Since first attending VMI, a place of many interesting and unique customs and features, I have come to the realization that it is truly unlike any other school. One feature of VMI that plays a major role in separating it from other colleges and universities, and that I have also recently become a part of, is the Rat-Dyke relationship the school offers for its students. This relationship is specifically for its Rats and Dykes/First Classmen, or in layman’s terms freshman and seniors, respectively. Unlike any “big/little sibling’ or mentor/mentee system other schools may have, VMI’s system, allows for the development over a stronger bond, as well as more growth in both students. As I progress through the ratline, I will strive to embrace all the aspects of the rat-dyke system, utilizing everything it will teach me, so that I can learn the ways of being a cadet, and eventually reach a higher position within this community.

Before coming to VMI, my mom and I would hear from other parents of future, current and former students, about the process of getting a dyke. Although we still didn’t know what it fully consisted of we understood the general idea that I would have an upperclassman, essentially acting as my “mentor”, during my first year at VMI. It wasn’t until stepping foot onto VMI that I truly understood the system I was about to enter. During my first few days at VMI, in the midst of hell week, I was slightly nervous as I heard from many of my brother rats about them getting dykes, while I had still not yet gotten one. However, it wasn’t long before I got my own dyke. I still remember my first time meeting Matt Menia, a First Classman and computer science major, while at the QMD, his part time job. While he was issuing me boots and low quarters, we started a conversation that ended with him asking if I had a dyke, me responding no, and then him following up by saying he would request me to be his rat for the year. I had never been more excited for something I knew so little about, but I was relieved that I had finally been claimed. At that moment I had officially become a member of VMI’s Rat-Dyke system.

The first few times I was able to spend with Matt, I was able to get a feel for his personality, daily routine and his expectations for me. For the most part, he was and still is a very chill and laid back kind of guy, but also one of the smartest and athletic people I know, who also happens to love playing Xbox. I was yet again relieved that I didn’t get one of the strict, uptight dykes, that gave their rats strict rules and punished their rats for pure amusement, such as straining rats in their rooms, making rats run around 1st stoop screaming, and making them leave two minutes before taps. Matt, thankfully, is a reasonable dyke. He allows for me to have a balance between responsibility, which is important for me to have during my cadetship, and freedom, something I don’t really have anywhere else on post being a rat. Some of my responsibilities, in this community known as “dyke duties”, include taking out the trash, sweeping, putting his hay(bed) up and down, and cleaning his brass and shoes. These “dyke duties” along with being an NCAA athlete and a mechanical engineering major, fills my plate up to the point that I am almost constantly busy, moving around and getting stuff done. To be a part of this community, I had to learn to set routines and schedules for myself to ensure that I could get everything done. For the most part, however, while in his room he allows to me to just relax, and really just do whatever I want, within reason of course. Usually, I spend time in his room on my phone, taking power naps, doing homework, or playing video games with him. Interacting with him through video games and watching movies builds  more of a personal bond between us, rather than just doing chores, which is more professional. Spending time with Matt has taught me a lot about the system itself and its purpose to build a long-lasting bond between a Rat and Dyke that will allow the rat to learn the necessary qualities of being a cadet. According to Matt, “The purpose of the rat/dyke relationship is an educational experience for both parties. The rat learns about the VMI system and is given opportunities to ask questions without fear of getting yelled at or misguided. The dyke gets added responsibility of making sure that their rat is guided properly and learns what they need to succeed which develops their leadership.” The system allows for rats to become accustomed to the ways of VMI through their dyke, learning things they will have to continuously practice during their time in the school. The rat-dyke system teaches skills such as being on time, managing time, and being more efficient with daily tasks. Dyke’s are basically mentors for rats, who give them guidance through daily struggles, acting as a resource for just about any information regarding VMI. Whether it is a question about what time a specific auxiliary service closes, or how to wear certain parts of a uniform, dykes are the only people rats can go to for answers for questions and inquiries. Matt gives me advice all the time, with doing certain things everyday. In his responses to my interview, he gives me basic advice pertaining to what I can do for myself to prepare myself for life as a cadet, as well as throughout the next few years atVMI. “Maintain a positive attitude, go out and talk to your BRs daily, attend GSS and office hours before you need help, and don’t partake in jodel it does not contain any useful information and will cause you to develop a bad attitude due to everyone complaining about the system.”

Additionally dykes benefit from the system as well, receiving more short-term benefits that they are able to enjoy now, rather than later. My dyke has claimed that “Being a dyke I benefit greatly from having a rat, my rat does chores for me such as making my bed in the mornings, getting my laundry, and ensuring my uniforms are to standard. There are other benefits to having a rat, as they become your legacy at VMI and their accomplishments will make you proud.” 

Since just recently joining this community, there are still many areas where I can improve, some being made by my constant effort and some happening naturally.  In response to my interview question: “Would you consider yourself an expert in all things VMI, experienced, or still learning? Or perhaps a combination?”, Matt answered by saying, “I would consider myself a combination as some things I know extremely well and others I ask or look in the blue book. You will learn new things about VMI constantly.” His statement shows that even being someone who has had several years of experience in a certain community, there are always new things for you too learn and experience. “As a rat having a positive relationship with your dyke is important as you will normally pick up their habits, if your dyke had rank you will most likely want to apply for it, the things they teach you develop you into the cadet you will become. This is why if a rat doesn’t understand or gets offended by something a dyke does the rat should “Ask your dyke . . .” .” This statement further supports the idea that dykes mentor rats to the best of their capability, with hopes of them becoming as good or even better cadets than themselves.

Like any other community there are some dysfunctions, or things that could be altered to allow the community to run more smoothly. Matt claims that “The process behind getting a rat is random unless you are in the claiming phase where you can claim a rat prior to the crucible. I think that since many people don’t know there rats and they end up having nothing in common they punish the rat extremely when they slip up one time, this leads to more slip ups for the rat and they have a negative experience along with developing bad habits that will follow them throughout their cadetship. Not letting the dykes treat their rat poorly needs to change.”

My remaining time as a rat, will still be just the start of my increasing levels of expertise in this community. Embracing  this experience will allow me to transform into the cadet, I am eagerly waiting to become, and eventually into a dyke that will have his own rat to take care of in my senior year of college. Learning what I can now, will only prepare me for future roles/positions in the future.

Reflection

In my paper, I began by first defining the rat-dyke system and then discussed my experience at VMI up to the point that lead up to me getting a dyke. Then I proceeded to talk about my experience with my dyke up to this point in the ratline and what I have done in it so far. While discussing my experience I incorporated, the purpose of the rat-dyke relationship at VMI. I specifically focused on its effect on rats, but it has been shown to affect the dykes too. When doing this, I used my dyke as a point of reference for information about the rat-dyke system, to provide an accurate explanation as to why it exists. I also made connections between my experience and the systems said benefits, to show how I, in my experience as a rat, was already encountering some of those benefits. This strategy, was essentially a way of organizing my paper, which helped it flow.