Life in the Corps of Cadets - Cadet Life - Virginia Military Institute
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Life in the Corps of Cadets
A VMI cadet’s life balances academic, military, and athletic activities to build discipline, structure, and clarity.
Events and Traditions
From matriculation to graduation, members of the Corps of Cadets immerse themselves in tradition. Weekly and regular
parades
showcase cadets' professionalism. Other
traditions
prepare cadets for a life of service and include breaking out of the Rat Line, earning privileges, wearing the uniform, taking on responsibilities through the Class System, earning a class ring, serving the community, and supporting "brother rats" from all backgrounds to succeed at VMI and beyond.
Cadet Leadership and Development
Now more than ever, our society needs leaders who can take on 21st Century challenges. VMI produces the types of leaders highly sought after in military, government, medical, legal, and private and public industry. The VMI
leadership system
provides cadets from all backgrounds with the highest standards of honor, respect, civility, self-discipline, and professionalism. The system includes the VMI
Honor Code
Class System
Regimental System
Center for Leadership and Ethics
Leader-in-Residence
program, and other leadership programs and activities.
Daily life at VMI challenges the Corps of Cadets physically, mentally, and academically while instilling character traits built on honor, integrity, civility, personal conduct, self- discipline, and lifelong bonds through the “brother rat” spirit.
Daily Life
The way cadets live together and work together while at VMI lays the foundation for the way they will live and work throughout their lives. Cadets take responsibility for themselves and their “brother rats” in every aspect of daily life at VMI, including keeping their sparingly-furnished barracks rooms clean and orderly.
Daily life
at VMI centers on improving the health, welfare, and resiliency of the Corps of Cadets through demanding academic, athletic, and military skills training, engaging
extracurricular activities
, and a proven system of leadership development.
Milestones
VMI cadets progress from matriculation and the
Rat Line
, develop rat-dyke mentorships, break out of the Rat Line to become 4th Class cadets, become part of the upper class cadre, earn a class ring during
Ring Figure
, apply for and may be awarded rank, serve on the General Committee to help monitor every facet of cadet life, and finally graduate to serve in a wide variety of civilian professions, pursue graduate studies, or commission as new officers in military service.
The distinctive VMI approach to higher education, which is the result of over 170 years of development, continues to prove its effectiveness in providing young men and women an environment that fosters intellectual, physical, and character development.
Academics, Athletics, Military Life
High-quality undergraduate
academic programs
in engineering, science, and the arts, opportunities in
NCAA team
and
club sport athletics
, and military training and the
Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)
program carefully and deliberately build future leaders. These individuals possess unwavering character, demonstrate sound reasoning, make ethical decisions, engage in societal problem-solving, deliver results, lead honorably, and serve selflessly.
Embracing a Life of Service
VMI cadets work with members of their local and global communities in civic engagement programs through academic departments, NCAA athletics programs, ROTC branches, VMI's
Alumni Association
, and other organizations in Rockbridge County and beyond to benefit others, and to provide cadets with opportunities to serve, compete, explore diverse interests, and master new skills.
Ready to start your VMI journey?
Complete VMI's Inquiry Form
Visit Post and Attend Open House
Contact
Amanda Hostetter
Commandant Office Manager
P: 540-464-7313
F: 540-464-7748
hostetterah@vmi.edu
Commandant's Office
Old Barracks
Mailing Address:
For USPS:
NAME (If to an individual)
Commandant's Office
510 Burma Road
P.O. Box 1839
Lexington, VA, 24450
For Other Carriers:
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Commandant's Office
510 Burma Road
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, VA, 24450
VMI: Forging 21st Century Leaders