This is a story of family, legacy, and the unbreakable bond forged through tradition and service. It’s the story of a father and son whose shared journey through The Citadel runs deeper than uniforms and parade formations, rooted in a family bloodline defined by discipline, duty, and devotion to country.
Since 1842, The Citadel has stood as a steadfast symbol of honor, courage, and commitment to our great nation. In a country built on freedom and forged by sacrifice, The Military College of South Carolina continues to shape the kind of leaders America depends on, men and women of character, conviction, and unwavering resolve.
Military academies are not iust schools they are proving grounds for discipline, and honor, a defining journey that almost always requires sacrifice as the price of admission. The final product are men and women prepared to serve something greater than themselves. From the battlefield to the boardroom, from the Oval Office to small town communities, graduates of America’s military colleges make a difference, quietly, consistently, and with honor.
What Sets Them Apart
Military academies are not like other universities. While many colleges focus on academic achievement or career advancement, these institutions prioritize something deeper: honor, service, discipline, and duty. Cadets don’t just attend classes, they live a code. One that can’t be explained. only experienced.
What sets them apart isn’t just their curriculum, it’s the culture. The Corps of Cadets is more than a student body, it’s a living laboratory ofleadership. Mistakes aren’t simply correct-ed, they become lessons. Wins aren’t just celebrated, they’re shared. At a time when patriotism is sometimes whispered instead of shouted, these academies remind us that loving your country isn’t about waving a flag, it’s about carrying the weight of its future on your back.For more than 180 years, The Citadel has carried out that mission within its historic gates. They gray stone buildings rise with purpose, modeled after fortress walls, strong, simple, and enduring. Much like the spirit they’re meant to build. Set against the deep history of Charleston, where cobblestone streets and oak-shaded courtyards whisper stories of courage and resilience, The Citadel stands as both a landmark and a calling. Here, cadets are transformed, mind, body, and spirit, then sent beyond those walls to serve their country and communities in countless ways, carrying forward the same code that shaped them.
This is the legacy known as the long Gray Line, a living thread of leadership woven through the fabric of our nation, stretching from the parade ground to the highest ranks of military and civilian life.
A Legacy with a Twist
For Camm Garrett Sr., service wasn’t just a value, it was woven into the very fabric of his family’s history. His father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all proudly attended the Virginia Military Institute, and his great uncle held the prestigious position of Commandant of Cadets there. With such deep and honored ties, it might have seemed natural for Camm Sr. to follow the same path.
But when the time came to choose a college, he visited both VMI and The Citadel. Despite the strong family tradition, Charleston and The Citadel called to him in a way he couldn’t ignore. “It was a tough decision,” he admits.
“But I wanted to see what I was made of. I wanted to go somewhere where no one knew my name, to eam everything from scratch.”
Years later, that same spirit inspired his son, Camm Garrett Jr. After graduating from Walker Valley High School in 2021, Camm Jr. spent a vear at Middle Tennessee State University in the ROTC program. Listening to his father’s stories about lifelong friendships forged, grueling training endured, and invaluable leadership lessons learned, he found himself drawn to The Citadel. He applied and matriculated in Fall 2022. “I was incredibly proud of his decision,” Camm Sr. reflects. “Proud of the man he was becoming and proud, as an alumnus, to see him walk that same parade ground.”
The Citadel Experience and Tradition
Imagine stepping through the iron gates of The Citadel where the air is thick with salt from the harbor, and the sound of boots striking pavement echoes between the walls that have stood for generations. You feel the weight of tradition the moment you arrive.
Freshman year, known as “Knob Year”, hits like a tidal wave. ‘There’s no easing in. “You get there and you’re thrown right into it,” says Camm Sr. “Standing at attention, bracing, shouting, memorizing. It’s immediate. Intense. Everything has a purpose.” See the new cadets, “knobs”, lined up under the Carolina sky, learning to march before they can even catch their breath. They move in rhythm, every step an act of obedience and pride. Their first destination? The barber-shop. Razors buzz in unison as hair falls to the floor. “For the guys, mornings are quick,” laughs Camm Jr. “You can roll out of bed and be ready in seconds, because there’s no hair to fuss over while you’re being ordered to stand at attention.”
From that moment, life runs with clockwork precision. Feel the pre-dawn chill as cadets fall into formation, the smell of polish on leather shoes, the burn in your muscles as pushups stack by the dozens. Days are long and demanding, filled with cleaning, inspections, drills, and classes. “That’s strategically part of the training. You have to learn to lead yourself before you can lead anyone else,” says Camm Jr.
Every Friday, the parade grounds come alive. See the Corps of Cadets march onto Summeral Field, rows as perfect as a chess board, uniforms sharp, flags snapping in the breeze. The drums beat like a heartbeat for the whole city. Locals and tourists line the streets, but for the cadets, it’s more than a show. It’s a reminder that they’re part of something bigger, something that’s lasted for nearly two centuries.
Then comes football season. Smell the barbecue smoke drifting through the tailgates, hear the cheers rising from the stands, and feel that surge of pride when the Bulldogs take the field. Alumni slap backs, cadets wave flags, and the Long Gray Line spirit runs deep. Rivalries make it sweeter. “VMI’s the big one,” says Camm Jr., “but beating Furman feels pretty good too.”
Through the exhaustion cadets find their rhythm and “embrace the suck’, a phrase that embodies finding joy in the hard times.
It’s a beautiful balance between hardship and joy. It’s in the parades, the football games, the shared grind of daily life that they discover what it means to belong. The Citadel isn’t just a school. It’s a living story, one you can see, hear, smell, and feel, written by those who dared to step inside and live the code.
Academics Like No Other
Academics at The Citadel are held to equally high standards, and they’re anything but ordinary. Professors, many with military backgrounds, push cadets hard, blending rigorous coursework with real-world leadership skills. “They know you’re capable of more than you think,” Camm Jr. says.
Unlike a typical university, where the biggest decisions might be whether to hit snooze or what flavor of latte to get before class, The Citadel teaches time management under extreme conditions. You’re not just learning calculus or history, you’re learning to make quick decisions, prioritize under pressure, and stay disciplined when everything in you wants to procrastinate.
Cadets live what they learn. Leadership, teamwork, and accountability aren’t separate classes, they’re woven into every assignment, lab, and group project. Miss a deadline, and it’s not just a grade, it’s a lesson in responsibility. Forget a uniform inspection? You’ll hear about it in no uncertain terms. “It’s like your typical college… if your professors doubled as drill sergeants,”
Camm Jr. laughs.
Every class, every test, every late-night study session is training for the bigger picture:
Building leaders who can think clearly, act decisively, and inspire others… specifically for when the stakes are high and the pressure is real. Discipline, leadership, and focus aren’t just taught, they are inserted into the psyche with surgical precision as second nature, and lived in every part of every day.
Garrett Investment Group: A Different Kind of Legacy
That same sense of duty and service that defined Camm Sr.’s time at The Citadel extends seamlessly into his professional life. After graduate school at the University of Tennessee, where he initially considered pursuing a PhD in physics, he made a pivotal decision to enter finance, a field where he could serve others in a different, yet equally meaningful way. He began as a paraplanner for a Prudential-affiliated wealth management group in Knoxville, crafting detailed financial plans for clients and learning the importance of long-term strategy, precision, and trust, skills he had honed at The Citadel.
In 2000, he moved to Athens to open a Citizens National Bank office, laying the groundwork for what would become a thriving career in investment management. Sixteen years later, in 2016, Camm Sr. launched Garrett Investment Group, located at the corner of Jackson and Green Street in Athens, Tennessee. The firm is a fully independent, full-service investment management company, offering retirement planning, estate strategies, and customized investment solutions for families, businesses, and individuals.
“We take a holistic approach,” he says. “Most of the industry focuses on how to accumulate assets. I focus on how to make them last, for the rest of your life.” Beyond the numbers, his approach is rooted in genuine care and responsibility: “I worry, so my clients don’t have to. I want them to focus on faith, family, friends, and the things they love, while I handle the worry about what’s going to happen with their money.”
For Camm Sr., Garrett Investment Group isn’t just a business, it’s an extension of the values The Citadel instilled in him. Every client relationship is an opportunity to lead wisely, serve faithfully, and leave a lasting impact, just as he and his family have done in their military and civic lives.
Looking Ahead
After graduation, Camm Jr. will attend Army training at Fort Knox before commissioning as a Second Lieutenant in the Tennessee Army National Guard. He plans to pursue a master’s in marketing at the University of Tennessee and explore a career in real estate.
With such strong roots in service, leadership, and family, there’s no doubt great things lie ahead for this modern-day patriot and his family. Their story continues to unfold, marked by honor, hard work, and a commitment to building a future worthy of their proud legacy.
A March Shared
Hopefully, this story inspires you to walk a little straighter, carry yourself with a little more pride, and live each day more honorable than the last, because after all, that is what it should mean to be an American.
Being a good citizen isn’t just about following rules or waving a flag; it’s about living with integrity, serving others, and taking responsibility for the freedoms we enjoy every day. It’s about striving to be courageous, compassionate, and accountable, even when no one is watching.
For both father and son, walking The Citadel’s parade grounds is more than symbolic, it’s sacred. “There’s something about wearing the Ring of Honor, about knowing you’ve been through the same crucible as your dad,’ Camm Jr. says.
Camm Sr. reflects deeply: “I can’t think of anything I’m more proud of than being an American. The liberties we enjoy, the freedom to believe, to speak, to pursue life as we choose, soldiers have died to protect those rights. I hold the flag, the ideals of this country, and the Constitution in the highest regard. I’m proud of the opportunities everyone is afforded here.
“Back then, I had no idea what The Citadel would mean for my life. And I never imagined my son would choose the same path. But watching him rise, watching him lead, I couldn’t be prouder.”
Their story isn’t just about tradition, it’s about values that endure: grit, honor, leadership, family, and love of country. It’s a reminder that each of us has the power, and responsibility, to contribute positively to our communities and our nation.
Here’s to one more proud thread in the long, unbroken chain known as The Citadel’s Long Gray Line.
