Peer Review:

Statistical Analyzer:

VMI is only for those who are willing to be citizen soldiers and pay the price to achieve that status. Those matriculating will be challenged beyond their expectations physically, mentally, and academically. A large number will reach their breaking point and leave – others reach their breaking point and learn that being broken is something they can build on and that they have more depth and endurance than they every realized. Those challenges come in very obvious ways at the moment of matriculation when parents and family say goodbye and those nice young men (and women) in uniforms that opened the door for your mother start riding you and the other kids who entered with you. Everything that you took for granted is stripped from you and gradually, over four years, you get all the things that were worthwhile back and you appreciate them far more than all of your peers outside the Institute. In the first few weeks large groups of temporary rats leave, after Thanksgiving a handful don’t come back, after Christmas more are gone. By spring you have formed a class and the “hard part” is over but you are soon to loose the First Classman (Senior) who has been mentoring you and academics take some more of your class. In the fall you are one of the upperclassmen playing your role in forming the next class of rats. The academic load is kicked up a notch with professor’s expectations far exceeding what you faced as a rat. Another group of your brother rats exit over the year – many are friends you will still have your whole life – many of them will come to reunions – they are already brother rats and you have a stronger bond of friendship with them and the rest of your class than most any other group of people ever in your life. From there on life gets better. As a second classman cadets have learned to succeed within the system and in the class. We each had more control over our lives we earn our class ring and begin to prepare for our year of running VMI. The losses from then on are mostly limited to those additional few who violate the honor code and are expelled by the Corps itself. No longer to be a part of the class or corps – forever. The first class year is your last as a class. There is a certain relief mixed with a sadness that this time of close comradery with the largest assembly of exceptional men (and women now) that you will ever know is about to end. You have a rat to protect and mentor, to pass along the character of your class and to prepare so that they succeed. It ends before you know it, you graduate. Over time the experience shows its value, you see the quality in your fellow alumni, those you have the chance to work for and those that work for you. The brother rat bond, even 20 years later, is strong and there is no question that they are your best of friends and the best men you know. Zechariah 13:9 … into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold.