Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

Page 20 text:

ARMY I Standing, Left to Right: M Sgt. Collins, M Sgt. Gould, SFC Mason, SFC Shepherd, Lt. Col. Maiizolil •Capt. Murphy, M Sgt. McClintock, Maj. Nelson, SFC Tolle, Maj. Murphy, SFC Michael ( ' apt. Kelsey, : I Sgt. Smith. Col. .Johns, R. ,.ECOGNIZED by the Department of the Army as a leader among military colleges, the Virginia Military Institute offers a unique and varied military program to its students. All cadets become potential officers, enrolled in the Reserve Officer Training Corps, in their fourth class year. Learning basic fundamentals of the military during their fir.st year, cadets elect their particular branch of the Armed Forces at the beginning of their second year, Armor, Artillery, or Infantry being offered. During the second and third years, the cadets ejiter an intensive study of the science and tactics of their particular branch and attend a summer camp of six weeks duration at the end of their second class year. At summer camp, they put to practice the vital information learned in the VMI Military Science Department. The constant high standing of cadets at camp demonstrates the rxccllence of their instruction at the Institute. I{( ciiniiition of over-all excellence in the military is given those (•.■hI( !■- h meet the requirements by designating them Distinguished Milil.iiy Sludents. Cadets owning this honor are offered Regular Army commissions. All cailcls. however, receive Reserve conmiissions upon graduation. In keeping with modern military concepts, the Military Science Department is constantly striving to make realism, in both class- room and field, a steady factor. Proof of this high standard of instruction may be seen in the records that VMI Regidar or Reserve officers ha c mainlaineil Ihrnunh the ye.-ir.s.

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PRESTON LIBRARY The library is the heart of an (■(lucatiiiiial iiislitulion and at ySll is appropriately a memorial to Colonel John Thomas Lewis Preston, the original champion of the founding of the Virginia Military Institute. It is Colonel I ' reston who is generally credited with conceiving the idea of ' .MI and who gave the institution its name: Virginia — a state institution, neither sectional nor denominational. [Military — its characteristic feature. Institute — something different from either college or university. The three elements thus indicated are the basis of a triangular pyramid, of which the three sides will preserve their mutual relation to whatever height the structure might rise.

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AIR FORCE T, HE Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps is a vital element in tlie nation ' s atomic age. Tlirougli tliis program, tlie most select men are graduated into the most strategic positions of air offense and defense. At VMI, tlie fourth classman selects Air Force ROTC because he has a desire to fly. He is soon, however, made aware that the unicjue position of the Air Force in world afl airs requires a great number of eomix ' tent men in non-flying positions. Research, develop- ment, wcatlu-r, )])erations, and administration are but a few of the highly important positions open to the career man in the Air Force. At VMI, the Department of the Air Force has begun the Flight Indoctrination Program for all first classmen who are qualified to fly. This program follows a four week tour of duty at siuiimer cainp where all . ir Force ROTC cadets of the second class are instructed in Air Force operations. During the first two years of AFHOTC, the cadets are acquainted with the organization and mission of the Air Force in United States and world affairs. During the second class year, the cadets learn more specific operations of Air Force units and follow this instruction with practical application at summer camp. The first class year is spent in dealing with problems of world tensions, geopolitics, and international relations. The missi in of the Department of Air Science at VMI, therefore, is to instill within its AP ' HOTC cadets an overall conception of air power and purpose with as much practical application as possible. As the test of greatness always results in performance. Air Force officers graduated from the VMI program are the standards for measurement. LlEUTE.V P, N ' T CoLOXEL 1 .fessnr of Ai