I know exactly what you mean and I think you disagree so much because i probably failed in getting my idea across.
Perhaps the VMI cadets who explained cadet life to you didn't explain themselves very well, either.
The lifestyle you're describing only happens for the first 10 days at VMI. This is known as Matriculation/Cadre/Hell Week and it is your (literal) crash course in drill, customs & courtesies, how to set your room up in military inspection order and how to wear your uniform. You don't have watches or alarm clocks because, as previously observed, you've got Cadre telling you exactly what to do and exactly when to do it. This doesn't last for the entire Ratline, much less your entire cadetship.
As soon as classes begin, the emphasis is placed on academics. You'd better bet that it's still intense, but Cadre ≠ glorified babysitter. Rats eat breakfast and supper with Cadre and they have 2-3 scheduled Cadre Training sessions per week. At the risk of ruining peoples' surprise
wink
, those Cadre Training sessions generally focus on continued
training. Rats learn progressively difficult drill movements and learn how to wear different uniforms (gray blouse, coatee, overcoat, etc.) during these training times, during the school year. It's intense, but normally these periods last from 1615-1730 or 1745.
The fact of the matter is that Cadre have classes and other responsibilities, too. They don't have time to be holding little rat paws. This means that rats
are responsible for managing their own deadlines. Heck yeah, they receive a boatload of scrutiny. Rat uniforms are supposed to be perfect all the time just as their rooms are supposed to be in military inspection order all the time, on top of academics. If they fail to meet any of these standards by the stated deadline, there will be consequences.
Yes, there will come a point when upperclassmen who aren't Cadre will be permitted to quiz rats on their knowledge and further enforce uniform standards, but this is all regulated by the General Committee and its subcommittees (the cadet government), with further oversight and guidance from the Commandant of Cadets and his Staff.
One myth that I want to debunk right now is that at VMI, "the all-knowing Cadre" CANNOT "harass" the rats "at all hours of the day." They don't have time for that and there are strict rules about when and where they are allowed to conduct training. Inevitably some will break these rules, and when it's found out, they will almost always lose their rank. At the very least they'll be spending plenty of time on confinement and marching PTs.
As an upperclassman, some of the scrutiny subsides. But they expect you to be an adult. As a rat, the Commandant's Staff tends to be a little more lenient, but not much. As an upperclassman, you are completely responsible for every action and inaction.
Ignorance is no excuse, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to" isn't good enough and if you put yourself on report you're still going to get the same penalty. This is meant to prepare you for life on the other side where "I didn't know that was against the UCMJ" is no excuse, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get your son/husband killed" just isn't good enough and if you do something wrong, you just own up to it and take the penalty. I'm sure this kind of pressure (to force you to learn how to prioritize, manage your time and take full responsibility for everything you do and don't do) is present at all of the Academies and SMCs.
In the end, the decision is yours. My main goal is to help explain things more clearly than they (apparently) were explained to you.
Hope this helps!
Jackie M. Briski
VMI Class of 2009
First Class Private (Ret.)
