You will not look at me!
Scream, "Yes, sergeant."
Yes, sergeant!
Narrator: This ...
Cadre: Louder! Rat: Yes, corporal!
Narrator: Is "hell week" at Virginia Military Institute,
the oldest public senior military college in the US.
[yelling]
On a hot and humid Saturday in August,
496 new freshmen, or rats,
arrived at VMI
to begin the first week of "the rat line" ...
Respond!
Yes, first platoon guide sergeant!
Narrator: A challenging six-month process
they must complete before they officially
enter the corps of cadets.
Sound off!
I believe it's described as
the lowest, dirtiest thing on earth.
Cadre: You will strain at all times, you understand me?
Rat: Yes, sir. Cadre: You understand me?
Yes, sir.
Narrator: Since the 1850s,
new cadets have been called rats
and refer to each other as "brother rats."
Brother rat [clapping], brother rat [clapping].
Narrator: They drop the moniker
after the rat line ends.
Cadet: Golf Company. All right.
Cadet: Excited? You ready? Rat: Yeah.
Cadet: Awesome. Let's grab your stuff.
Narrator: On matriculation day,
new rats are welcomed by cadets ...
Cedric T. Wins: Welcome to the Virginia Military Institute
and the corps of cadets.
Narrator: And by VMI Superintendent
Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins.
So today, your journey begins.
Narrator: Wins, a VMI graduate, was appointed
in April 2021 as the first Black superintendent
in the school's 182-year history.
A milestone, since VMI didn't racially integrate
until 1968.
[audience applauding]
The new rats say goodbye to their families
before it's officially time for them to join the rat line.
Alexander Andrews: It was a sad moment,
but at the same time,
it was a sense of excitement
knowing that I have a new path ahead of me.
Cadre: Echo Company rats!
Fall in!
[audience applauding]
Parent: You can do it!
Narrator: The rats march into barracks
to officially meet their cadre ...
Cadre: Move, move, move!
Let's go, let's go!
Narrator: The group of upperclassmen
charged with training and disciplining the new rats.
Kiersten Mitstifer: It was surreal.
I was not expecting any of that.
People are yelling, screaming,
running around and everything.
I didn't know what to do, what to think.
I just felt so alone.
Narrator: With all the rats inside,
the barracks gates were locked, barring all visitors.
Andrews: It was nerve-wracking, but at the same time,
awe-inspiring.
That moment where you know, this is it.
Katelynn Riley: The slow walk in
is like the intimidation factor.
It's supposed to intimidate the rats.
And it's just to give the rats
a culture shock of where they are,
so they understand what they're getting themselves into.
All: And you will learn!
[cadre yelling]
Narrator: After this not-so-warm welcome from the cadre ...
Narrator: The rats' next stop is the barber shop.
Female rats must wear their hair
in a tight bun or ponytail
and can't have it fall below the shoulder blades.
Male rats have to shave their heads.
Producer: Why are you holding them?
Rat: So I can cherish them. [laughs]
Narrator: Hair longer than 8 inches
is cut and donated to charity.
VMI cadets are not obligated to serve
in the armed forces after graduation,
and tuition costs about $30,000 per year
for Virginia residents
and about $60,000 for out-of-state cadets.
A normal college, like, the way I'm wired,
I feel like I wouldn't be able to
succeed as well at a normal college.
I think I need some discipline.
Narrator: A common appeal of VMI is the alumni network,
which includes politicians
like Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam.
I think the connections here will be useful.
So many opportunities, connections.
Narrator: About half of cadets
do not go on to serve in the military,
yet they still chose this
for their college experience.
Talk!
Riley: The rat line, it's all mental.
It's to put pressure so that you can be more mentally tough.
Cadre: Ears! Rats: Open.
Riley: Giving rats a very stressful environment ...
Get louder than me!
Riley: Shows them that, you're at the bottom.
You have to work your way to the top.
And also you need to be able to overcome pressure
and obstacles in your way.
All of you shut your mouth right now!
Shut your mouth right now!
Narrator: The rats form up outside,
where they continue to get to know their cadre.
Right now, right now!
You, right here!
What? Don't talk back to me!
Shut up! Shut up!
Mitstifer: That's how life is here.
You just had to stand there.
Try not to do anything.
Try to be as invisible as possible.
A cadet will not lie, cheat, or steal
or tolerate those who do.
Get louder!
Narrator: Rats learn the VMI Honor Code ...
Narrator: Which they repeat over and over again.
Honor Code, hit it!
Rats: A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal,
or tolerate those who do.
Cadre: Keep going!
Producer: What's it like to be a female student at VMI?
So, if I'm being completely honest,
it's a little harder.
But you definitely have to be stronger as a female here,
because any sign of weakness,
their excuse is, "Oh, they're a female."
Rats: A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal.
Riley: So, there's a term here for female.
It's called "sheed."
I think it's supposed to be like "she cadet,"
something like that.
I personally don't like the word.
I don't let anyone around me say it,
because I take offense to it.
Because even though there are some females here
that take pride in it,
like, I'm not a female cadet.
I'm just a cadet.
And that's all I will be.
Narrator: Female cadets couldn't fully matriculate at VMI
until 1997, after a Supreme Court decision
forced the school's policy to change.
And the culture of VMI continues to be scrutinized.
Systemic racism and sexism at Virginia Military Institute.
Reporter: Tuesday, the special investigation team
released their findings in a 150-page report.
Narrator: In June of 2021, a special investigation
ordered by Gov. Northam concluded that, quote,
"institutional racism and sexism are present,
tolerated, and left unaddressed at VMI."
First, I would tell any parent or any prospective student
that I'm a product of Virginia Military Institute.
As the superintendent, I'm focused on doing
what needs to be done
to make sure that the corps of cadets understand
that that type of behavior is inconsistent
with the character of honor and honorable cadets,
and we need to eliminate it from our ranks.
Narrator: Since the investigation began,
monuments touting VMI's ties to the Confederacy
have since come down,
including a statue of Confederate general
and former VMI physics professor
Stonewall Jackson.
Producer: What was your reaction to that report?
How did that impact you when you found out about this news?
It was disheartening to hear
that such a prestigious school had to deal with it,
but at the same time, I wasn't deterred.
Growing up, I've dealt with racism
in so many different parts of my life
that if there's some here, so be it.
I won't let that hinder my personal aspirations.
Narrator: With the companies formed,
hell week officially begins.
Cadre: Clean this room. You're not taking breaks.
Hurry up.
You do not have clothes in your wall locker!
Harrison Williams: They teach you how to
wear your uniform properly, shine your brass,
shine your shoes, fold your clothes.
Get this off the table, Rat Johnson.
Respond!
Rat: Yes, first platoon guide sergeant.
Hurry up. Hurry up.
Cadre: Pick it up.
Narrator: For rats ...
Cadre: Don't leave a mess.
Narrator: Life is no less stressful in the dining hall,
where they adhere to strict protocols during meals.
Cadre: You bring your food to your mouth,
not your mouth to your food.
Do you understand me, Rat Bowles?
When you get back to your room, fix your name tag.
Mitstifer: You can get harassed anytime
about literally anything.
Cadre: Don't eat like a cowboy.
You eat like a civilized person, do you understand me?
Mitstifer: The upperclassmen have basically free rein
to yell at you for whatever they want to.
Open your mouth!
Yes, corporal!
Riley: They just learn how to be rats,
learn the basics, so that they can get through
this semester and then halfway through the next.
Shoulders back. Get your forehead back.
Cadre: Who am I? who am I? Rat: Corporal.
Narrator: One of the basics rats learn during hell week
is how to properly strain.
Cadre: Strain!
Narrator: Which refers to the uncomfortable position
they must take ...
Rat: Yes, corporal.
Narrator: Whenever they're inside barracks
for the duration of the rat line.
Rat: Yes, sir!
Strain. Strain!
Yes, sir!
Producer: Can you show me what the
proper technique is?
You pull back.
And you just kind of lean back at the waist.
Shoulders back, chin in, and then
stick your forehead back as far as it can go.
Yes, sir.
Riley: Every class has certain privileges.
Rats, their only privilege is to strain.
And as you go up, you get more privileges.
Narrator: Long-held rat line traditions like straining
continue at VMI.
Yes, corporal!
Narrator: But the Institute has adjusted some trainings
since the appointment of Superintendent Wins.
Cadet cadre now participate in a leadership academy
on professionalism, accountability,
and appropriate behavior when dealing with new cadets.
Look at my face.
Remember who I am.
Narrator: And new measures for reporting incidents
have been put in place.
We have what's called a Cadet Equity Association.
And it's intended to deal with reports
that might come about
where an incident of racism or sexism has occurred.
Get outside! Come here! Come here!
Narrator: Hell week culminates the following Sunday ...
Cadre: Louder! Rat: Yes, sergeant.
Narrator: With an event known as the Crucible,
a series of physically challenging events,
including a swim in a nearby river
and a physical challenge where rats race each other
to flip over large tires.
[thunder booms]
But after lightning struck near post,
the rats were ordered to return to barracks.
Cadre: 10,
nine,
eight!
Cadre: Hey, sergeants!
Narrator: With the rats safely back in their rooms,
it appeared the Crucible would be cut short.
Mitstifer: They told us to just clean our room,
so we didn't really expect anything after that.
We just thought the day was over.
[knocking] [cadre yelling]
Narrator: But the cadre had different plans.
[cadre yelling]
Get down on your faces!
Push, push!
Rats: A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal,
or tolerate those who do.
A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal,
or tolerate those who do!
Narrator: The Crucible events canceled by weather
were replaced with what's known as a sweat party.
Let's go.
Move 'em, Delta.
Rats: A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal,
or tolerate those who do.
Riley: We had a five-round sweat party.
Each round was three minutes long.
Arms up.
Riley: And it's just a high-intensity workout,
is the best way to put it.
Cadre: Honor Code, ready.
Rats: VMI Honor Code.
A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal,
nor tolerate those who do.
Say it louder!
I wouldn't call it a pleasant experience,
but I don't think it was supposed to be.
[horn blows]
Narrator: After five exhausting rounds,
the sweat party was over.
Cadre: Brother rat.
Cadre: Start clapping.
Narrator: And so was hell week ...
Rats: Brother rat. [clapping]
Narrator: The first step of the rat line,
the six-month journey that the class of 2025
must complete before officially joining the corps of cadets.
Rats: Brother rat [clapping],
brother rat [clapping],
brother rat [clapping].