With Vision 2039 Reaching Its Final Goals, VMI Must Support Cadet Efforts

&emsp;&emsp;Vision 2039 was unveiled in 2003, soon after General J.H. Binford Peay was named Superintendent of VMI. General Peay had used this plan to drive his tenure as VMI Superintendent--and given his love for this plan and his position of oversight--it would not be a far stretch to say that General Peay would have probably reached the 2039 mark as Superintendent had he not been left to defend the Institute against external criticisms. Even with his departure, Vision 2039 has been supplemented by Major General Cedric T. Wins with the publication of the One Corps, One VMI plan in an effort to unify the Corps. &emsp;&emsp;Since its inception, the Vision 2039 plan has seen great success by acting as the driving force behind physical improvements on Post,some of which include the construction of Third Barracks, the Corps Physical Training Facility, and numerous renovations across Post. As a matter of fact, there are only two additional major physical improvements expected to affect Post in the upcoming future. According to this plan, the construction of a 5-level parking structure meant to house approximately 425 vehicles and the new Aquatic Center, which is currently under construction, will be the last of the physical alterations made to Post.' The Vision 2039 plan has also been the catalyst for major academic reform at the Institute. These improvements cover a few of the fourteen points that are also outlined in the Vision 2039 plan: 1. A Military Institute and a Military Environment… delivering a unique education2. Academic Reputation – Premier Undergraduate College in America3. Renowned Honor System – No. 1 in the nation4. 25 Partnerships with the best Graduate Schools in America5. Balance of Arts, Science, and Engineering, with greater than 50 percent in hard science and engineering6. Corps of 1,500 (with a goal of 150-200) female cadets7. Greater than 55 percent in-State Virginia Cadets8. 70 percent of the Corps Commissioning With Growth in Guard and Reserve – "Citizen Soldiers"9. Every Cadet an Athlete – Winning Sports Teams – the VMI way10. Leader Development System – Program unsurpassed11. Physical Plant – Historic, beautiful, modern, and technologically enhanced12. Organizationally streamlined, efficient, and communicative13. Proud, Disciplined, Civil Cadets… and Graduates14. One Cohesive Team – Alumni, Agencies, Board of Visitors, the Institute, Parents and Friends &emsp;&emsp;These fourteen points have been the motivation behind all the improvements seen across Post. Cadets from all walks of life are immensely grateful for the resources dedicated to their studies and their campus, but a massive number of Cadets are disillusioned with VMI leadership and feel that the administration has left them out to dry. Now more than ever, Cadets are enthusiastic to participate in the VMI System. Now more than ever, Cadets are forced to overcome obstacles placed before them by none other than the administration of VMI – made up of a few graduates that have completed the Ratline and even more new and outside hires that were brought on board with the specific purpose of driving VMI to its bicentennial. &emsp;&emsp;Recent administrative decisions that have focused on responding to efforts of vocal factions inside and outside the Institute have resulted in an incredibly narrow, mainstream outlook on the VMI experience. It appears to be the opinion of the administration that leadership classes, better classrooms, diversity training, and bigger athletic buildings build the next generation of the nation's leaders; and that VMI's Spartan lifestyle, the Ratline's adversity and brotherhood, and the Class system's indoctrination of hierarchy and Cadet conduct is a matter of regimentation, and not one of transformational importance.Unique to VMI alone, there are many organizations on Post that cadets dedicate full time job-levels of time with no expectation of compensation other than basic privileges, leadership experience, and the self-satisfaction of a job well done. Unlike any other college in the nation, VMI boasts the largest portion of its students that perform administrative duties crucial to the smooth operation of the college, as well as the largest collection of enthusiastic students that introduce additional clubs and responsibilities to their own positions of leadership, while still balancing physical fitness and a full academic schedule. In addition to this impressive show of resiliency and initiative, VMI cadets must consistently argue with military officers and administrative officeholders that only have the Commander's Intent in mind and struggle with an increasingly bureaucratic system in which they have little means to navigate. In spite of this persistent hindrance by the administration, Cadets have prevailed in true VMI fashion. &emsp;&emsp;The VMI Men's Rugby team has faced off twice against Christendom College's Crusaders, a team that has earned the #1 National Ranking for the last two straight years; conducts practice 5 times a week, and is now considered one of Christendom's valuable - if not most valuable - athletic teams. On Saturday November 5th, VMI rugby fought Christendom for their closest back-to-back victories in years, losing by only 1 in the first game, and only 3 in the second game. The men's Rugby Team is made up of leaders across the Corps, who are mostly on track to commission, train every opportunity they have, and - per club regulation - cannot receive recruitment or scholarship opportunities. Cadets, by dedication to the love of their sport alone, have recruited brand new cadets from the Corps that have no experience in the sport, competed in broad leagues that encompass massive skill differences, and have come out on top more often than VMI NCAA teams. Men's rugby is not the only example of Cadets setting ambitious goals to compete and win. &emsp;&emsp;The VMI Army ROTC Ranger Challenge team transformed itself from a pseudo-military skills club to a machine of physical toughness, athleticism, and military instinct in less than two years. Of their own accord, the Ranger Challenge team's cadets organized training and set goals that were incredibly ambitious – and at the 1st Brigade Ranger Challenge competition at Fort Knox, they came out with the win, defeating every single Senior and Junior Military College in the country. They will be heading to the national competition at West Point hosted from April 16-17 where they will compete against international teams and other Ranger Challenge brigade champions.Cadets with an aspiration to join the US Coast Guard took it upon themselves to organize a USCG detachment. While young, it has grown to include many Coast Guard-aspired cadets, thus further increasing Vision 2039's plan to commission 70% of VMI's cadet population. The detachment prepares cadets for commissioning through the Coast Guard's OCS program by granting certifications, inviting guest speakers, conducting physical training, introducing internship and networking opportunities, and serving in the USCG Auxiliary. In their first FTX, the Cadets in charge organized the landing of a Coast Guard MH-60 helicopter on the parade field, traveled to Smith Mountain Lake, conducted aviation training, small boat training, and delivered safety and Homeland Security briefs. &emsp;&emsp;Cadets were shocked and saddened to see that less than four hundred Rats matriculated in August. After the most successful Admissions Director in VMI's history resigned, members of the Class of 2024 worked with the new Admissions director to develop a New Cadet Recruitment Program. The extent of the program's goals was aligned with LTC Hagy's (VA) "tiger teams" plan and were meant to provide the Institute with resources to travel to high schools across the state and the nation to put a face to the uniform and introduce high schoolers to the Virginia Military Institute. The Admissions office placed a goal of two high schoolers filling out interest forms per visit, with a stretch-goal of five. A cadet's most recent visit to Buckingham County High School garnered over twenty. Still, VMI cadets are hired to be "cold callers" for the Alumni Agency to solicit donations, but no compensation greater than an optional formation and a weekend is in sight for the members of this program. &emsp;&emsp;These examples barely scratch the surface of the hard work that Cadets put in each and every day to protect and support the Institute and its traditions that they deem sacred and valuable to what they have become: leaders. While VMI will continue to take credit for its system developing these proud men and women, it is by the Cadet's dedication and ambition alone, as well as the teachings of their Dykes and the Ratline, that they succeed in the classroom, lead their peers, and create a better Institute for the classes to come. &emsp;&emsp;It is time for VMI to make an official statement regarding the defense of our traditions, system, and the handing over of greater responsibility and authority to the Corps of Cadets. They have earned it. This is a call to action directed at Smith Hall and the office of the Commandant to begin the final phase and fifteenth point of Vision 2039: developing and fostering a Cadet-Run Corps. The fourteenth point of Vision 2039 has excluded cadets for far too long, and Cadets' inclusion is the only way VMI is to survive in any capacity familiar to the readers of this article at this moment. This is a call to action to VMI alumni and benefactors: support VMI clubs, scholarships, and the funds of Cadet classes. The money is earmarked for their benefit and growth. The Cadets of VMI are proud of their accomplishments and proud of their school, no matter who they are. If Cadets are treated like children – they will act-out like children. If coaches are allowed to insulate their players from the VMI system, creating a massive divide along athletic status when they should be promoting the hard work their teams put in as masters of the VMI military system and athletics; if the cadets lose their motivation to continue building a better future for those that come after them due to the demoralization, stress and anger they feel as a result of being undermined; and if cadets are continually treated like children imbued with self-importance, egoism, racism, and immaturity, the Institute will not make it to 2039. Create an environment for a Cadet-Run Corps to thrive, and VMI will reach heights that we never thought possible.