Questions for VMI Cadets

A

army2021

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Hello. Had a few questions about VMI. I was wondering one, if you anyone had any information about Ranger Challenge and pointers with that at the Institute. Heard it was a very competitive tryout there. And also had packing questions. What stuff would you recommend packing for matriculation/rat year that isn't on the packing list? Any specific brands of anything proved better than others? Also, what's the deal with knives? I'll be doing AROTC. On the website, it says no knives. But upon visiting, Cadets told me they had knives and they come in handy on FTXs. So how does that work? Something after hell week? Also any graduation gift ideas would be cool. Thanks and have a nice day!
 
Cannot answer your question about Ranger Challenge, sorry. However, my son is a Cadet at VMI, he does have a small pocket knife but did not take it rat year. I would certainly not take one before breakout. Keep in mind that the ratline does not end after Hell Week but after breakout, which is generally in late January or February, but has been later than that.

As for items not on the packing list, bandaids, cold medicine ( you will get barracks plague) Vitamins, protein bars or shakes ( these will have to stay in your trunk during hell week), lysol, Lysol wipes, hand and foot warmers ( after thanksgiving) Ethernet cord.

The VMI bookbag is a nice graduation gift, the Camelback, laptop, Walmart gift card ( there is one in Lexington and a shuttle that runs during general permit times).

Good Luck
 
turtlerunnernc said:
Cannot answer your question about Ranger Challenge, sorry. However, my son is a Cadet at VMI, he does have a small pocket knife but did not take it rat year. I would certainly not take one before breakout. Keep in mind that the ratline does not end after Hell Week but after breakout, which is generally in late January or February, but has been later than that.

As for items not on the packing list, bandaids, cold medicine ( you will get barracks plague) Vitamins, protein bars or shakes ( these will have to stay in your trunk during hell week), lysol, Lysol wipes, hand and foot warmers ( after thanksgiving) Ethernet cord.

The VMI bookbag is a nice graduation gift, the Camelback, laptop, Walmart gift card ( there is one in Lexington and a shuttle that runs during general permit times).

Good Luck
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Thank you very much! That was really informative and greatly appreciated! Have a nice day!
 
I will ask my Cadet about Ranger Challenge.

Also, follow the list exactly. You don't want to stand out as a rat. Starting now on the socks, underwear and compression shorts buying a few at a time may help ease the sticker shock. Never bought so many socks in my life, yes it really is 14 pair of compression shorts. Yes you will use all the socks and compression shorts.

Oh, a combination hair and body wash, easier to carry just one bottle instead of two and if you are male you won't have any hair to speak of znyway
 
repatriot said:
You don't want to stand out.
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turtlerunnernc said:
You don't want to stand out as a rat.
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^This is good advice. Don't do, wear or say anything that would make you stand out. But also realize that no matter what you do and how much you try not to stand out, at some point you will feel like you are being singled out for something. Don't take it personally.

Get in the best shape you can before you show up and run, run, run, then run some more to prepare.
 
Dadof2 said:
But also realize that no matter what you do and how much you try not to stand out, at some point you will feel like you are being singled out for something. Don't take it personally. Get in the best shape you can before you show up and run, run, run, then run some more to prepare.
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^^ Truly GREAT advice.
 
It's not 14 compression shorts, that's a typo that hasn't been corrected for the past couple of years. It's supposed to be 4.
 
cmilli97 said:
It's not 14 compression shorts, that's a typo that hasn't been corrected for the past couple of years. It's supposed to be 4.
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Actually that is not correct....you DO need 14 pairs. This was confirmed with VMI last year by a couple parents.

You will be changing them a couple times a day (sweaty, dirty, etc), and laundry is only done once a week.
 
Respectfully, that's what I was told by the Parent's Council before I matriculated. Most people only wear them with ACUs, as the new shorts they provide have them built in. Nobody really needs 14, especially since they're ~$20 per pair.
 
Although, I just asked my current Rat, and she said she really didn't need 14. She said maybe ten pair. However - you are generally highly advised to get everything on the list. You can have more of anything, but it's a good idea to have the minimum required of everything on the list; it will be checked and you do not want any unnecessary attention [emoji12]
 
Hi, I'm currently a second at VMI and I also was on the Ranger Challenge team as a Rat and third. I went to compete at Fort Knox rat year as well. I came into VMI wanting to really get ahead within the army department, so I got in tip top shape(Lots of rucking) and tried out. If your child would like to be on the team just make sure they can at least max the Army PT test. It's a great experience and they offer a lot of advanced training in small unit tactics, which will put them ahead of the rest initially. They used to have separate ftxs where we'd do more realistic training, stuff infantry units train for; however, i'm not exactly sure if that's the case anymore. The competition is pretty hard and will test your child if they go. It changes from year to year, so it can be a little hard to be prepared for. Your child should definitely try out even if they think they won't make it. It's worth a shot.
 
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