Moving to College Station, Texas? Military Family Tips
by PCSgrades Staff - August 7th, 2022
College Station, Texas is one of a set of twin cities known as Bryan-College Station. The two cities make up the 11th largest metropolitan area in Texas, but you wouldn’t know it from the town itself, as it is cleverly disguised as a small college town surrounded by farmland and ranches.
Bryan-College Station is in Central Texas, about two hours north of Houston, two hours east of Austin, and three hours south of Dallas. This puts the cities in the middle of a bunch of highways that branch off to meet more highways. The area has a small, local airport that flies to Dallas and Houston. Easterwood Airport is open daily from 4am to 11pm.
The weather is that of a typical Texas area, with a short moderate winter and long, hot summers. Generally, fall sees more rain than summer – which starts in mid-March.
One thing you may not be used to when moving to College Station is the wildlife. The area is surrounded by farms and ranches which means snakes, wild boar, large spiders, and coyotes. If you like to hunt, permits are issued for snipes, deer, alligators, and duck.
Military presence at College Station
Yes, military families can get orders to College Station, but there is no military installation in College Station. There is a small National Guard outpost outside of Bryan. There are extremely limited services available here, including an ID office. There is no commissary, military treatment facility, or exchange. Active-duty personnel stationed at College Station and their dependents will be assigned a civilian primary care manager, and dependents will have a co-pay for all medications and treatments not completely covered by Tricare. College Station is a unique experience and one that military families are sure to remember with fond memories long after leaving the area.
College football
It is impossible to be stationed at College Station without acknowledging and accepting that you will live and breathe Texas A&M for the duration of your time there. Everywhere you go in BCS, you’ll hear “howdy” being exchanged regularly, “WHOOP” is a proper response to almost everything, and “Gig’Em” is the equivalent of Oohrah, Hooah, or Hooyah and is said with one thumb up. Aggies -- the locals -- don’t boo. Instead, they hiss.
There is a saying in the Brazos Valley, “If we’ve done it twice, it’s a tradition.” Some of the more popular traditions are putting a penny on Sully, proposing to your significant other under the Century Tree, attending the Bonfire Memorial, and of course attending football games and tailgates at Kyle Field, and Silver Taps and Muster.
Texas A&M Corps of Cadets
While Texas A&M is not officially a military academy, it has the largest Corps of Cadets and is the largest producer of commissioned officers outside of the service academies. Until 1965, participation in the Corps of Cadets was compulsory for attendance at A&M but is now completely voluntary. Women were not accepted to the Corps of Cadets until 1974, after gaining admission to the University in 1963 on a limited basis.
The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band is the largest military marching band in the world and is comprised of more than 400 cadets. They travel with the football team, as well as perform on their own at various events nationwide.
Texas A&M does not have female cheerleaders for its football team. Instead, it has Yell Leaders who are traditionally elected by the student body. These five men are comprised of three seniors and two juniors from the Corps of Cadets. They do not perform cheers; they lead the crowds with a series of signals. A spectator will find that a hundred thousand plus people in a stadium can be directed to chant, motion, and move around with a single hand motion from a Yell Leader.
In 2014, Texas A&M was named the Fittest College in America, and it’s no wonder. The town has more gyms than bars, and more running clubs than Greek clubs. It’s home to the BCS Marathon, which pulls in runners from around the world.
The number 12 is very important to Aggies. The Aggies claim the 12th Man tradition so furiously that they trademarked the phrase in 1990. Apparently, at an away game the football team had sustained so many injuries that the team was at risk of being forced to forfeit the game. Rather than take a loss, the coach pulled a Cadet from the stands and ordered him to suit up. While the cadet never actually played, he was called “the twelfth man.”
Places to visit near College Station, Texas
Memorial Student Center
Upon approaching the Memorial Student Center (MSC), you’re met with “Stay off the Grass” signs. If you find yourself on a swath of grass, someone from the MSC is destined to magically appear before you to correct the transgression. The MSC is dedicated to Fallen Aggies who’ve served in the military and have died in combat. It houses several galleries, halls, meeting rooms, gaming areas, piano rooms, and dining options. One of the most respected spots at College Station will be the Hall of Honor inside the MSC, a hall that displays large photos and bios of the eight Aggies who received the Medal of Honor.
Bonfire Memorial
This memorial is located at the entrance of Texas A&M and has 12 portals commemorating the lives of the 12 students who were killed in a bonfire collapse in 1999. Eighty-nine stones are arranged south to north to remember the 89 years of bonfires before the collapse. The year John F. Kennedy was assassinated, the bonfire was canceled in honor of the late president. The 27 stones that join the portals honor the 27 injured in the collapse.
Kyle Field
Please, don’t call Kyle Field “The House that Johnny Built” or an Aggie might knife hand you. The stadium surrounding Kyle Field began the first stage of its most recent rebuild in 2013, seating 102,733 fans (though the record for attendees is 110,633). The rebuild allowed Kyle Field to join the list of the nation's top five 5 largest collegiate stadiums.
Dixie Chicken
Dixie Chicken is the oldest bar on Northgate and an Aggie tradition since 1974. There isn’t much to look at, with carvings on every available wood space, but the food is delicious. Other recommendations for food include Fuego, Laynes, Raising Cane’s, and Sodolaks Steakhouse.
Messina Hof Winery and Resort
This resort is in Bryan, an award-winning winery and Bed & Breakfast. The winery is run by the founders' son and his wife (Paul and Merrill Bonarrigo). The younger Paul is a Marine veteran. If you are a Marine stationed at A&M, make sure to secure a ticket to the private Marine Corps Ball that Paul hosts every year at the winery. You won’t be disappointed.
Northgate
Northgate is located on the northern edge of the University and is the entertainment go-to for the college crowd. It is a series of country bars, dives, and restaurants, notably Dixie Chicken, Harry’s, and Blackwater Draw Brewing Company -- which boasts a killer brunch on Sunday mornings.
If you received PCS orders and find that you're moving to College Station Texas, you're in for a fun experience of football, traditions, and a military-friendly town!
