CHARLESTON, SC – The average cadet student-athlete at The Citadel is anything but average. They're members of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets. They go to class. They compete against the best the Southern Conference has to offer.

And for some, that's not enough. Many cadet student-athletes take an even less traveled path by majoring in unique or tough fields of study. Some come from unique backgrounds that make the already difficult even more so. And still others contract into the armed forces and have to prepare for their careers in the military after college.

The Citadel Department of Athletics wants to recognize some of those cadet student-athletes who are not just succeeding in competition, but are doing so at a high level while overcoming some of the toughest obstacles.

Max Brabston (Jr., Fairfax, Va.)
Sport: Mixed Rifle
Major: Double Major in History and Intelligence and Security Studies (3.93 GPA)
Contract: Army

Why did you choose to double major in history and intelligence and security studies?
MB – "I'm a double major in history and intelligence and security studies. I was originally just a history major, and I did it because I just really enjoyed it. It's been a passion of mine and is part of the reason that I came to The Citadel versus West Point. There's a lot of engineering there, and I had been accepted to their prep school, it's a bit of a long story about how I ended up choosing here over West Point, but it came down to the academic freedom and the chance to do something I already liked. The intel piece came about because I took a class, the Military Instrument of Power, as an elective with Professor Sweeney and I really enjoyed it and figured I'd at least get a minor, add a little designation to my name because history could be a little hard to sell as a degree. Intel is a bit like another history degree, but it gives you a little bit more of an 'in' when it comes to industry stuff with choosing to go into the military."

What led you to contacting with the Army?
MB – "I'm contracted with the Army, and I chose the Army because of my academy process. The Naval Academy kind of struck me the wrong way, they weren't so welcoming. West Point was just so much nicer. I had this really awesome admissions officer, Major Bulls, who really fought for me, and from then on I just knew that the Army would be the right place for me."

What do you plan to do in the Army?
MB – "I really want to do military intelligence. That's my number-one pick right now. I don't know if I'll be able to get it because it can get really competitive, but I'm hoping my grades and everything will really pull me through. My backup is field artillery or armor."

Outside of your classes, what are you doing to prepare for your career?
MB – "Being here at The Citadel, it's a lot of discipline stuff. Even though we have a lot of other stuff going on, you have to make yourself go to class, you have to go to PT, you have to do a bunch of stuff that if I was at a different institution, I wouldn't be able to do. So, that discipline is going to help a lot with going into the Army and dealing with soldiers and keeping myself and those under me accountable."

Do you hold rank in the Corps? What are your responsibilities associated with that role?
MB – "I'm a private, but I am the president of the History Honors Society. I was battalion finalist for company commander this year, so I'll hopefully hear back about that in the next few weeks. Within my company, I don't have a lot of responsibility. I just 'Show up, shine up, shut up.' In company, I try to maintain the standards for personal appearance, PT and grades. In rifle, I practice a lot and I make sure to practice hard. I went to the Olympic Trials in December. I'm taking 24 credit hours right now and getting ready for advance camp, so things have gotten a little crazy this semester."

Talk a little more about juggling all of your responsibilities with being a student-athlete on the rifle team and your class schedule.
MB – "I would say that the mental aspect is a lot greater as a cadet student-athlete. (Rifle} is a lot like golf and even baseball in a way. It's technical like those two sports. It's not so much physically strenuous at all times, so you're not like a soccer player running up and down the field for 90 minutes. You're having to think about your technique a lot, very similar to if you're pitching a baseball or striking a golf ball. You're having to really think about your technique, your form and what you're doing. If you change something in the way you approach the shot, it takes a long time for that change to come through. With me, I've changed a lot in the last couple of years, and it's taken me a long time to get my air rifle score back to where it was. It's a lot more technical and a lot more mental than some people think, and that can take a toll on you."

What is the most difficult thing about being a cadet student-athlete who is also trying to contract?
MB – "For me, I wouldn't say it's that difficult because in my case, the Army has been very willing and supportive of me doing other rifle activities and competitions. They have allowed me to help other contracting cadets with rifle-related matters. They have actually tried to incorporate some of the knowledge that I have thanks to competing into what they do, and it's really nice to have gotten a little bit of recognition on that. They have been awesome because time is really at a premium here. You get up at 5 or 5:30 in the morning and you're not done with most of your responsibilities until late at night."

What is one thing that you will remember down the road about your time at The Citadel?
MB – "There's so much. It starts with the academic freedom that I have had with the History Department. I've been able to take a lot of really interesting classes, meet a lot of interesting professors, and go present at conferences. With rifle, I've been able to compete at a really high level that when I was in high school, certain people would tell me that I would never be able to do. Then in the Army, I've had the chance to do a lot of different stuff that I never thought I'd be able to do. I think this has been a great learning experience."

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