The Corps Staff Emblem: An Insignia of Service
Chancellor John Sharp ’72 and Judson Loupot ’32, famously hailed as “Ol’ Army Lou,” burned the midnight oil in the back of Loupot’s Bookstore designing a unique insignia for the Corps Staff. Sharp recalled that cadets on Corps Staff were the only ones without an emblem identifying their respective unit. His Corps Commander, Thomas Stanley ’72, entrusted him to resolve this issue.
Sharp and Loupot spent a week combing through military books, sketching designs and meticulously choosing symbols that defined the essence of the Corps Staff unit. Sharp is proud of his time as a cadet and the opportunity to leave his mark for future generations. “Any good I have done in my life I owe to the Corps,” he said. “I was taught how to be a follower before stepping into the role of a leader.”
In their design, an eagle adorns the all-white shield and emblem. It is symbolic of agility and power, as well as the ability to reach great heights. Engraved at the top of the shield, the words “Per Unitatem Vis” represent the bond between cadets and are a unifying motto for the entire Corps. This statement, forged from Latin, means “through unity, strength.” Below the inscription, five-point stars are engraved, accounting for the number of wars in which Aggies have served: World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Gulf War. Since its creation, only one change has been made to the insignia: An additional sixth star was added to honor Aggies who fought in the Global War on Terror.
