VMI questions

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VA-VMI

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Mar 18, 2018
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My son was accepted to VMI and mailed in his advance deposit. He has read through the entire handbook from last year, but now I have some questions.

Cars- when are cadets allowed a car? The handbooks says that 1st class cadets can have a car on campus all year but nothing is mentioned for the other classes. Does this mean that he cannot have a car until his senior year (I don't care whether or not he can drive around, but boy would I like for him bring himself home at breaks as it is a three hour drive, so six for me round trip if I go pick him up)

Long Distance calling cards- The handbook mentions that with no cell phones allowed and no phones in room, most of the time cadets end up returning calls and recommends long-distance calling cards. It has been so many years since we had to deal with "long distance calls" I am not even sure what the rules are on them these days. Does anyone know if Northern VA (Springfield, VA) is considered "long distance" from VMI for calling purposes?
 
VA-VMI said:
Cars- when are cadets allowed a car?
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Cadets -- legally -- can have a car as a "Firstie" / Senior Year. DS is looking forward to having this priviledge next year. The amount of parking at VMI is very limited. There are cadets that "break the rules" and find a way to keep a car "downtown" or somewhere near Lexington. (if you do, its best not to have a VMI license plate or VMI stickers on the car -- Lexington is small town and VMI is a small school -- besides, the haircut will give you away.) If caught, don't lie about -- lying is a Honor Code violation and you will be kicked out -- take the punishment and get rid of the car. There is a "rideshare" board and there is now bus service that runs from VA Tech all the way to Union Station in downtown DC that makes stops on I-81 to pick up college students at Roanoke, VMI, W&L, Bridgewater, JMU, etc. Stops at Dulles as well . . . I've been told it is a 5 hour one-way trip due to all the stops. We've gotten used to the drive . . . take your empty growlers and visit the Devil's Backbone Brewery just on the north side of Lexington . . . nice place to wait while your cadet is finishing up his duties on the day of pick-up.

VA-VMI said:
The handbook mentions that with no cell phones allowed and no phones in room, most of the time cadets end up returning calls and recommends long-distance calling cards. It has been so many years since we had to deal with "long distance calls" I am not even sure what the rules are on them these days. Does anyone know if Northern VA (Springfield, VA) is considered "long distance" from VMI for calling purposes?
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As a Rat, he won't be allowed to have his cell phone until after breakout. Having the cell phone is a priviledge. During "Hell Week" (first 10 days or so) he will be incommunacado . . . if you need to get a hold of him (serious family matter) there is a number for you to call and VMI will get the message to him. If the situation requires him to call you, they will figure that out for him (most likely he will be allowed to use the landline phone in the Guard Room or an Upperclassman will let him use his cell phone. After Hell Week, school starts and he will have his computer. You and he can email each other. In addition, if he has a cell phone, it will be given to his Dyke (Firstie that will be his senior mentor). His Dyke will control his useage of his cell phone. It works. . .it is a good system.
 
VA-VMI said:
My son was accepted to VMI and mailed in his advance deposit. He has read through the entire handbook from last year, but now I have some questions.
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BTW -- congratulations on your son's VMI appointment. VMI is an extraordinary family.

We aren't allowed to post Facebook links on the Forum (Forum rules), but there are very good pages on Facebook for VMI families, and they have really good information -- you should search for the page for VMI Rat Mass 2019+3 Parents. It is controlled site, and you will have to prove you are the parent of an incoming Rat, but there you will find great information and comaradery with other new VMI parents . . .

Best wishes to you and your DS . . . Rah Virginia Mil!
 
What FalconA said

Just want to add that even as a 1st classman it's one car, on post, per room. There is a parking lot off post that many cadets use and will either get rides to it or walk. The ride share page is probably the best option or just asking brother Rats who live in your area. We are 4-4.5 hours in each direction and have provided rides for cadets when we are able. It seems to always work out.

After the first 10 days his Dyke will have his phone. My son's Dyke generally let him have his on Sundays when he would go off post with the assistant Chaplain. He would generally call on Sundays. Every once in a while we would get a call on Saturday night.

Email will always be the best point of contact rat year. Keep in mind they are very busy so try to keep them short and don't expect a quick response. Mine would sometimes not answer for a few days when he finally had time. Once they have their phones there are restrictions on where they can be used so they are not available 24/7. We wait for our cadet to call when it works for him. If needed will will text him to call when he is able. Seems to work ok.
 
Thank you both so much. My son is actually the first to drive before going to college so we have definitely done the whole college pick ups/drop offs before. I guess that we have just gotten a little lazy in the last few months now that he drives himself everywhere. We hadn't planned on getting a car for him until after is sophomore year anyway so this isn't that big a difference just a small paradigm shift.

I didn't figure that he would have much time to call anyway but the whole calling card thing caught me off guard. I will ignore that bit of advice and figure that when he can call it will be using a cell phone so no calling cards needed.

FalconA, I did have a rugby question for you. My son has played rugby for the last three years and would like to continue at VMI. We know that he cannot participate until after breakout but something I read said something to the effect that you cannot be a full member of a club until after breakout. What does this mean? Can rats work out with the team but not play games or is all club team activity forbidden?
 
I think they are making a change this year to allow interested Rats to come out for Rugby practice one day each week (may be 2 days) in the Fall for Rugby practice. In the past the Rats weren't allowed to come out for Rugby until after Breakout due to other Rat activities. He will still need to do "Rat Challenge" and fitness each week.

I don't think Rats will be allowed to play this Fall or travel with the team, but the idea is to get new guys started a little earlier than in years past, and perhaps let them play in the Spring after Breakout and be ready for the "real season" the Fall of their 3rd class year. (Not sure if they will be allowed to attend the home VMI Rugby matches -- Rats are currently required to attend the home football games in the Fall )

VMI is in Men's Division 2 Rugby under USA Rugby in the Cardinals Collegiate Rugby Conference http://ccrcrugby.com/

Last year VMI went all the way to the Men's Division 2 Rugby National Championship game where they lost to UW-Whitewater in the final 2 minutes when Whitewater scored a last minute try. You can find articles and vids on the Goff Rugby Report, the CCRS website and Rugby Today

VMI Rugby does have a Facebook Page and a Facebook Group along with a VMI Rugby Twitter feed.
 
Getting involved in the extra curricular is a great way to make VMI an even better experience. My cadet joined Men In Grey (a Capella group) and the worship team at chapel his rat year. I know there are some restrictions on what rats can participate in, due to their regimented schedule, but there are opportunities to get involved. They will get emails about what things are available, when meetings and try ours are as well. There are also bible studies that they can participate in, if they are so inclined.
 
Yes, we followed the VMI rugby season with great interest. It is great to hear that he may be able to practice with the team a little during the fall.
 
For now, consider this "scuttlebut" ... The official decision will come from Commandant's staff and your DS along with all the other Rats will find out via email once the school year begins ... Best wishes ... The VMI Rugby team has a great bunch of coaches and a great bunch of lads ... I am of course very biased ...
 
My husband spent 10years in the Marine reserves and 20 years in the Air Force (he clearly has opinions about uniform boots) and he wants to know if our son can bring his own uniform boots or if he must wear the issued ones.
 
He will be issued boots that he’ll need to wear as a Rat. VMI will also likely be switching to OCPs either this year or next. No way of knowing what color boot to get prior to matriculation.
 
VA-VMI said:
Yes, we followed the VMI rugby season with great interest. It is great to hear that he may be able to practice with the team a little during the fall.
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A "HYPE-UP" video for the upcoming Fall 2018 Men's Division 2 VMI Rugby season:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y3COLdd2rY2niET6zkZzRPhtHojnLK_K/view

The Lads had a great Fall 2017 season . . . (in Men's D2 Rugby, Fall is the primary season for 15-man team Rugby) . . . the video clips are primarily from the last 2 games of the season . . . the start of the video shows the pre-game Haka . . . a New Zealand tradition saying a Maori war chant . . . game clips begining with the 2 Dec 2017 Men's D2 National Semifinal VMI (black jerseys) against Norwich (red jerseys), where VMI emerged victorious after the match going into overtime, and then into "sudden death" . . . VMI won the National semifinal 41-36 . . . then the Men's D2 National Championship match was the next day on 3 Dec 2017 against 5 time National Champion Univ of Wisconsin-Whitewater (grey jerseys). Whitewater won with a winning try with about 2 minutes left, resulting in a score of 34-27. VMI gave them all they could handle. The VMI Lads are getting ready for the Fall 2018 season . . . Rah Virginia Mil!
 
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