Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

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■nDBRlBBRSSgSS • VP Changing Environs Graduation is the single most important event in the VMI experience. Graduation marks the end of ones cadetship and the beginning of a graduates responsibility as the citizen-soldier. Most graduates serve off their active duty obligations in the Army, Navy. Air Force and the Marine Corps. After serving their active duty obli- gations many alumni elect to leave the military and pursue careers in the civilian sector as lawyers, scholars, or as major business executives while still remainina as Graduation members of the active and inactive re- serves, fulfilling the citizen-soldier ideal that is the mission of the Institute. Graduation exercises commence with the customary review parade where the rising first class assume the command of the corps and the departing first class take the review of the corps. After the parade the corps marches into the old courtyard and is showered with the old status slips that were saved from the previous year. That night there is the customary Final Ball . The next day. there are commission- ing ceremonies where the graduates are sworn into their respective services as Sec- ond Lieutenants or as Ensigns. Next, there are the actual commencement exercises. Here the graduates receive their diplomas made of actual sheepskin. The commence- ment exercises are characterized by the distribution of the diplomas by order of major. There is the customary address by the valedictorian, who is the highest aca- demically ranked cadet of that particular class. The final event in the graduation ceremony is performed by the new regi- mental commander. The new first captain publishes the final orders of that academic year. These orders inform the returning members of the corps when they are to return in the fall, they also release the new- alumni from their duties and obligations as members of the corps of cadets. This day is a very special day, for it not only marks the end of ones life at VMI but marks the beginning of new experiences and challenges throughout life. Parents en|0 the last parade of their sons ' cadetship, a proud moment for all parents, (top) The new alum- ni take the review from the remainder of the corps, led by the rising first class, (above) The final act of the graduation review, the traditional showering of the corps with the year ' s status slips which was pre- ceeded by the Old Yell for the graduating class- eft)

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Welcome Back Spring Alumni Weekend Every year alumni return to the Insti- tute to see their Brother Rats and to relive their experiences as cadets. VMI alumni are perhaps the most dedicated alumni in the nation and this is evidenced b the generous gifts that are given to the Institute each year. This generosity was displayed by the Class of 1937 s substan- tial gift that was presented to VMFs Su- perintnendent General Sam S. Walker, during the customary review parade in which the corps honors this distinguished group of men. Alumni are the epitomy of the citizen-soldier ideal which VMI strives to pursue. These men were leaders in the military as well as in the civilian sector. .- lumni weekend is a fun time for all alum- ni and is a time for seeing old friends. lo Lil .ilumnus waves the confederate battle flag, an important part of VMI history, (above) Alumni from the classes of ' 17. ' 32. 47. ' 57, 67, ' 77 watch the Corps on parade, an important part of any alumni weekend, (right) Old Yell for the class of 1927 the VMI cheerleaders on the sentinel box in the old courtsard salute these distinguished graduates of the Institute (above riaht)

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Turning The Citizen Into A Soldier Summer Training In keeping with the ideal of the Citizen Soldier. Virginia Miiitars Institute cadets gi e up some of their summer furlough in order to engage in the rigorous military training pro ided by their respective ser- vices. Whether a cadet is enrolled in the .Mr Force, Army, Marine Corps or Navy ROTC programs, he must participate in this summer training, especially during the time between his second and first class ears. This is an integral part of one ' s ca- detship. preparing the individual for that responsibility which was accepted on .Ma- triculation Day, a commission in the armed forces of the United States. This is the ultimate goal of every cadet and the ke stone behind the Citizen Soldier concept. The Army Advance Camp, belter known as Camp All-.American, is si. weeks long and is run by a cadre of Offi- cers and NCO ' s from many colleges and universities. It takes place between the first and second class years. The camp be- gins as cadets arrive and are assigned to a compan and a platoon. Many VMI ca- dets assume leadership positions immedi- atel upon arrival at camp because of the reputation VMI has earned. The camp is organized to evaluate and train cadets in light infantry tactics and living in army barracks. Each cadet is qualified with many of the standard weapons of the Unit- ed States Army. During the course of the camp the cadets go out on many field training e.xcercises. They are shown dem- onstrations from every branch of the army. The peak of Advance Camp is the CA- PEX or capabilities e.xcercises. This is the most expensive demonstration of firepow- er in the free world. It shows the cadets the combined arms concept of the modern day battlefield. The finale of camp is the FLX. This is a four day three night exercise where each cadet is evaluated on what he has learned at camp. The cadets are flown from a pickup point to another point in UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters. From there they must walk back to another pick- up point avoiding ambushes along the way. V.MI cadets do very well in the field but ; not so well in barracks. The cadets that are enrolled in the Air ' Force ROTC program serve off their sum- mer training requirement at the various .Air Force bases around the United States. , ir Force cadets serve in various leader- ship billets much like their counterparts in the other services. It is rumored that all the .Air Force does for summer traininu is drink beer and play volley ball but. there are no hard facts to support this accusa- tion. What we do know is that the Air Force cadets are taught to be proficent officers schooled in the latest management techniques and leadership abilities. Many Air Force Cadets are provided with the opportunity to recieve orientation flights in the latest aircraft that presently equip the modern Air Force. .Aircraft such as the F- 1 5, F- 1 6. and the FB- 1 1 1 are just a few. In all fairness, this program trains men to be an integral part of our nations defense. Whether these men are fighter jocks or are missilers, .Air Force summer training pro- vides the United States with men who are trained professionals ready to defend their country in the darkest of times. 20 Cadet Life