Rat Mass Overview

Many a high school student have turned to VMI alumni, current Cadets, or spent hours on the VMI website searching for hints at surviving their Rat Year once they received an acceptance letter. Excited and scared, there is that moment where some will think, "what have I gotten myself into?" According to VMI.edu, the official VMI website: "VMI offers one of the most challenging first-year experiences of any college in the United States, and it starts with the Rat Line. The Rat Line begins on Matriculation Day and lasts until cadets 'break out,' usually in February, when they are recognized by the Corps as 4th Class cadets." The site further describes, "the term 'Rat Line' refers specifically to the tradition in which new cadets walk at rigid attention along a prescribed route whenever they are inside barracks." Helpful information about the Rat Line and matriculation can be found in each year's "New Cadet Handbook." In last year's handbook, it was noted: " The Rat Line is an integral part of a matriculant's transformation into a VMI cadet. For over a century the Rat Line has brought together groups of individuals and turned them into a VMI "class." All matriculants, known as "rats," start on equal footing—the same uniform, same rules, same obligations, and same expectations for excellence. Through significant adversity, they dig deep to harness their skills and determination. They also find that success is only possible working together as a team. As a result, a unified class emerges from the Rat Line. Within that class, each cadet has begun the transformation into a unique servant leader, imbued with an understanding of the importance of Honor, and the confidence to face any future challenge with poise and focus. Without this adversity, a VMI cadet would be no different than any other college graduate. The last day of the Rat Line consists entirely of team-based physical training, both physically and mentally challenging. When the Rat Line is complete, and the final challenge has been conquered, the rats "break out" and they join the VMI community as a class, not as individuals. The cadre, upper-class mentors, and the VMI administration will not approve a breakout until the group has demonstrated they have come together as a unified class." Break out generally takes place in February and each class, made up of young women and men from all walks of life and from all over the United States and internationally, grows all the more richer and more tightly knit. Though the statistics for the incoming Rat Mass have not been made available yet, the statistics from last year's Rat Mass provide some insights. While 1632 applications were made, only 969 were accepted, 451 were from Virginia, 518 were out-of-state. Of those who ultimately chose to come to VMI, there were 456 males, and 63 females. Six percent of the attendees had parents who were alumni, 19% had relatives who had attended VMI, and forty percent ranked in the top quarter of their high school graduating class. With regard to ethnicity, 47 of the incoming rat mass were noted as Hispanic/Latino, three were American Indian or Alaskan Native, 24 were Asian, thirty-seven Black or African American, three claimed Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, 420 White, 20 from two or more races, and five noted themselves as being from unknown race and ethnicity. Last year's incoming rats had applied for a number of degree tracks with a significant number of the students interested in studying engineering or international relations. In addition, last year's rat mass boasted 59 people who had been a class officer/leader, 72 people who had been part of the student government, 169 who were part of the Student Honor Society, 452 who had played sports for at least two years, 245 who had been a team captain, and an impressive number of men and women are eagle scouts or have gold awards. It is expected this year's Rat Mass will continue this trend of attracting high quality high school students. VMI.edu further describes how the Rat Line introduces one to a variety of challenges. "It starts with an intense week of workouts – several a day. Later, as an upper-class cadet, you will be required to take Physical Education (PE) and participate in physical training at least twice every week. Time management will be your key to survival because every hour of every academic day is scheduled. Upper-class cadets called 'cadre' will be telling you what to do every minute of every day, at first. You'll look to your Brother Rats for support. And you'll offer your support in return…" Cadet Jackie Milley, Class of 2023, says it's important to not let yourself get overwhelmed, especially during Hell Week. She encourages rats to approach their early days which are very difficult by measuring time meal to meal, like "I got to breakfast, now just make it to lunch, and so on." She also says to not draw inward, get to know as many people as possible, those that are in your immediate vicinity, and beyond. She emphasizes, "Make friends outside your room and your company." Cadet Captain Maddie Berry, Class of 2022, head of the EMT program at VMI, and a member of the Water Polo team shares, "The biggest piece of advice I have for incoming rats is to lean on your brother rat, no person has gotten through VMI alone. Your Brother Rats are the ones who will be there with you at your highest and lowest points. They will motivate you and push you to be a better person every day." Cadet Sergeant of Charlie Company, Jackson Lloyd, Class of 2023, and a member of the rugby team emphasizes, "Don't take anything personally." Lloyd recalls that before he entered VMI, he was determined to survive by studying as much about the Rat Line as he could beforehand and getting physically fit. He adds, "Make sure you study within barracks, don't focus too much on being a rat or your grades will suffer." In a Facebook post dated May 16, 2021 by Brady Biller, VMI Class of 2021, Cadet Biller shared the following insights as he reflected on both his early days and being just weeks from graduating: "I have almost completed my cadetship at The Virginia Military Institute. In 22 days, I will be graduating with a Civil Engineering degree. I'm currently on my last ever guard shift as the Night Officer of the Guard while typing this thought. Its 03:41 on a Saturday morning and my shift ends at 07:00. All my hometown best friends at other universities just got done partying or going out to the local bars. After 4 years of being in barracks we've gotten used to "missing out" on a normal college experience. Yet, every now and then I still have the thought on why I came to VMI, even 22 days until I graduate. I just ponder how badly I want to get out of here. I'm thinking on why the hell I'm walking around Barracks in the middle of the night with a flashlight while everyone is sleeping? I just want my life after VMI to start so I can finally have that freedom I'm craving so badly. With all these negative thoughts about this place and wishing time away, you would think I made a wrong decision signing the matriculation book on August 19, 2017. Shortly after feeling sorry for myself, a cadet walks into the guard room with a one-hundred-dollar bill and tells me that he found it by a stairwell. Its pitch-black outside with no one around him and he had every chance just to walk away a little bit richer. I couldn't help but smile, I'm not sure who was listening inside my head, but this was a moment where I was able to look past all the annoying aspects of being a VMI cadet and appreciate the bigger picture of what this Institution upholds. I'm sure that cadet was raised with good intentions, but I know for a 100% fact that any other person at another school in the world would've ran off with that hundred- dollar bill. This is the reason why I became a VMI cadet. I believe that VMI has instilled in him and all other cadets the character and integrity he displayed tonight. I believe its bred into all of us here at VMI. We are taught from day one here on how to lead others. Now more than ever does this country need people like that cadet, they need all VMI cadets. This historical masterpiece of a school has been getting its name slandered by media outlets all around the state. It hurts me to think that people on the outside think VMI allows people to survive here with bad characteristics. A cadetship is no easy journey and VMI has a weird way of ridding the ones who don't display the characteristics and integrity that we here try to instill into every single one who signs that matriculation book. A true VMI cadet supports all race, religion, and gender. VMI is the last of its kind, in my eyes it's the Virginia Military Institute cadets who will shed light on this crazy time we are all living in. Not every person is perfect, and we can't live to think anyone should be, but a VMI cadet is damn near close." As parents and incoming rats prepare for VMI, it's important to be realistic about the realities and challenges. It is also important to know there are services and people in place to help one succeed. Cadet Sergeant Holly Heines, Class of 2023, a member of S3, part of the VMI Institute Honors Program, and commissioned with the United States Marine Corps, recalls her first months. "I survived by focusing on the good stuff, sunrises, having some fun, etc." She notes, "Something I wish I had known (as a rat) is that nothing is personal. It's okay to joke around and lighten up. And that the focus is on improving and not to be perfect in the beginning." In her calls and letters home, Brian Curtis says his daughter painstakingly described Hell Week. She wrote, "My heart beat out of my chest on Matriculation Day as I went through each step from signing in, to getting the appropriate gear, to the information fair, and my first meeting with the army leadership, and members of the biology department. I intentionally did not eat much at lunch as I did not want to be the rat who is known for throwing up that first day. The remaining days became a blur as I just tried to make it through endless hours of physical training, institute instruction, yelling for messing up, having my hair cut off that just days earlier had been down to my waist. I missed the ones closest to me that had stood in my driveway waving goodbye as if I might never be seen again. It was the hardest but most rewarding time of my life. Many Cadets share the same observation, that this time in their life is often pivotal, and the friends made become like family. Year after year, each entering Rat mass has undergone similar training. Above all, says Cadet Sergeant Josie Freeman, Class of 2023, keep priorities straight. "I would say remember what's important. You can fall out of every workout and still attend VMI, but you can't stay if you fail all your classes. Academics first - ALWAYS. It sets you up really well for any chance of commissioning and opens up a world of opportunities for a career." This tradition, the Rat Line, starting almost from the creation of VMI in 1839, continued through last year when the Class of 2024 faced both the Rat Line and the pandemic. It was a very challenging year for all, and members certainly didn't have a typical rat year, some say it was harder, others say it was easier. As the rats arrived in August of 2020, Matriculation was carried out over two days out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of all. Strict move-in times were assigned, and rats were immediately issued masks to be worn at all times. Cadet Tara Gill, Class of 2024, reflects, "Every VMI class thinks that their Rat Line is the hardest, but ours indeed was very different. The pandemic made the Rat Line for the Class of 2024 very mentally challenging, since most of the "fun" rat bonding activities or basic things like seeing your Dyke every day were shut down. There was a point in time that we could not even visit our Dykes let alone our BR's. Sticking together and enduring only the challenges provided to us by the Rat Line while not seeing the rewards or small victories weighed on our class." Despite it all, the class excelled, and the class broke out in February. Cadet Gill adds,"Being able to talk about our struggles brought us all together. It (the pandemic) was something that the other classes had never seen and we got to experience it. It's a memory that only the VMI Class of '24 will get to keep." Other members of the Class of 2024 echo Cadet Gill, saying as a result of the extreme challenges experienced during the pandemic, the closest friendships of their lives have been formed. So with August of 2021 upon us, in preparation for Matriculation Day, and the days and weeks to follow, these words are shared with the incoming rats and their families, from the first woman to lead the Corp, Cadet First Captain Kasey Meredith Regimental Commander. The following are passages from her letter that appear in the New Cadet Handbook 2021-2022. "Rat Mass of 2022+3, First and foremost, I wish to congratulate you on your appointment and commend you on your decision to attend the Virginia Military Institute. By accepting this honor, you have made a dedicated and deliberate effort to set yourself apart from your peers. Your decision exemplifies the depths of your maturity and character and presents your desire to grow as a person of character and as a servant leader. Your conscious decision is one of grit and dedication, setting yourself apart from the ordinary… Stay true to the reasons why you chose VMI. The standards you are expected to live by will consistently increase with each year. Maintain these standards, improve upon them, and never let yourself forget them. Consistently set goals for yourself that you can and will succeed. If you have the privilege of joining the VMI ranks, prove to those who do not know VMI why it is the most successful and distinguished military college in the nation. I will never expect anything but the absolute best from each and every one of you." From the rest of the Corps, welcome Rat Mass of 2022 + 3. Strain.