Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets

Notes for Academic Advisors

    1. Please advise incoming cadets to attend the Corps of Cadets information session with the Commandant at 9:00 AM on day one of Orientation in Squires 219. Also, new cadets must report for in-processing between 9:00am and 1:30pm at the second floor of the Military Building, on day two. This is when cadets are fitted for their uniforms and issued their combat boots. This is very important!

    2. All incoming cadets are required to register for Management 2944, CRN 94253, Instructor: WDMiller, GLCDB 64. This course meets on Thursday afternoons from 3:30 until 4:45 pm. Successful completion of this course, plus other academic and leadership requirements, leads to the award of a minor in leadership studies.

    3. Incoming Regimental Band Members (the Highty Tighties) must register for Music 3314, CRN 94536, Instructor: GR McNeill. The days and times this course will meet will be arranged after the semester begins. However, it generally meets three times a week for one hour.

    4. Please do not suggest that students drop the Corps due to academic demands in your college. We place the highest priority on academic success. Last year was the best on record for the Corps; cadets achieved an overall QCA for the year of 2.97, which exceeds the university's average. In fact, we require that freshmen study for four hours each evening between 7pm and 11pm -- in their dorm room (we monitor & enforce quiet hours throughout the dorms during that time), in the library, with a study group, and at the Math Emproium. We interact with the cadets on a routine basis if their grades begin to fall. We take their academic success very seriously. Cadets are repeatedly honored as Man of the Year, Undergraduate Leader of the Year, and by selection for Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. If you have any questions about our program or a student's Corps activities, please call me (Rewa Mariger) at (540) 231-6858 or send me an email: rmariger@vt.edu.

    5. Students join the Corps to benefit from our leadership development program, to earn Corps and ROTC scholarships, and to become officers in the armed forces and leaders of our nation. As a Corps-only (also known as the Civilian Track) option, they do not incur a military obligation after graduation from Virginia Tech. BOV policy requires all who enroll in ROTC to be members of the Corps of Cadets. Also, the admissions committee reserves the right to reevaluate a change to civilian status after a student has been offered admission as a cadet.

    6. If a new cadet comes to see you about leaving the Corps during  the first six weeks of school, please ask if they’ve talked with their battalion’s retention officer or the Regimental Retention Officer (Cadet Spear).  If they are truly distraught, please contact their Deputy Commandant directly.

      • LTC Bill Stringer is the Deputy Commandant for Training Companies 1-1, 1-2,1-3, and 1-4 and he can be reached at (540) 231-8597, or via email at wstringe@vt.edu.

      • CAPT James Snyder is the Deputy Commandant  for Training Companies 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, and 2-4 and he can be reached at(540) 231-8595, or via email at jasnyde1@vt.edu.

      • LTC Chuck Payne is the Deputy Commandant for Training Companies 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, and the Highty Tighties and he can be reached at (540) 231-3488, or via email at chpayne1@vt.edu

    The BOV Policy for Cadet Withdrawl, which they signed and acknowledged this summer, states that if a freshman cadet wants to dis-enroll before the Last Day to Drop Classes Without Penalty (26SEP08), they must withdraw from the university and return in the Spring semester.  They do not have to re-apply.  However, if they stay through the 26th of September, they may dis-enroll from the Corps and remain on campus enrolled in the university.  We recommend they wait until the end of the semester so it does not interrupt their studies.