Building on 150 Years
By Commandant of Cadets Maj. Gen. Randal D. Fullhart, U.S. Air Force (retired)
Those of you who attended the Corps Reunion in September were treated to an amazing video about the first 150 years of the Corps of Cadets. Two years in the making, the video used the stories and photos of alumni and staff to highlight the values inscribed on the War Memorial Pylons.
We have shared it on our various social media channels for those who were unable to be on campus to watch it in person.
The show used the entire facade of Lane Hall as the “screen.” Of course, Lane Hall is the original Barracks No. 1, built in 1888 and now on the National Register of Historic Sites to be preserved.
Around Lane Hall, the university is building the home of the Corps of Cadets for the next 150 years: A new, 301-bed residence hall is rising on the northwest corner of the Upper Quad, and beside that is the Corps Leadership and Military Science Building. Both are scheduled for occupancy in the fall of 2023.
We are building the number of cadets in our program, as well. This fall, we topped 1,230 cadets on our way to a target of 1,400 cadets, also by the fall of 2023. We’ve added a fourth deputy commandant and are in the search for a fourth senior enlisted advisor as we get ready to build a new 4th Battalion and two more companies.
By now you’ve picked up on the multiple times I’ve used the word “build.”
When our vision statement, “Global, ethical leaders … now, more than ever,” was created, the latter part had two meanings.
First, it makes the point that we need ethical leaders with a global perspective to handle the challenges we are collectively facing more than ever in our history.
Second, those four words underscore the fact that an increasing number of young people are looking to become those leaders — each year, more than the last. Thank goodness and thank you.
That’s why we’re wearing hard hats around here.
We are building the future. Building great young people. Building inspiring facilities to support the mission. And with the help of amazing alumni and friends, raising the resources needed to do all those things with scholarships, with program endowments, and through annual giving.
So find yourself a hard hat, and let’s keep building!