COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Reveille IX, also known as the First Lady of Aggieland, is the official mascot of Texas A&M University.
She is an American rough coat collie, and if you'd like to know more about her, just ask sophomore Mia Miller.
In fact, you could ask Miller just about anything about Reveille IX or the previous eight Reveilles.
After all, as her primary handler, it's Miller's job to know everything dating back to the first Reveille from 1931.
For the past 10 months, whenever the Hewitt native and Midway graduate took Reveille anywhere, groups were star struck when they saw the famous collie.
Miller is a Marine Corps ROTC cadet at A&M, and her company, E-2, is the official group that takes care of Reveille.
In years past, only men were allowed in this exclusive company.
Until April 2019, Miller is the leader of it.
When she took over as the primary handler of the First Lady of Aggieland, she became the first woman in A&M's history to do so.
"Her articulation and how she gets the word across, it's amazing," Cadet Training Officer Chad Parker said. "So I like watching what she does and how people's eyes sparkle and how she speaks to other people about the tradition at Texas A&M University with Reveille."
Miller said she embraces the challenges of the Marine Corps ROTC program and showcasing Reveille IX.
"For people who are considering doing ROTC, and becoming involved in programs that are more male-centered originally, I would definitely say that it's a challenge that you have to be willing to face," she said. "But if you have a tough mindset, and it's something that you really want to do, there's no doubt that you can do it. All it takes is perseverance and a strong mind."
To her friends and family that knew her at Midway, Miller's success is no surprise.
She ran track and cross country under coach Ronny Boles, and she earned a scholarship through the A&M Marine Corps ROTC program she's so heavily involved in.
Coach Boles said Miller's scholarship and role as Reveille IX's handler is a testament to her work ethic and discipline.
"It was her, how strong minded she was," Boles said. "She knew what she wanted to do, and she went and did it. If I had a daughter, I'd of loved it to be her."
All that running in high school was put on display at football games and on campus. One Aggie tradition involving Reveille is if she barks in a classroom, class is dismissed.
"So, we went to Galveston A&M, and we were walking around campus and there was a classroom, so we just walked in and the classroom got all excited because Rev was there," Miller said. "And they all jumped up, and said 'Oh my gosh it's Rev!' and the excitement stirred her up, and she started barking and the class just immediately got up and started leaving and the professor was like 'What's going on?'"
Miller's one-year obligation to handle Reveille is almost up, and come April, another sophomore will succeed her as the handler. However, Miller will always be the first woman to have the role.
Miller said her bond with Reveille is strong, so she'll miss her once she passes on the responsibility to a fellow ROTC cadet.
"Spending a lot of time together, because we spend just basically all day together everyday," she said. "It's been really fun just getting to know her and her personality traits. She's just a goofy girl. She definitely knows that she's the Queen of Aggieland, that's for sure, and she's been a really fun dog and really fun to watch this year."
Once she graduates, Miller will join the Marine Corps as an officer, where she will no doubt be tested again.
Knowing what it takes to handle the First Lady of Aggieland, those tests won't deter Miller.
Reveille Mascot Gravesite at Kyle Field
Reveille Gravesite photos
"Semper Fidelis" is the Latin motto for the U.S. Marine Corps, and it translates to "always loyal" in English.
It's appropriate that the branch of the military with that motto cares for A&M's loyal friend, Reveille.
To show respect to that loyalty, the university has a pet cemetery in front of Kyle Field, so all past and future Reveilles can eventually rest in peace at the place they're loved most.
The gravesite even has its own scoreboard, so past Reveilles can always keep up with Aggie football.
To learn more about the history of Reveille, follow this link.