An Aggie Spirit, A Navy Mission

Guided by a drive to serve and a curiosity to explore, Thomas Greve ’24 built an Aggie experience that would take him from the sidelines of Kyle Field to the cockpit of a Navy aircraft. Serving as Yell Leader during his junior and senior years, achieving a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and now looking toward a future as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Navy, Greve’s story is rooted in service, tradition and purpose. 

Thomas Greve ’24 didn’t always picture himself as a member of the Corps of Cadets, leading yells during football games in Kyle Field, or flying for the U.S. Navy. In fact, his first visit to Texas A&M was not met by sunshine and clear skies, but instead with unexpected showers. 

“It was cold and rainy: not exactly the recruitment day I was expecting,” Greve recalled. “But the weather could not distract me from the beauty and excitement I found at Texas A&M. I fell in love with this place during the worst recruiting day ever, but I thought to myself, ‘If this is what Texas A&M looks like on a bad day, I cannot imagine what it looks like on a good day’!” 

Greve grew up in Arlington, Texas, where he learned about Texas A&M traditions from his father, Robert Greve ’91. When he began exploring the possibility of a military career, his father recommended Texas A&M’s Corp of Cadets, and the two made a visit to Aggieland together. What he saw that day, paired with his family’s own military background, inspired Greve to join the Corps and pursue a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy. 

Even before officially beginning his journey as an Aggie, Greve’s experiences at Texas A&M were closely tied to the Corps, as he recalled seeing the Corps of Cadets marching and the Aggie Band performing at Kyle Field during his visits.  

“My great-grandfather was a World War II veteran and was at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked,” Greve explained. “He passed away before I was born, but I grew up on stories about him. He inspired me to find something in my life that was meaningful, something that gave me purpose. I definitely found that during my time as an Aggie.” 

Following his enrollment at Texas A&M, Greve began to study philosophy with a minor in German with the intention of developing critical thinking skills and furthering his understanding of both himself and the world around him. 

“Philosophy pushes me to think differently about the world around me,” Greve said. “Every student in the philosophy department is from a different background and setting themselves up differently for the future, and because of our degree path, we each have an unorthodox way of doing things, enabling us to stand out.” 

At the core of his degree, Greve explained how philosophy is all about asking questions and searching for answers; to not take the easy answer and instead question why something is, instead of "just because." 

Greve went on to explain how philosophy is a unique and intellectually rigorous degree. “If a student wants to get involved in an area where they’ll learn to think differently and be challenged to look at things from distinct angles, philosophy is a great fit! 

“Looking back, philosophy was definitely the right choice for me,” Greve said. “Because of it, I gained the necessary communication and analytical skills for my future as a pilot. More than anything, it showed me the power of ethical reasoning, as I will be called to make moral decisions in my career.” 

After acclimating to the rigorous college lifestyle and a challenging, philosophic curriculum during his freshman year, Greve began to seek out new experiences at Texas A&M beyond academics and classes. One of these experiences was becoming a Texas Aggie Yell Leader: a position he would hold for both his junior and senior year of college. 

“There was a Yell Leader in my Corps outfit during my freshman year,” Greve said. “I always looked at them like a little kid looks at an astronaut or a rockstar — like it's a cool dream but not a reality. But then I watched the sophomores that year go through the process, and I thought ‘Yeah, this is attainable.’

“Then during the fall semester of my sophomore year, I decided to throw my name in the hat to become one of the cadets endorsed by the Corps in what we call Five for Yell: a joint campaign composed of three seniors and two junior cadets. After a month I was notified I was one of the three finalists to be selected, and little did I know it, but the other two finalists would become two of my best friends. We jumped into campaigning right away, and that’s when I started to see Texas A&M in a bigger context —not just through the lens of the Corps of Cadets.” 

Re-elected as Yell Leader for his senior year, Greve marked those two years as a defining chapter of his Aggie journey, fully embodying the values of tradition and selfless service. 

“Serving as a Yell Leader let me give back to the university that made me who I am,” Greve said. “It gave me the privilege of touching people’s lives in ways that will outlast my time at Texas A&M.”  

On game days, former students often approached the Yell Leaders, proudly sharing their Aggie class years and recalling how much they had admired the Yell Leaders during their own time at Texas A&M—though many admitted they never had the chance to take a photo back then. By this point in the season, Greves and his fellow Yell Leaders had posed for hundreds of pictures, but he knew each one carried lasting meaning for the person on the other side of the camera. Every snapshot connected them to a tradition far bigger than themselves and generations who came before. 

Re-elected as Yell Leader for his senior year, Greve marked those two years as a defining chapter of his Aggie journey, fully embodying the values of tradition and selfless service. 

“Serving as a Yell Leader let me give back to the university that made me who I am,” Greve said. “It gave me the privilege of touching people’s lives in ways that will outlast my time at Texas A&M.”  

On game days, former students often approached the Yell Leaders, proudly sharing their Aggie class years and recalling how much they had admired the Yell Leaders during their own time at Texas A&M—though many admitted they never had the chance to take a photo back then. By this point in the season, Greves and his fellow Yell Leaders had posed for hundreds of pictures, but he knew each one carried lasting meaning for the person on the other side of the camera. Every snapshot connected them to a tradition far bigger than themselves and generations who came before. 

Greve’s leadership did not stop at serving as a Yell Leader. He continued to focus on building strong connections and giving back to his community. During his junior year, Greve sought membership in Maroon Coats, a student organization affiliated with the Texas A&M Foundation that connects students with donors, ensuring every student finds success during their time at Texas A&M. 

“Maroon coats work to make Aggie stories possible for people who could never afford to have an Aggie story, and I’m thankful I get to be a small part of that mission,” Greve said. “As a Maroon Coat, I served as a bridge between the gap of the student body and the donors, as we show them the value of their contribution within the wider Aggie community.” 

Besides his time as a Maroon Coat and Yell Leader, Greve served as a Fish Camp counselor and a Ross Volunteer, showing his commitment to giving back. In each experience, he often became the first face of Texas A&M, working to ensure that everyone experienced the deep sense of community that defines Aggieland. 

The spirit of service and connection that Greve cultivated as a Yell Leader now guides him into his next chapter. In August, he reported to Naval Flight School at Naval Air Station Pensacola, where he has begun training with the U.S. Navy. His goal is to serve in a squadron specializing in naval aviation search and rescue, answering emergencies that range from aiding downed pilots to carrying out disaster-relief evacuations. 

“Search and rescue are about showing up on someone’s worst day and giving them a second chance,” Greve said. “That’s the kind of mission that drives me — one where the outcome truly matters. I have always strived to be part of organizations that are bigger than myself. Not only is it valuable for my own growth as a person, but the value of service to others will always draw me in, and it’s something that will define my future career choices.” 

Looking back on his time at Texas A&M, Greve encouraged students, regardless of their degree choices, to embrace every opportunity Texas A&M has to offer. 

“If I was to go back, I would tell myself to live in the moment,” Greve said. “You never know when your last day is, so live every moment and push yourself to be the best version of yourself.”