everyone knows it.  It was a great morning.  

I'm excited to see where this semester takes us.  Like I told everyone, we are right there.  We are going to attack this semester and take what is ours.  We're locked and loaded and already running.  Are you?

GW 

First Play of the 2nd Half

Howdy Everyone,

I hope that everyone had a marvelous break.  I know I did getting to spend most of it with Leigh in either Texas or Auburn.  It was awesome getting to relax after such a full semester.  As nice as the break was, it is always good to get back in the swing of things here in College Station.  As crazy as it sounds, by the end of the holidays most cadets are starting to miss the structure.  They (including myself) will never admit it, but we come to love and even need the regimented lifestyle.  Life's just kind of boring without it.

I gave the outfit a pretty big halftime speech last night at our meeting.  I challenged everyone to continue to pursue our goals and to be unsatisfied with what we have achieved.  Because we did well last semester.  Very well. One of, if not the best semester that A-Co has experienced since I have been here.  But we cannot grow complacent.  That is my greatest fear, that we would grow complacent at halftime.  Like I told the outfit, that is what happened last year in football.  Losing 7 games after winning at halftime is unacceptable, yet that is what happened.  Complacency is like a disease that weakens the body.  I refuse to allow that to happen within A-Co.

There was a quote in Sports Illustrated from a coach that says, "There is no continuum of success, history can't help us win."  This is what I tried to impart on the outfit last night.  One semester of greatness does not translate into two on its own. We have to continue to develop and work and relentlessly pursuit our goals.

Remember, what we accomplished yesterday has no bearing on what we achieve in the future.
GW

BBQ update

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving - I know I did.

A quick update about the BBQ time. Due to spirit band we are having the BBQ at 1 o'clock. Hope this still works with everyone. We are expecting over 200 people - it's gonna be a large party.

Nuke Run

This past Friday the outfit completed our longest run to date... a nuke run.  The nuke plant is on the other side of the airport - a solid 4.5 miles away.  For those of you keeping score at home that means we ran 9 miles Friday afternoon.  Everyone pictured below completed the run.  It is hard for me to think of another time this year when I have been more proud of the outfit - great turnout, great effort, great time and great run. 

Important Times

I hope everyone is having a great week.  Be prepared for a crazy Saturday because we are going to be busy.

0700ish - drill
0900     - first call for review
0920     - fall in for review
0940     - step off to head to Simpson Drill Field
1000     - Review at Simpson Drill Field
               During this review the freshmen will receive their Corps Brass.  This is something they have been     working for unknowingly for the duration of their stay in Aggieland.  This piece of brass will only be surpassed by their Band Lyre that they will receive at a later date.   
1045ish - return to the Quad

1150ish - Spirit Band

1220     - first call for march in
1240     - fall in
1300     - step off

We will be having a BBQ after the game and victory yell.

*As you can see there is no time to eat from the time we wake up until after the game.  In light of this, A-Co will be providing sandwiches for our cadets.  We will set up tables in the hallway between the review and Spirit Band.  Don't feel like you need to fight traffic and make yourself crazy to provide your cadet with lunch unless you want to...  and if that's the case I'll take a #1 with no pickles.


Next Week
We will have a practice on Friday at 1900 hours (7 pm).  I believe all cadets will need to be back by 1800 hours (6pm) at the very latest.  I would prefer that everyone was back and settled by 1730 (5:30 pm).  The game is at 6 so if we decide to have a BBQ it will be before the game.  I will let you know as soon as we decide something.