Friday, August 19, 2022

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Uniform Fitting and Issue – Cameron Hall

If you arrive early on Friday, please go to Cameron Hall and be fitted for your gym dyke and uniform measurements.

 

4:00 - 5:00 p.m. - Pre-Matriculation Social - Marshall Hall

The VMI Parents Council hosts a social for parents and matriculants to be able to meet and greet with other families, current members of the Parents Council, and VMI staff. Enjoy light refreshments while you chat with and ask questions to seasoned members of our VMI community. Summer/Business Casual attire for the event.  

7:30 p.m. - VMI Movie Night - Foster Stadium

Bring a blanket to sit on the field to catch D2: The Mighty Ducks on the new scoreboard. This is open to the entire community, as well as matriculants and their families arriving in Lexington. More details are available on the VMI events calendar.

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Saturday, August 20, 2022

7:00 a.m. – Matriculation for new select cadet-athletes and international cadets that are already on Post

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Matriculation

Entering VMI Post via Jordan's Point entrance, you will be directed to park your vehicle on the parade ground by our VMI staff. Leave your luggage within the vehicle for now.

Once parked, proceed down to the Cameron Hall building, to which you'll be provided a packet that will need to be completed. In Cameron Hall, each family will wait until they are called by name to the Corps Physical Training Facility (CPTF) next door.

Matriculants who have not yet received their gym dyke should be fitted for their new uniform and will receive the athletic uniform (gym dyke) while waiting for their name and number to be called before proceeding over to Corps Physical Training Facility (CPTF). We also encourage you to go to Cameron Hall on Friday, 19 August if you are in town to get this process taken care of.  

Once called and escorted to the CPTF, each party will be met by VMI Admissions to complete any remaining administrative paperwork. After finishing with Admissions, they will be escorted to the upper-level track around which the matriculating stations will be established. They will be directed along a well-marked route.

Depending on the time available between completing the matriculation process and the Superintendent’s welcome remarks, there are a number of items Matriculants should complete.

1. Uniform Fitting and Issue - If unable to complete uniform measuring and issue while waiting to be called to the CPTF, new cadets will be directed to return to the initial uniform measuring and issue point in Cameron Hall to complete that process.
2. Matriculation Fair - New cadets and their family/friends can go to Cocke Hall (gymnasium) to visit the Matriculation Fair.
3. Barracks Check-In - Must complete matriculation in Cameron/CPTF and the Following the Matriculation Fair, prior to barracks check-in. New cadets will be directed to move their personal effects into their assigned rooms in the VMI barracks.

 

8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. - Matriculation Fair, Cocke Hall

Various VMI agencies, local bankers, and representatives from several other organizations will be present from the VMI community.

 

Barracks Check-In 

Following Matriculation in Cameron and CPTF and the Matriculation Fair, new cadets will proceed to barracks for check-in. All luggage should be marked with the full name of the new cadet. New cadets should unload luggage in the front of barracks at the designated arch which was provided in CPTF.  All luggage must be taken to assigned rooms in barracks before 2:00 p.m.

After unloading luggage at barracks, vehicles must immediately be moved from in front of barracks to designated parking on the Parade Ground (weather dependent), prior to checking into barracks. There will be individuals to point you in the correct direction. Parents or family members will be permitted into barracks and everyone must proceed together.  Cadet escorts will be available to answer questions and show you to the 4th stoop and barracks room. 

Matriculants are reminded to keep one set of civilian clothes in their luggage to be stored at VMI. It is recommended that these clothes be suitable for milder weather and for wear off post, as cadets may not need them until later in the semester.

Parents should give their cadets spending money, credit cards, checkbooks, etc. prior to departing to their barracks room for lunch and the Superintendent’s Welcome. These items should be left in the Barracks room and secured.  We ask that you do not bring them to Cameron Hall, as the new cadets cannot carry items when they depart Cameron Hall.

During the 9 days of Matriculation week, new cadets are not authorized to have food in barracks. Nonperishable items will be placed in the trunk room until after the 9-day Matriculation week.

Cadets should change into athletic uniforms (gym dyke) after lunch. They are required to be in their athletic uniform with a name tag for the 2:00 p.m. Superintendent’s Welcome in Cameron Hall.

 

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. LUNCH

It is important that new cadets eat during this time and drink plenty of fluids with the meal.  Lunch will be provided for new cadets from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Crozet Hall. New cadets can eat at no charge in Crozet Hall; the cost for family members is $10 per person.  Meal tickets will be sold at the Parents Council Social Friday evening in Marshall Hall, Center for Leadership & Ethics, and at the Matriculation Fair in Cocke Hall on Saturday morning from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Payment will also be accepted in Crozet Hall.

The PX in Lejeune Hall is an alternative location where family members and new cadets can pay to dine on post.

Should you desire to eat lunch off post in Lexington, there are numerous restaurants nearby as well. NOTE: New cadets may not wear the athletic uniform off post.

 

1:00 p.m. Chaplain’s Prayer (OPTIONAL) – Memorial Hall

VMI’s Chaplain will hold a non-denominational prayer session for new cadets and parents in JM Hall.  This is optional for all families.

 

2:00 p.m. – Superintendent’s Welcome & Cadet Oath in Cameron Hall

New cadets and their families will be welcomed by VMI's Superintendent, Major General Cedric T. Wins, ’85 and introduced to key personnel. New cadets leave their families following the ceremony to begin their training. 

 

Livestream of Matriculation 2022 Welcome Ceremonies 

The livestream of Matriculation 2022 Welcome Ceremonies will be available here:

 

2:30 p.m. - March Up, Cameron Hall

New cadets leave their families and are formed into companies inside Cameron Hall to begin their training period. Family and friends may stay to watch the march off in Cameron Hall.

After you say “good-bye” to your family and form up with your company for the first time, you will march into barracks to meet your cadre. Upperclass cadets from each company known as “cadre” are responsible for the training rats undergo to become VMI cadets. Collectively you are known as a rat mass. You will not earn the status of fourth class cadet until after breakout.

Meeting cadre is the first in a long series of events designed to train and test you as you prepare for assuming the responsibilities of cadetship. During cadre week, you will participate in numerous training activities, get your rat haircut, engage in daily physical fitness routines, learn about the history of VMI, and become familiar with the requirements of cadet life. During the week, you will also purchase academic books, so ensure funds are available. Cadre week concludes with an event called the rat crucible.

 

3:00 p.m. - Finish

Once the new cadets are marched into the barracks, the Matriculation ceremony has ended and they will be taken to their assigned rooms by cadet upperclassmen to begin the administrative processes. 

Friends and family members are not allowed in barracks after the March Up.