How did I get here?
As a boy in Mount Pleasant, Brandon Johnson, the new regimental commander for the South Carolina Corps of Cadets, grew up hearing alumni telling captivating stories about their cadet experiences. As a high school student with the support of his parents and siblings, Johnson decided The Citadel was the place for him. He knew how productive and beneficial the regimental lifestyle would be.
Johnson arrived at The Citadel with no military background or preparatory visits, such as a pre-knob overnight or a session with The Citadel Success Institute. What helped him through the transition and kept him motivated was his senior mentor. After his first year, remaining motivated required more discipline due to increasing responsibilities and harder classes. His new driving force was seeing his impact on the development of lower-rank cadets.
Johnson’s priority over the past three years has been academics. He is a Supply Chain Management major with a personal interest in maritime logistics. In addition, he has been part of several clubs and organizations, including The Citadel Republican Society, the Supply Chain Management Club and Junior Sword Arch. Johnson’s hard work brought him through the ranks from company clerk to sergeant major — and now regimental commander. What made Johnson stand out was his dedication. When asked by the Commandant’s Office why he deserved the title, he expressed his love for the college and spoke of his vision. He wants to show incoming cadets that they can be someone at The Citadel, regardless of what they plan to do after graduation.
“It sounds cliché to say ‘Try your best,’ but it’s different here. When you try your best, you are going to succeed at The Citadel.”
The Citadel has helped Johnson in many ways. As a freshman, he learned the value of a disciplined lifestyle. Since then, Johnson has pushed past the mental barriers, realizing the main thing that limits someone is their mind. He did not realize how much he was limiting himself prior to attending The Citadel. Before, Johnson thought he was giving 100% of his effort, but now he realizes that is impossible. He believes he can always be doing a little bit more.
The lessons Johnson is learning at The Citadel will follow him throughout his career. His intention now is to work as hard as he can now to ensure the next 40 to 50 years are exactly how he wants them to be. While he has another year left, he already has three internships under his belt. He plans to stay in the area after graduation and work in the field of maritime logistics.