I heard a Brother rat this summer make an interesting observation. I think it is in step with the feelings of most of the Corps. He said that it seems like that VMI is in a state of transition. That as each class comes through, they see a little bit more of what once was, go away. My Dykes were the last class to Break Out on the Hill. While my Breakout was strenuous, and we did do the first Howitzer drag up ‘Supes Hill, there needed to be something more too it. I hazard to say that 2007 was the last class in Barracks.
That has been said of several classes of course. It is an odd feeling, sitting at the dawn of a new era, and to be staring back at the old. I don’t like it.
This would be easier to handle if there future didn’t look so grim. The changes are being felt this year. The pressure from the Administration has been severe, and the Corps is beginning to push back.
This year started on a highnote. I had great expectation out of ‘09. It wouldn’t take much to out do ‘08 though. I know that almost all of my BR’s in Cadre positions take the job almost like a Religion. They are locked in to their mission with a tenacity and a level of integrity that makes me proud to be associated with them within the class system. But then things got weird.
The Administration locked down on privileges. I can’t take Haydowns for playing drums for formations, unless I play three times a week. then I can have one on Saturday. Permits are not going through like they used too. Privileges don’t exist anymore. They just don’t. I know thirds who got boned while on guard for taking the haydown, that they are allowed to take. The response from COL Trumps was “In My day we didn’t have any haydowns ever.” Well I know they had them, I’ve read countless primary resources that mention them, from “his day”, and before.
Other things came down too. One of the more irking was a new limit to the size of computer monitors. I personally don’t care, but there are several individuals who have had to get rid of very expensive monitors because of these new stipulations. 19 inches is barely larger than the laptop I am typing on right now. It would suck to be an engineer who needs to have blueprints, and schematics layed out on their computer screen.
A much larger issue has been the new latelights restrictions. Weeknight taps is a halfhour later this year. This doesn’t mean anything. The reason cadets don’t care about this is because we can not have late lights past 2 am in barracks. We also can not go out to late study in an Academic Building past that. Infact, we were told don’t bother asking, there are no circumstances that will get them approved. So know we have less time to study. No reasonable answer has been given for this change.
Next came other changes. Morning Room inspections have become stricter. I know a guy who received 150 demerits in one inspection. The newer inspectors do not understand “MI Order”, and the Commandant’s staff has been backing them up on these horrible inspections.
The Ratline is truly a joke now. You cannot rasie your hands above your shoulders to correct a ratt’s strain. no more “claw”. This is ridiculous. The Rats dont strain because they don’t know what it is. I learned to strain by having 3 to 5 cadre in my face, screaming in my ears, putting their hands in my face, making me pinch their hand’s with my shoulder blades. Now the RDc can be suspended for that.
If an upperclassman looks at a rat too menacingly, they can be OGA’ed. This is not an exaggeration, this is happening! The Rats are running barracks more than the 1st class!
There has been no noticeable leadership from the 1st class. They have been going along with this, atleast their leadership has. I know many of the privates are fanatically upset.
Yesterday night a petition was posted on the bulletin board in 1st stoop sallyport. I am going to recreate it here:
LEADERSHIP more or less
1)We are tired of the hypocrisies of CADET LEADERSHIP… we give ideas, Commandant’s Staff shoots them down.
2) How much of the ratline is what the 1st class wanted???
3) Load us with more mil duties but restrict our study time (1:30 rule).
4) VMI is not a service academy. It’s better! Cadre are being watched too closely, OGA is no longer seen as a viable organization (but a babysitter). Our school is going in whatever direction the Superintendent and Commandant want. That direction will not be something so prized by us.. the FUTURE ALUMNI OF THE GREATEST MILITARY SCHOOL IN THE NATION!
You have taken away the power for us to complain formally (without punishment, or a total lack of interest) and made us shelter behind smart remarks and humor pages. WHEN WILL IT END!!!??? Maybe for once you will embody the leaders that you so often qoute and LISTEN!!!
This was followed by several signatures that grew to over three full pages by the end of the night.
Everyother conversation in barracks centers around a step off. There is no trustworthy leadership. They have lost the faith of the Cadets. They claim we are not to be trusted. i don’t trust them or their interest. VMI must fight for itself. It will not be long before the Corps is heard from if changes are not made.
I am sure that every alumni may be thinking that i should stop complaining, but it is not just me. Also times are different. I have had countless inspections and trainings that were unnecessary that have taken away form my academics. i enjoyed life as a thirdclassman more than a second.
We come to VMI because we wanted something tougher. If you do not want this, then leave my school. I have no use for you. But if you want to learn to persevere, and how to lead others, come here. Yes it seems initially barbaric, but I understand i have to treat people different than how i treat a RAT. A rat has volunteered to be punished, initiated, and ultimately molded. i will flame rats while here, and i will punish and council them for discrepencies. i will not treat my shoulder in that way as an officer, although i will extract the standard from them, I understand the difference in methods, we all do.
Leave us alone, you do not understand us. You don’t have too.
