Superintendent’s Newsletter August 2021 From the Superintendent’s Desk Dear Parents: look at VMI through a lens of diversity, We look ahead to this new academic equality, and inclusion and will contin- year with excitement, hope, and a great ue to do so to ensure that every cadet, deal of relief. When I joined VMI in late faculty, staff, and alumnus feels a part of 2020, the Corps of Cadets was still trying the VMI legacy. to get used to the complexities of masks, New faces will be front and center for modified schedules, seating restrictions, cadets as they arrive on post. Col. Adrian and limited movement on post and in Bogart ’81, commandant, and Lt. Col. barracks. The anticipation of a normal Jamica Love, chief diversity officer, will academic year is something we can all take leading roles in the development delight in together. and training of the Corps this year and Despite the challenges of the last year, beyond. I have full confidence in these the strength of the Corps of Cadets individuals. The experience, education, never faltered and successes were never Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85 and commitment to their areas are top hard to find. From the classroom to the notch and I believe you will see this for intense training activities to the ath- to the post infrastructure and physical yourself very soon. letic fields, cadets continued to reach plant. The two-lane Anderson Drive My door remains open, and I‘m com- goals, defy odds, and proudly represent bridge and sidewalks, the Scott Shipp mitted to continue listening to cadets, the Institute. Hall additions and renovations, and the faculty, staff, alumni, and parents as we A unique two-day matriculation recently completed VMI Police build- look to the road ahead. I encourage you kicked off the last academic year at a ing greet those arriving at the Institute. to take time to review the One Corps— time when no one could predict how The progress along Main Street for the One VMI: A Unifying Action Plan where the next few months would go. Even new aquatic center is impressive; I was we will focus on five outcomes: with the challenges of the coronavirus proud to be part of the groundbreaking 1. Honor pandemic, the Corps completed fall for this facility and look forward to it 2. Diversity and Inclusion and spring field training exercises (FTX), being accessible for many aspects of the 3. The VMI Brand and milestone activities like Ring Figure VMI experience. 4. Competing and Winning and Breakout still took place. NCAA And in the midst of all of this, VMI 5. One VMI athletes faced postponements, evolving faced a year of its own high-profile Your involvement and support in this schedules, regular COVID testing, and review and change. A new superinten- endeavor are important as we bring empty stands, but that didn‘t stop their dent would be a major change for any opportunities to all the men and women dedication to their sports. In fact, the college, but at VMI, much more trans- who have chosen VMI as the right edu- football team played a spring season formation occurred. Cadets returned cational pursuit for them. and not only had its first winning season from Christmas furlough with the Respectfully, in 40 years, but also won the Southern Jackson statue no longer in front of Old Conference Championship, kept the Barracks and the Memorial Parade prior Silver Shako for a second season, to May commencement transitioned and nearly won their first FCS playoff to name and honor all VMI cadets and game ever. alumni who died serving our country. Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85 Regardless of how someone drives The VMI Board of Visitors, along with Superintendent into VMI, there are examples of updates leadership, took a great deal of time to Virginia Military Institute 2 Academic Year 2021–22 To best protect cadets, faculty, staff, and visitors against COVID-19, and ensure a safe and productive academic year, VMI will require cadets to be fully vaccinated by their report date. Keydets Win SoCon Title A spring football season was history-making enough. But then, the Keydets won the Southern Conference championship for the first time since 1977, maintained own- ership of the Silver Shako trophy after a win over the Citadel, and for the first time in program history, VMI earned an automatic bid to the NCAA FCS playoffs. It was a special season for fans and alumni as well. The last time VMI won the SoCon title was more than 20 years before most current cadets were born. The eight- game spring schedule ended with the Keydets finishing 6-1—the first game planned for Feb. 20, 2021 against Chattanooga was postponed. Allen Xu ’21, Cadet EMT Chief As the excitement remained strong after the season ender against the Citadel, players, coaches, and staff joined together in Marshall Hall the next morning to learn their fate in the FCS. It was announced that VMI was to play James Madison University April 24 in Harrisonburg. The playoff opponent is no stranger, as the teams, less than Vaccine confirmation an hour’s drive apart, had played each other 13 times since 1982, and the last time meeting was in 2009. JMU finished its regular season 5-0. With less than 7,000 people in the stands due to COVID regulations, the VMI sea- must be shared with son came to a close in Harrisonburg, losing to #1 JMU by only a touchdown, 31-24. Wachenheim believes the Keydets’ success is rooted in their shared struggle. VMI before arrival. “This team has the most talent since I‘ve been here. This team loves each other and that can‘t be overstated,” he continued. “They truly love each other and they hold each other accountable. They stand strong and firm during the darkest times, and they work with a great attitude. They‘ve dodged all the curveballs that COVID has thrown us this past year, and they back each other up. That‘s what has made this Visit www.vmi.edu/safereturn for team special.” The season started out with no tickets being sold due to a Virginia executive order details about the submission process focused on event venue capacity. A few weeks later, though, at the April 17 game against the Citadel, the cheers were loud with a sell-out, 3,000-person crowd. and other COVID-19 protocols. Contents From the Superintendent’s Desk � � � � � � � � � �2 Post Safety � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �9 Information � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �18 Commissioning � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4 Health and Wellness � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11 Visiting the Institute � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 18 Facilities � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �6 Extracurriculars � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 12 Planning � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 19 Standards � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �8 Academics � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 14 Critical dates—Academic Year 2021–22 � 19 Cadet Life � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �8 Academic Support � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �14 Important Contacts � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �20 Superintendent’s Newsletter 3 Commissioning Commissioning Commissioning into the Cadets commissioning with an armed services is a goal Army scholarship will be required for many cadets, and with to serve four years on active duty, good reason. followed by four years remaining With its emphasis on on active duty, or four years in virtues such as honor, the Army Reserve or the Army duty, and service, plus the National Guard. obligation to take respon- Cadets with or without a sibility for self and others, a scholarship can also commission military career can serve as directly into the Army National an excellent springboard to Guard or the Army Reserve, a civilian career later in life. which allows them to pursue a Each year, over half of the civilian career while serving their graduating class accepts a country on a part-time basis. commission, and many VMI At VMI, 75 to 80% of cadets graduates make the mili- Naval and Army ROTC cadets enter Foster Stadium May 15, 2021 for the joint commissioning commissioning into the Army tary a career. Options are ceremony.—VMI Photo by H. Lockwood McLaughlin. choose active duty, while the active duty, National Guard, remainder choose to serve in or Reserves. cadets should strongly consider com- the National Guard or Reserve. In fiscal At VMI, ROTC is an integral part of missioning as military service is looked year 2020, 124 VMI cadets commis- the Institute’s mission to produce citi- upon quite favorably by civilian employ- sioned into the Army, while 140 cadets zen-soldiers. Each cadet is required to ers, who value highly the specialized from VMI, VWIL/MBU, and W&L com- take eight semesters of ROTC training, skills that veterans often bring. missioned as second lieutenants from regardless of whether he or she plans Cadets should be aware that waivers VMI Army ROTC. For fiscal year 2021, to commission, with Army ROTC being are available for a number of medi- approximately 138 cadets are on track the default unit for cadets who have not cal conditions, and that each branch to commission. chosen an ROTC program. of the service has different medi- Army ROTC classwork stresses The discipline inculcated by ROTC cal requirements. leadership training, Army structure, and serves cadets well in all of their future It is not uncommon for cadets enter- functions. Army field training emphasiz- endeavors, and it is quite possible and ing VMI to select an ROTC unit, only to es physical training, marksmanship, land even common for a cadet to com- discover some time later that they would navigation, and tactical missions. mission even if he or she entered the prefer to be part of another. Cadets The Army offers a wide variety of Institute unsure about commissioning. wishing to switch from one ROTC unit summer training opportunities for VMI’s Army ROTC program is the to another should make their wish- cadets, including Airborne School, Air largest in the country and commissions es known as early in their cadetships Assault School, Cadet Troop Leader more second lieutenants that any other as possible.