Former Commandant of Texas A&M Corps of Cadets Claims Forced Departure
A former high-ranked military officer overseeing the training and discipline of the Army’s future leaders steps down amid controversy. Brigadier General Patrick Michaelis, former commandant of the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets, disclosed in recent documents that he was ‘directed’ to resign from his position.
The university announced in August 2024 that Brig. Gen. Michaelis was leaving his post as Commandant to serve as a special assistant to the office of the university’s president, under unspecified “strategic initiatives.” However, a subsequent letter written by Brig. Gen. Michaelis to the staff indicated a hazing investigation as a potential trigger for his departure.
Internal Communications Express Concern and “Liability”
The revelations came from two separate messages composed by Brig. Gen. Michaelis, addressing the faculty and cadets severally. Initially shared by student press outlets, these documents were later confirmed authentic by Brig. Gen. Michaelis.
Emphasizing that he was ‘directed’ to resign by university president Ret. Gen. Mark Welsh, Brig. Gen. Michaelis in his letter to staff spoke of a hazing investigation that might have fueled the decision for his departure. The specific incident, he did not elaborate.
In a lawsuit filed in December 2023, a cadet alleged assault at the hands of 10 fellow cadets in October 2022. The plaintiff claimed physical and mental injury post an incident where he was lured into a dorm room and assaulted. The claim amounted to $1 million brought on by the lawsuit.
Transition of Leadership Met with Praises and Silence
In response to the controversy, university president Ret. Gen. Welsh publicly addressed Brig. Gen. Michaelis’ departure, hailing his service to the university as commendable. Brig. Gen. Michaelis, however, refrained from commenting further about the situation, leaving room for unverified speculations.
Surprisingly, in his letters, Brig. Gen. Michaelis did not mention the Corps’ hazing incident when addressing the cadets. Contrarily, in his staff address, he candidly expressed, “Ultimately, I have become a liability to the future of the Corps.”
This upheaval brings with it unanswered questions about the future of the university’s leadership, the alleged acts behind the hazing incident, and the broader issues of discipline and behavior within the ranks of the military’s training institutions.
