Texas A&M JCAP

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MorganC

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Does anyone have any experience with the Junior Cadet Accession Program at Texas A&M?

The Junior Cadet Accessions Program (JCAP) welcomes high school juniors and seniors involved in Junior ROTC, Civil Air Patrol, Young Marines and Sea Cadets to A&M for a first-hand experience with the Corps of Cadets. While at JCAP, students will:

-Meet current cadets and learn about their experiences in the Corps
-Stay in the Corps dorms on campus
-Learn about the university admissions process, financial aid, scholarships and academic support
-Attend an A&M sporting event – football in the fall or men's basketball in the spring
-Train with our national drill champions, the Fish Drill Team
-In the Fall, participate in March-In to Kyle Field before a football game
Attend a recognition banquet
 
I don't have any experience with JCAP, but our son did the "Spend the Night with the Corps" and it had the effect of changing his entire future. It's just an overwhelmingly positive experience, and I'd imagine JCAP would only be that much better.
 
Texas A&M JCAP/Aggie Eagle/etc.

My son has attended both the Aggie Eagle Weekend & JCAP. He is set for a spend the night, but we will see what happens. JCAP is a good weekend. They have a seperate session for parents and will stay and answer every question if it takes 45 hours (it won't- they know what you want to know and will tell you up front). The Commandant, Gen Van Alstyne, will give a presentation after dinner, and will spell out what is in store for the Cadets and will not mince words- he is excellent and I will not give any of his talk away. Col. Hall is also an excellent individual. If there is a chance of your son/daughter going to A&M and being in the Corps, attend every Corps event you can. If you are from out of state and are in the Corps, you get in state tuition. There are other Corps scholarships, and the staff hates to lose anyone over money- they will find a way. I credit his experiences with Corps weekends in keeping my son motivated to pursue the SA's and ROTC options. While it appears my son will go to USMMA, and I am proud as all get out, there is a pang of regret in me that he will not be in the Aggie Corps of Cadets. A&M is a wonderful school where tradition plays a huge part in campus life, and the Corps is the bedrock of A&M tradition. Old Army will never die.
 
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Thanks for the info. Just out of curiosity, since they stay with the cadets the friday before the football game, do they get to do the midnight yell?
 
JCAP

Midnight yell-yes. Obstacle course, chance to work with fish drill team, anything the Corps does they will learn about.
 
Thanks again, the only thing kept my family from trying to go to the spring JCAP was that it is an 11 hour drive to TAMU and we went to Oklahoma State (My dad's alma mater) in the fall which was a 17 hour drive. We aren't ready for another road trip yet, still recovering from that one.

And Shanagan: I assume your son is hoping to go to A&M in the fall?
 
Morgan, he is, he's been accepted for aerospace engineering. Not only was A&M never on his radar before spending the night w/the corps, but engineering wasn't, either. Or the possibility of doing an rotc scholarship & joining the military after college. It's just been crazy.

But.. as a parent, I can tell you that it's so positive. The thing w/the corps is that it's tough, but college always is - and w/the corps behind your kid, they have someone who's got their back during that crucial first year, yk?

Really, I just think if your son/daughter is all about structure, it's perfect, period.
 
I'll second Shanagan - attend a TAMU Corps event if at all possible! Our son went to Spend the Night w/ the Corps last fall, and it was a great experience. Gig 'em Aggies! :thumb:
 
Engineering Outfit

Shanagan -- just read that your son would be aerospace at A&M next year possibly. Mine too. Have him check into Squadron 16. Its the engineering outfit that was set up in 1982 to prove that kids can be in the corps and graduate in engineering from A&M and do well. Motto is "Engineered to Fly..."
 
My daughter is going to be studying aerospace engineering at Texas A&M. She is planning on joining the N-1 Knights, also primarily an engineering outfit (and mostly Navy/Marine).

I have a friend who is associated with the ROTC program. He told me that N-1 was a tough outfit but fair. What more can you ask for?

Gig 'em!
 
Oh, yeah. Daughter attended an Aggie Eagle program. Really lit her up! She was recovering from shoulder surgery so could not do everything. She still loved the experience.
 
I will be attending next weekend's JCAP. It is very last minute, but I am sooooo excited. It also turns out that the parents of a kid on my sister's Tball team that I coach both went to TAMU. The dad called tonight and went on for 15 minutes about how much he loved it and how proud he is to be an aggie. When I get back I will let everyone know how it went.
 
Ha, Morgan, it'll be more like you'll come back here and we'll be welcoming you to the weirdly cult-like family.

You're going to be sold, period. Have fun! Oh, and when we were in town we really enjoyed Fish Daddy's - I had absolutely excellent mahi-mahi (no, really - really really), and word is if you're in the mood, they do a mean $2.50 margarita.
 
Shanagan- Haha, I'd be glad to be part of the weirdly cult-like family. I am about to go pick my uniform up from the cleaners and get it ready for Friday. Then I will probably spend the rest of the night over-stuffing my suitcase, like I always seem to do :rolleyes:

Thanks everyone for the feedback
 
Howdy,
Just wanted to let everyone know that after my experience at JCAP I am completely sold on Texas A&M. The weekend was great, especially training with the fish drill team and watching the Aggies beat the hell outta Baylor! I would definitely suggest going to this.

Gig 'Em!
Morgan
 
:thumb:Gig 'em Morgan! Glad to have you in CS!

Janet
Our long Maroon Line: 1926 (great-grandfather), 1952 (grandfather), 1952 (grandfather), 1978 (mom), 1986 (dad), 2012 (cousin), 2014 (daughter)
 
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