Ask Me Anything: Rat at Virginia Military Institute

Having an oddly difficult time finding the answer to these questions, but it's probably hiding in plain sight;
  • do cadets own their uniforms, or is the $2,700 fee a rental?
  • is it a recurring fee every year (3rd, 2nd, 1st class years)?

Thanks in advance.
 
Pappy_VanRankle said:
Having an oddly difficult time finding the answer to these questions, but it's probably hiding in plain sight;
  • do cadets own their uniforms, or is the $2,700 fee a rental?
  • is it a recurring fee every year (3rd, 2nd, 1st class years)?

Thanks in advance.
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You do not own a majority of the uniform items. The fee is recurring every year. It accounts for the personnel that tailor/maintain the uniforms as well as the cost of the accessories that aren’t recollected and reissued. Lastly, Gym Dyke, Sweat Dyke top, and Travel Dyke bottoms are all owned by the cadet. Not justifying the price, but that’s what it accounts for.
 
Wishful said:
Is it true West Point is referred to as the "VMI of the North"?;)
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I don't think so ... I seem to recall a story here on the Forum where a family was returning their USMA Plebe to West Point and he was in Grey Blouse ... and they were in a restaurant in Virginia ... and the waitress asked if the young man was a VMI Cadet ... Of course the proud parents said no, that he was a cadet at West Point ... To which the Virginia waitress replied, "that's a shame " ... :D
 
Then there is the other story from Kadet Life where VMI and West Point had booths at the same college recruiting event ... The West Point cadets interacted with their VMI Brethern during a break and sincerely offered to help the VMI cadets with admission to West Point should they desire it, and recommended that they visit the West Point recruiting booth ... To which the VMI cadets replied to their West Point Brethern that should they wish to partake in a real 4th Class System experience, they should visit the VMI recruiting booth ... ;)
 
As far as ROTC goes....are you on scholarship? if yes, congrats! If not, is it very difficult to work on getting the scholarship for the second year?
Also, NROTC vs AFROTC...thoughts?
thank you.
 
bhimom said:
As far as ROTC goes....are you on scholarship? if yes, congrats! If not, is it very difficult to work on getting the scholarship for the second year?
Also, NROTC vs AFROTC...thoughts?
thank you.
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Not sure who this was directed to. NROTC vs AFROTC is easy: Does being a Surface Warfare Officer or Submarine Officer interest you?

Scholarships are competitive. For now, I think Navy is still more competitive than AF, but I think the trend is heading the other direction (very unqualified opinion). The AF shut down the 1 yr scholarship program and the huge pilot shortage won’t last forever. Meanwhile, the Navy is ramping up Nuke intake and opened a 1 yr program at VMI. For both branches they are far more competitive than an Army scholarship or USMC PLC contract. Both also strongly prefer technical majors (see specific lists on respective websites).

All this being said, pick the branch you want to serve in most, not who you think will give you a scholarship.
 
bhimom said:
is it very difficult to work on getting the scholarship for the second year?
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It is competitive getting a scholarship anywhere, and IMO possibly tougher at VMI. This may actually be one of the few disadvantages of a place like VMI in that there are lots of great performing cadets/mids and only so many available scholarships for VMI. I know a few of my DS's friends at VMI who are absolute beasts and were not successful picking up a scholarship (did get advanced standing, so still contracted). On the other hand I know of a couple of DS's friends who went to other schools with smaller units and so-so mids were able to pick up a scholarship. (My knowledge is only with NROTC and NROTC-MO and limited to a handful of DS's friends, so take my comments with a grain of salt).


VMI2017+3 said:
All this being said, pick the branch you want to serve in most, not who you think will give you a scholarship.
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^agree with this response to the NROTC vs AFROTC question.
 
How is holiday/furlough travel usually sorted out? Do cadets usually fly out from one airport over another (e.g. Richmond vs DCA or IAD)?
Is there usually a shuttle that runs to the airport, or do cadets grab an uber/cab?
 
Pappy_VanRankle said:
How is holiday/furlough travel usually sorted out? Do cadets usually fly out from one airport over another (e.g. Richmond vs DCA or IAD)?
Is there usually a shuttle that runs to the airport, or do cadets grab an uber/cab?
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There is no official VMI process for this. People talk with their BRs and Dykes and get things figured out. Dulles is probably most common Airport people fly out of, but some use Roanoke, Charlottesville, BWI. There’s a VMI Rides Facebook page as well, just talking with people normally works though.
 
are you a NROTC scholarship student? If no how are you paying for school? grants, loans, scholarships? trying to figure a way to pay for school for a rising Jr who may attend VMI.
 
banjoppd said:
are you a NROTC scholarship student? If no how are you paying for school? grants, loans, scholarships? trying to figure a way to pay for school for a rising Jr who may attend VMI.
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I am on a NROTC 2-year Advanced Standing contract. I wish I could help, but I am on my parent's G.I. Bill. I know VMI can help with Financial Aid, the office number is 540-464-7208.
 
VMI definitely helps with finances--it's one of the benefits of VMI having the largest endowment fund per capita of any public college in the US. You just have to demonstrate the need or the merit.
 
I hope you're still at this! Can rats get mail during hell week? I saw that they get an email when they have mail, but maybe they don't even have email until after hell week?
 
CuriousAuntie said:
I hope you're still at this! Can rats get mail during hell week? I saw that they get an email when they have mail, but maybe they don't even have email until after hell week?
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If things haven’t changed, a call is possible Wednesday night (day definitely may have changed). Otherwise, expect no comms until after Hell Week. They can get any mail you send right after Hell Week though.
 
VMI2017+3 said:
If things haven’t changed, a call is possible Wednesday night
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Also, answer any calls from unknown numbers. As Rats are signing up for classes and other administrative tasks kindly staff members have been known to allow a Rat to use their phone to call home. Also, if they go to a local church on Sundays, church members often allow Rats to use their phones as well.
 
Dadof2 said:
Also, answer any calls from unknown numbers. As Rats are signing up for classes and other administrative tasks kindly staff members have been known to allow a Rat to use their phone to call home. Also, if they go to a local church on Sundays, church members often allow Rats to use their phones as well.
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Thanks. Yes, she called I think Wednesday from her advisors office and then again Sunday from church. She's doing well and we're so happy to get to see her again in October. Really looking forward to it!
 
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