VMI Business Insider Video

God bless these young men and women for their hearts to serve in various walks of life including, most notably, in defense of our country. God bless this fine institution. And God bless America!
 
I got to see my Rat at the 5:30 mark. The video was OK. Curious to hear what VMI alumni think of it. My son is enjoying every minute of it, as evident in his smirk in the video. I would like to think it's still a fine school even with all the changes the school has been forced to undergo this past year. Most schools, when put under a microscope, would have many more issues then what were reported at VMI.
 
I’m good with the changes. No matter what year you graduated, you’ll say it was harder back in the Old Corps (so long as the person you’re talking to graduated after you).

Looking back at it, I’m indifferent. Commanders have asked where I went to undergrad when I do my first office call. I say VMI, and I get the wow. Then I get the “Why did you go there?” Did my commanders treat me different because of being a VMI grad? Probably not. Commanders have more important things on their plate than to remember where their subordinates went to school.

Had we had internet, YouTube, etc… back in the day, I probably wouldn’t have gone to VMI. Why get abused like that when I can get to same end state by doing ROTC on a 4-year scholarship?

Maybe I got to be where I am because of VMI, but I can’t tell for sure. Maybe I would have turned out the same by going to a normal school.

It is kind of nice to have gone to a unique school though. People gawk at the VMI ring. Being all-male back in the day sure helped my GPA. Maybe I wouldn’t have been able to go to medical school if I went to a normal school because my GPA would have been so bad? So maybe that’s where VMI made a difference for me? No cars until first class year so I was stuck on post with nothing to do but study.
 
Decent representation, but an outsider view. The grind and mental aspects are harder than Hell Week or any specific work out, and the Ratline is less than 1/4 of your cadetship. I thought the rats comments were good and that they seemed to be adjusting and/or knew what they got themselves into. I get tired of constantly bringing up the sex/race issues. Judging by election results, I'm not the only one. My son is also a rat this year and from what I can see as an Alumnus, the changes haven't materially changed the experience or the mission. In several ways, VMI is better than ever. I did find it humorous that the female cadet didn't want to be called certain things but had no problem with yelling at others and telling them "you are mine!" Some things never change....
 
VMI has made a huge, positive impact on my 2nd Class Cadet. I've seen him grow in many ways and he found the military and academic environment he was looking for. I think this video from VMI page captures the "Why VMI" very well and compliments the OP video about the Rat Line
www.vmi.edu

Cadet Life - VMI

Discover the daily life of a VMI cadet in the Corps of Cadets. Build discipline, structure, and clarity through academic, military, and athletic activities.
www.vmi.edu www.vmi.edu
 
Jarhead713 said:
VMI is a strange place...
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It certainly is not for everyone...

I don't really have an opinion on the video, but can tell you that my son went there and did very well academically, held leadership positions and had a good experience overall. Was it tough? Yes, especially Rat year, but he embraced the challenges and is better for it. He is currently a Marine Corps officer and felt well prepared for and did extremely well at OCS, TBS and his MOS school. Some of his best friends are his Brother Rats.

I would never have made it at VMI when I was that age, but it served my son well and I'm a big VMI supporter.
 
Dadof2 said:
It certainly is not for everyone...
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I mean personally, I never understood the appeal of SMC’s, the way I see it, it’s like going to an SA without any of the prestige.

But, as someone said above, if it was easy then everyone would do it 🤷🏻‍♂️

I’m glad your DS had a great experience there, it seemed it was the right fit for him and he prospered there, and now sounds as if he is an outstanding officer in the USMC.

I apologize if my comment created any strife, I’m merely an outsider looking in, I chose not to go to an SMC because I didn’t think it was a good fit for me, and I wouldn’t be able to afford it.

Again, it is very much the road less travelled, and I do think it speaks to the character of those who choose to go down that path.
 
Jarhead713 said:
I mean personally, I never understood the appeal of SMC’s, the way I see it, it’s like going to an SA without any of the prestige.

But, as someone said above, if it was easy then everyone would do it 🤷🏻‍♂️

I’m glad your DS had a great experience there, it seemed it was the right fit for him and he prospered there, and now sounds as if he is an outstanding officer in the USMC.

I apologize if my comment created any strife, I’m merely an outsider looking in, I chose not to go to an SMC because I didn’t think it was a good fit for me, and I wouldn’t be able to afford it.

Again, it is very much the road less travelled, and I do think it speaks to the character of those who choose to go down that path.
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Yes but without the obligation to serve in the US military after graduation like a SA grad would..

For a military college I am surprised by how many VMI grads don’t go into the military after ——nearly 45% don't.

That did surprise me.
 
VMI used to have mandatory commissioning, but the length of service was approximately half of the normal ROTC commission. When VMI went to optional commissioning in 1990, it became the standard ROTC commission terms. When I found out that I couldn't just do the three years active and be completely done (my original deal), I found a job in my field and moved on. I was young and uninformed. I went to VMI primarily for VMI and the challenge, the military was secondary. Although I wanted to serve, I did not see myself in the military long-term. I look back and I regret it, but not how things ultimately turned out. My father was not a military man and the Army didn't really advise me as to my career options. I can remember talking to my favorite TAC Officer (Norwich graduate) and he was pretty frustrated with the cutbacks telling me if I had your grades and a good job, I'd move on. Different times back then... My son is now a rat at VMI and on Army scholarship. Even though VMI is not the real military, I think it's a tough, long four years, especially when you are young. To follow those four years with more military when you have other good options is what a lot of the guys/girls are considering. And I definitely understand that.
 
Jarhead713 said:
Yeah I watched this video last night.

VMI is a strange place...
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Absolutely agree. Also very different from the other SMCs in many regards, including the fact VMI is just 1700 cadets total! Would’ve liked to see mention of the endowment fund and the fact that VMI is the only “classical military college” in the USA, but no worries. Good to see videos like this out there with an honest representation of how the VMI experience begins. Definitely not a place for everyone! It’s a tough place to be, but a great place to be from!
 
I'm applying to VMI this winter, while researcng I found one things that I need answered. I understand that schoalrship cadets have already signed a contract with the military. But I also understand that there are plenty of nonscholarship cadets receiving contracts. Do you just show up and sign a contract or do you have to compete for one as a non scholarship cadet?
 
Thomask4788 said:
I'm applying to VMI this winter, while researcng I found one things that I need answered. I understand that schoalrship cadets have already signed a contract with the military. But I also understand that there are plenty of nonscholarship cadets receiving contracts. Do you just show up and sign a contract or do you have to compete for one as a non scholarship cadet?
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All Rats who matriculate at VMI are in ROTC, as you likely know. Rats without a ROTC scholarship who want to commission can compete for a scholarship. For example, my DS joined Navy ROTC-Marine Option and picked up a 3 year USMC "side load" scholarship his Rat year.
 
Everyone is required to do ROTC. If you decide to take the non-commissioned route, you are put into Army ROTC. When you are admitted into VMI, you select whether or not you are seeking a commission. If you indicate that you are seeking a commission, you select the branch. If you do well your rat year, the odds of getting a three-year scholarship are good with the Army having the most.
 
I’ll add that in addition to ROTC many Cadets pursue other commssioning opportunities. USMC PLC is the most common, but others include NUPOC, Navy CEC, Coast Guard DCSS, and of course OCS. ROTC is certainly a majority of commissions, but it’s also very common to see Cadets pursue some of these other options.
 
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