The First Step into the Corps of Cadets
When I first set foot on the campus of The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, I had no idea how deeply it would shape the rest of my life. I was just a young man from Rockingham, North Carolina—athletic, competitive, and eager to serve. I knew I was walking into a military college with a long history, but I didn’t yet understand the depth of the transformation that was about to begin.
The Citadel doesn’t just educate you—it molds you. It takes you apart and builds you back up with discipline, structure, and a sense of duty that stays with you for life. From early morning formations to the constant push to excel academically, physically, and morally, the experience is intentionally difficult. But that difficulty is exactly what builds grit. And more importantly, it builds a brotherhood.
Earning Your Place Through Challenge
At The Citadel, nothing is handed to you. Every ounce of respect, every bit of recognition—you earn it. You’re pushed to your limits from the first day of Knob Year (your freshman year), and you either rise to meet the challenge or you fall short. But even when you struggle, you’re never truly alone.
The brotherhood is forged in shared struggle. We got through the grueling days together—by pushing each other, encouraging each other, and holding each other accountable. When you’ve stood side by side with someone through physical exhaustion, academic stress, and military drill after military drill, a bond forms that doesn’t break. That kind of connection doesn’t fade with time—it strengthens.
Discipline That Lasts a Lifetime
The discipline I developed at The Citadel carried me through flight school, combat missions, and the intense pace of Marine Corps aviation. From memorizing regulations as a cadet to memorizing flight procedures as a pilot, the habits I built in college served as the foundation for every professional success I’ve had.
Discipline at The Citadel isn’t just about shining shoes or marching in line—it’s about how you show up every day. It teaches you to be where you’re supposed to be, on time, with the right attitude, ready to give your best effort. And that mindset doesn’t switch off after graduation—it becomes part of who you are.
Leadership Through Service
One of the most valuable lessons I learned at The Citadel is that true leadership isn’t about control—it’s about service. As a cadet, you’re constantly being placed in leadership roles, even when you don’t feel ready. You learn by doing, failing, adjusting, and trying again. And you learn that leadership means putting your people first, taking responsibility for mistakes, and sharing credit for success.
That understanding of servant leadership followed me into the Marine Corps and beyond. Whether I was leading a squadron or mentoring junior pilots, I never forgot that my job as a leader was to support and protect my team—just like we did for each other back at The Citadel.
A Sense of Purpose
Not everyone leaves college with a sense of purpose. But at The Citadel, it’s built into everything you do. You’re constantly reminded that your education isn’t just about a career—it’s about preparing to serve something greater than yourself. For many of us, that meant military service. For others, it meant becoming leaders in business, education, or public service.
The point is, we left The Citadel with a compass. We were grounded in a clear understanding of honor, responsibility, and sacrifice. And that clarity—about who you are and why you do what you do—has guided me through every chapter of my life.
The Brotherhood Never Ends
Decades after graduation, I’m still in touch with my Citadel brothers. We may have gone in different directions—some became generals, others CEOs, teachers, or engineers—but the bond remains. We still call each other when life gets hard or when there’s something worth celebrating. That kind of lifelong connection is rare, and I’m grateful every day to be part of it.
I’ve found that whenever I meet another Citadel graduate—whether I know them personally or not—there’s an instant respect, a shared language. We know what the other has been through. We know the standards they were held to. And that unspoken understanding forms the basis of an instant trust.
Final Reflections
Looking back, The Citadel was one of the hardest experiences of my life—but also one of the most important. It shaped me into the kind of man I wanted to be: disciplined, dependable, and driven by purpose. It taught me the value of hard work, the importance of integrity, and the strength found in camaraderie.
If you ask me what I’m most proud of in my life—beyond the flight hours, the medals, or the missions—it’s the relationships I built and the lessons I learned at The Citadel. The brotherhood is real. The grit is lasting. And the purpose it gave me continues to guide everything I do.
For any young man or woman considering that path, know this: it won’t be easy. But if you’re willing to give it your all, it will shape you in ways you can’t yet imagine—and it will give you a family for life.