Blue Ridge Battalion News

Follow the latest news and exploits of cadets, faculty, and staff in Army ROTC at VMI.


Cadets participate in Army Combat Fitness Test field trials.

‘VMI Leads the Way’

VMI’s ROTC unit is the only in the nation to participate in field testing the Army Combat Fitness Test that will soon be required for every U.S. Army soldier.

Cadets train on the VMI Parade Ground during fall 2018 field training exercises.

Hoopes Named Nation’s Top Army ROTC Cadet

For the second time in three years, a VMI cadet—Alec Hoopes ’19—has been ranked number one in the nation by the U.S. Army Cadet Command.

VMI cadets march in the Ranger Challenge competition.

Ranger Teams Rise to the Challenge

VMI fielded two Ranger Challenge teams at Fort Knox Oct. 24-28, finishing in second and third place overall. Their performance represents the best ever result in the military brigade competition.

Nina Srikongyos ’15 poses in front the Army Ranger school sign at Victory Pond in Fort Benning, Georgia, after her graduation in November.—Photo courtesy of Nina Srikongyos ’15.

‘Willing to Go the Extra Mile’

Nattachat “Nina” Srikongyos graduated from Ranger School in November to become the eighth woman and the first Thai-American woman to successfully complete the training.

Cadet Hannah Gillan Poses with a group of students in Vietnam.

Army Cadets Train across the Globe

Army ROTC sent 150 3rd Class cadets to Army ROTC Advanced Camp and 65 1st Class and 2nd Class cadets to Basic Camp, in addition to specialized training schools.

VMI: Forging 21st Century Leaders