2024 Schedule

Friday, August 16, 2024

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 - 6:00 p.m. - Parents Council Welcome Reception - Marshall Hall

The VMI Parents Council hosts a pre-matriculation reception for parents of new cadets. Information about this reception will be sent out directly to parents of new cadets in early July.

Saturday, August 17, 2024

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

Enter 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 and escorted over 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, 16 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 and proceed around to the matriculating stations, families 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.
4. Lunch – Lunch opportunities will be available in Crozet Hall ($10 for parents, free to incoming matriculants) or the PX in LeJeune Hall which is fee based for everyone including incoming matriculants. 

7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. - Matriculation Fair, Cocke Hall

Various VMI agencies, local bankers, and representatives from several other organizations will be present from the VMI community. Athletes may attend beginning at 7:30 a.m. and all others can attend beginning at 8 a.m.

Barracks Check-In 

Following Matriculation in Cameron and CPTF, 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 1:30 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.  Luggage size should not exceed: 28 and 32 inches long and approximately 19 inches wide and 12 inches deep.  During the 9 days after Matriculation, new cadets are not authorized to have food in barracks. Nonperishable items will be placed in the trunk room with their luggage until after the 9-day Matriculation week.

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. Lockboxes are sold (limited quantity) at the Matriculation Fair in Cocke Hall.  We ask that you do not bring them to Cameron Hall, as the new cadets cannot carry items when they depart Cameron Hall.

Cadets should change into athletic uniforms (gym dyke) after lunch. They are required to be in their athletic uniform with their 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. - 1:00 p.m. in Crozet Hall.   New cadets can eat at no charge in Crozet Hall; the cost for family members is $10 for adults. Tickets will be sold at the Matriculation Fair in Cocke Hall; payment will also be accepted in Crozet as well. 

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

Should you desire to eat lunch off-Post in Lexington there are numerous restaurants available as well. 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 Memorial 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 2024 Welcome Ceremonies 

The livestream of the Matriculation 2024 Welcome Ceremonies will be available here.

* Please note, captions for VMI livestream events are auto-generated.

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. Upper-class 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 Matriculation 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. Matriculation week concludes with an event called the rat crucible.

3:00 p.m. - Finish

Once the new cadets are marched out of Cameron Hall up to barracks, the Matriculation ceremony has ended and they will be taken to their assigned rooms by cadet upper-classmen to begin the administrative processes. 

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