Three VMI cadets recently attended the U.S. Air Force Academy’s 2022 National Character and Leadership Symposium in Colorado. The conference’s theme this year was “Ethics and Respect for Human Dignity,” and the event featured several keynote speakers and sessions.

Eric Munro ’21 is one of only 23 U.S. candidates selected as a Gates Cambridge Scholar 2022 to pursue graduate study at the University of Cambridge, where Munro will pursue a Ph.D. in engineering and research the development of next generation miniaturized spectrometers using novel nano materials.

During the Fall 2021 Field Training Exercise (FTX), sophomore cadets from Detachment 880 went to Stonewall Paintball in nearby Glasgow, VA to perform some in-field scenarios to test their abilities to lead and follow under stressful situations.

“Each guest speaker offered a wide range of expertise on various topics ranging from Anglo-American relations to leadership from the cockpit of a high-performance jet,” Wesley Barbara ’23 said. “I look forward to implementing everything I learned.”

“There's so much knowledge here,” Leon Thomas '22 commented. “There's all this different military experience from different branches that you really would never have seen in many other places.”

Cadet Elias Tyson '22 attended the 2021 American Veterans Center Conference this November and offers insight and perspective into the event and its illustrious speakers.

Kilbourne Hall was buzzing with Aviation Excitement this past week when three brand-new flight simulators were unveiled by VMI’s ROTC programs! The Air Force, Navy, and Army ROTC departments have been working around the clock with VMI to develop these joint ROTC flight training assets.

General John P. Jumper, VMI Class of 1966, had been Chief of Staff of the Air Force for less than a week on 9/11. He helped adapt the Air Force to its new mission in the War on Terror after that fateful day. It was an honor for a handful of cadets, including myself, to meet with him.

Two Air Force ROTC cadets have been recognized by the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME). SAME, which focuses on building leaders to address national security infrastructure challenges, honored Eric Munro '21 and Leon Thomas ’22 with a Southeast Region ROTC Award.

On September 10th, 2020, VMI welcomed the Vice President of the United States Michael R. Pence with Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy ’96 and U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz ’96. Air Force ROTC cadets were able to hear from the Vice President when he flew in on Thursday.