Freedoms?

cisco

5-Year Member
Joined
May 11, 2011
Messages
142
What're some of the "freedoms" that people in Norwich, Citadel, and in VMI have as compared to a regular college/university? For example, West Point, you cannot even leave the compus without having your Pass, which is once a semester unless you earn more. Such stuff like that.



Also, a couple other questions.

Does VMI have their own Drill Team/Ranger Platoon?

Does Norwich University have a Ranger Platoon? If so, can you be in their Drill Team as well as their Ranger Platoon?

If they do have a Ranger Platoon, is there a "test" you have to take to be apart of it?



Thank you for your time!
 
from my understanding, mind you I dont go to Norwich, is that Norwich does have a ranger platoon. Yes there is an "indoc" period before you're "accepted" into ranger platoon. And im not sure if you can be in Drill Team and Ranger. My thoughts are probably not as both are time consuming and would probably be way too much for your rook year.

As far as freedoms, At norwich, in particular, you are gradually given freedoms as the year progresses, and once you are recognized as a cadet, then you get most if not all privileges.

For example, I know you arent suppose to use facebook or social network sites at Norwich, and you dont have a cell phone, they take it away from you and lock it up (correct me if im wrong, this is what I recall reading).

Thats all I really know, I hope this was helpful
 
At VMI- pretty much what you described at West Point. As a Rat your life is on post and without Cell phone/ social networking etc... Basically think of rat year as pretty much - nothing other than church uptown if you choose on sunday.
As a 4th classman after breakout - you can have a phone and climb back on facebook- just don't be seen in public using your phone- in your room only.
As an upper classman you will be able to go uptown on Saturday till Taps and Sunday till Dinner- have to be back in barracks at that time. You will have to wear your uniform - you won't have civilian clothes. also as an upperclassman you will start to earn weekend passes that you can take with the opportunity for more passes as you go along in years. When you get to be a first classman you will be allowed to own a car ,and when you take your permit you can leave in civilian clothes (can't be in the county in Civilian clothes though).
I guess that there is a Ranger Challenge team at VMI- there is not a drill team. During Football Season you will be marching in a couple of parades a week- not to mention Formal guard mounts and walking guard details. It will take the joy of parading right out of your system I promise you:rolleyes:
 
At VMI- pretty much what you described at West Point. As a Rat your life is on post and without Cell phone/ social networking etc... Basically think of rat year as pretty much - nothing other than church uptown if you choose on sunday.
As a 4th classman after breakout - you can have a phone and climb back on facebook- just don't be seen in public using your phone- in your room only.
As an upper classman you will be able to go uptown on Saturday till Taps and Sunday till Dinner- have to be back in barracks at that time. You will have to wear your uniform - you won't have civilian clothes. also as an upperclassman you will start to earn weekend passes that you can take with the opportunity for more passes as you go along in years. When you get to be a first classman you will be allowed to own a car ,and when you take your permit you can leave in civilian clothes (can't be in the county in Civilian clothes though).
I guess that there is a Ranger Challenge team at VMI- there is not a drill team. During Football Season you will be marching in a couple of parades a week- not to mention Formal guard mounts and walking guard details. It will take the joy of parading right out of your system I promise you:rolleyes:

Everything he said.

Although, if you do join an extracurricular activity that travels, you can get off post during first semester as a Rat. I did this with the Glee Club. I think we had one or two performances off post (which included overnights).

Getting involved in something like this can be a huge morale boost when stuff gets tough in the Ratline. I don't know what the current policy is for Rats with regard to club sports or other extracurriculars; however, if you CAN join something, do it. Just don't over-extend yourself, and make sure you keep up with grades. Honestly, I think being a Rat is easier if you have an EC you enjoy.
 
If they take away your phone, would it be a smarter idea to not even bring one?

Does VMI and Norwich allow you to send letters and such through the mail to friends and family? If they do, is there a specific time frame where you can?

Bruno: I already have no joy in being apart of parades. I'm in JROTC, and we march in quiet a bit of Parades. While everyone else has their nice floats or cars and wave, we follow them by marching. I don't mind, but after the first half-hour it gets a little boring, in my opinion. But anywho, for VMI, is there any "free time" during the regular day other then when it's time to eat? Same question for Norwich.
 
Cisco- there is always free time in everything- but at VMI your Rat year it will be pretty circumscribed- and one of the reasons IMHO that Rats tend to actually have fairly decent GPA's is that among other things they are out of their barracks room and in the Library. Now - Rat's tell their parents that's because they are serious about studying- a mjor reason they abandon th ebarracks at night is that when you are in barracks you are still a popup target in the shooting gallery, while you are safe and quiet in the Library or your study carrel. Whatever the reason- Rats spend a lot of their unscheduled time in outside barracks (a habit that many forget 3c year and then discover their GPA plummeting - and don't make the connection between hanging around playing quiddich on the stoops and lousy grades:eek:)
But yes- you will have unscheduled time. RahVaMil2009 could probably give you a much more detailed summary of what a Rat's day- to day schedule looks like. It's not unrelieved misery- no matter what it sounds like- but you are separated from a lot of external toys and you won't be wandering the "mean streets" :biggrin: of Lexington with all of your spare time.
 
Thanks!:biggrin: What about breaks? Are they the same/smiliar to USMA? 3 weeks off for Summer, etc?


Also, a little off topic, but I heard in Citadel something called Hazing, I believe? If I remember right. But, is there anything like that at VMI?
 
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