Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

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■— — WWlgt W into VMI and had received the necessary uniform items and initial indoctrination on schedule and as planned. Matriculation Day was over and the mood for the up- coming week with the cadre was set.

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A New Beginning Matriculation On a rainy Wednesday, the nineteenth of August, 405 young men. fresh out of high school, entered VMI in the hope of becoming VMI cadets. For many, the ex- perience was a shock, and many of the new rats left in the days to come. Others stuck with it, despite the rude welcome that they received on Matriculation Day. The matriculation process began in Cameron Hall, with the rats going through the in-processing and filling out some im- portant, if not vital, information for the Institute ' s records. The incoming cadets then said goodbye to their parents and then went to be introduced to the VMI system, to embark on a journey that would for many prove to be a living hell. The rats were first taken to meet the Rat Council members and were given their Rat Bibles, a booklet that contained all the pertinent information that the rats were required to learn. The Rat Council mem- bers instructed the rats to keep the Rat Bible with them at all times, but by the end of the day many rats had proceeded to lose them anyway. The rats were later brought up from Cameron Hall and into barracks to be as- signed their rooms and to be issued uni- forms and other items of necessity. In past years, this process had been confused and not as orderly as it should have been, but this year ' s cadre was commended for their efficiencN. The issue of uniforms to the rats, which is usually the proverbial mad- house, ran smoothlv this vear due to the efforts of the Q.MD staff and the cadets who came back early to work in the QMD. Overall, the cadre was rated highly for their first day performance, and received the treasured kudos from the comman- dant. The rats had been taken through the process efficiently, and their first wonder- ful day at the loving Institute was over. So they thought. The traditional rude awakening took place shortly after the rats had been put to bed for a peaceful night of slumber. The cadre kicked in their doors and escorted them into the new courtyard, where they were introduced to the three classes, and the First Class President made a brief speech to motivate them. The rats then went to meet the Rat Council as a whole and to converse with RC president Steve Neary. Afterwards, the rats were taken back to barracks and put to bed for the night. The day was a success, as the rats had made the transition from civilian life The rals are led up to barracks from Cameron Hall by a cadre sergeant (lop). A rat receives special the special honor of meeting with RC members John Scarpino and Mike Leeney (left). The Regimental S-3. Joe King, mans his communications post (above)

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Coming Back Fall Alumni Weekend Each fall Alumni tlock to VMI in order 10 rekindle old friendships and to see the Institute. These Alumni arc much like the alumni from every one of these reunion weekends. They swap stories with each other about back in the old corps and how much easier VMI is today as compared to when they were back in school. Fall alumni weekend this year was held the same weekend as homecoming. The alumni were treated to a spectacular re- view by the corps, something that every alumnus is entitled to. Then the alumni along with the corps moved into the old court ard for the traditional old yells led bv the VMI cheerleaders, who were good at getting the corps as well as the alumni whipped into a frenzy. After this scene of pandemonium was calmed down the alum- ni were treated to a spectacular football game by the Keydet gridders, who proced- ed to whip up on Wofford. Alumni weekends present an opportuni- ty for the corps to honor its ancestors and for those that graduated a chance to relive the hell as well as the heaven that VMI presented to each cadet. (left) Members of the class of 1942 whip up the crowd in the old courtyard. RAH Virginia Mil!!!! (top) On top of the sentinel box, these alumni stir alumni and cadet alike while cheering for their class, RAH!, RAH!, RAH! (above) It is not only the corps that roots the loudest, as all the alumni helped cheer the Keydets to victory on the gridiron.