Essay 3: Barracks Life
What is VMI? VMI is the Virginia Military Institute, a four year military college in Lexington, Virginia. The Virginia Military Institute has produced some of the world’s greatest leaders like General George Marshall, General Peay, and former Vice President Mike Pence just to name a few. With that in mind, how does VMI produce such great leaders? Through the rigorous and intense life in barracks. The first part of the barracks, named “Old Barracks” is the oldest of the three sections, hence the name. Then, the second oldest was named “New Barracks”, and most recently, the final part of the barracks that was built was named “Third Barracks”. “Construction of “New Barracks,” standing diagonally to the NW of the west wing. It was occupied by cadets in September 1949, with the primary entrance through Marshall Arch. A concourse level in the rear housed the military store, tailor shop, and other support services. Third Barracks is constructed where Lejeune Hall once stood. In addition to increasing the available number of cadet rooms, the new wing incorporates a Visitor’s Center, the bookstore, and the Keydet Canteen” (VMI Website, VMI Archives). All three sections of this prison-like structure make up the VMI barracks.
To begin with, barracks life begins with the ratline, which is conducted to instill the proper training and structure for guiding you through the rest of your cadetship and life. The ratline is, “The rat line is designed to be comparable to the Marine Corps boot camp in terms of its physical rigor and mental stress. The rat line includes indoctrination, minute regulation of individual behavior, frequent punishments, rigorous physical education, and military drills. VMI’s catalogue describes the rat system as “equal and impersonal in its application, tending to remove wealth and former station in life as factors in one’s standing as a cadet, and ensuring equal opportunity for all to advance by personal effort and enjoy those returns that are earned” (Article 5, Jon Allyn Soderber).
In addition, barracks life includes many obstacles and challenges that help reinforce the idea of a “harsh reality of life after VMI”. We have all faced some adversity in our lifetime, and for cadets at the Virginia Military Institute, it is a daily normality to face some form of adversity. Adversity comes in many forms at the Virginia Military Institute, like for example getting to class on time so you do not have to march penalty tours during your free time. Another example is putting your bed up everyday so you don’t get put on confinement, which means you can’t leave the school campus, even on the weekends. So while other college kids are partying and having fun, you are stuck on school grounds because you were late to class or did not put your bed up on time. There are many challenges at the Virginia Military Institute, and it teaches you discipline and the will to solve any problem or challenge that comes your way.
Furthermore, barracks life is connected to other aspects of VMI, like ROTC control time during weekends, room inspections, and formations everyday during supper and early breakfast times. These formations are meant for taking accountability and to ensure proper marching to Crozet Hall for breakfast and supper. On top of that, cadets get evaluated by the Commandant Staff, the “adults at the Virginia Military Institute” on how well each company does marching down. In addition, cadets have their rooms inspected and can get on confinement or march penalty tours for having messy rooms or an unorganized wall locker. On the other hand, cadets must choose an ROTC branch for all four years of their cadetship. These ROTC branches, the Army, Navy, Marine Corp, and Air Force, hold a control time on weekends in which the ROTC branches conduct training for the required skills needed. The purpose of these training is to allow cadets to become more familiar with their ROTC branch and get hands-on experience before they commission into the military. With all these things in mind, barracks life is both fascinating and teaches cadets many lessons they can put in their back pockets for the rest of their lives.
While VMI is a very rigorous and challenging college, there are still fun events that take place at the Virginia Military Institute. Some examples would be football games and movie nights in barracks. Football games are unique at the Virginia Military Institute, especially home games. The game begins with the entire Corp of cadets marching down from the parade field to the football stadium, where the Corp forms up by battalion on the football field and salutes both sides of the stands before the game starts. In addition, the Virginia Military Institute hosts events like movie nights and costume contests. The purpose of these events is to keep the morale of the corps of cadets high. Also, it keeps the public’s eye at ease if they see VMI hosting fun events and not acting like a prison school.
To end with, the Virginia Military Institute is a unique college that teaches cadets how to achieve their goals and learn the highest form of good character and honor. VMI not only instructs cadets to become better leaders, VMI helps cadets prepare for the life ahead of them. Whether that is joining the military or working in the civilian field, applying what you learned from VMI will help you wherever you go. The Virginia Military Institute rigorous schedule for all four years of your cadetship, will train you for a lifetime of any challenge you face. VMI is no ordinary life.
HR: VMI Essays: The Virginia Military Institute And The Equal Protection Clause: A Factual And Legal Introduction (wlu.edu), VMI Barracks History – VMI Archives – Virginia Military Institute, Cadets experience Army life through mentorships with active duty units | Article | The United States Army, Virginia Military Institute | Military Benefits, and VMI 3rd Battalion- Golf Company for interview questions.