Behind the Balance: Cameron Jones ’27 — Keydet Women’s Soccer 

Virginia Military Institute’s cadet-athletes have to juggle cadet life, heavy academic course loads, and their NCAA Division I sport. Committed to both academic and athletic pursuits, balancing their rigorous schedule in both sports and school requires a certain level of commitment and discipline. Behind the Balance is a series that focuses on those cadet-athletes and how they handle the hurdles of the day-to-day. 

Alpha Company commander, Division I soccer captain, psychology major, Spanish minor, commissioning into the United States Marine Corps — these are all things Cameron Jones ’27 has on her Virginia Military Institute resume. 

Things looked a little different prior to her commitment to VMI. From southwest Washington state, Jones had been playing a tournament in Florida, where VMI just happened to be scouting players.  

“I didn’t know what VMI was. My team manager basically went up and the coach asked, ‘Do you have anyone that’s interested in the military?’ And the team manager was like, ‘Watch her.’” 

Initially, Jones wanted to attend a service academy and had no concept of what VMI was.  

She continued through her junior year of high school until she tore her ACL in the spring . It changed the trajectory of her college plans — and opened the door to VMI. 

“Medically I wasn’t really going to make the academies happen that year. Any other offer or interest I had from any other school was down the drain, except for VMI,” she said.  

She was at a standstill — what could she do now? She figured she could attend VMI, get an ROTC scholarship. and still make her plan happen.  

“When I realized like I could play Division I soccer, I could get a degree, I could earn a commission, and I could live a 24/7 military lifestyle, I was like, ‘boom, I’m sold,’” she said. “I applied for the Army ROTC and Marine Corps ROTC scholarships, and I ultimately chose the Marine Corps. Literally, the best decision I made.” 

Jones, who is also an honors student, is carrying a 17.5 credit hour load this semester, along with serving on cadre, being a co-captain on the soccer team, and more. 

Cadet-athletes at VMI not only have their responsibilities with their selected sport but cadet duties on top of that. Cadets are also required to take physical fitness classes twice a week, participate in ROTC all four years, prepare for room and uniform inspections, practice for parade, guard duty, and more. 

Her days start early at 6 a.m. for formation, then breakfast and onto classes with formations and drills scattered in between. She’s at practice from 4:45 p.m. until they break for dinner as a team at 7:30 p.m. 

After dinner, her goal is to get to bed by taps,  but she sometimes struggles with that.  

“I’m a social person, and I like to check –in with a lot of people, so I do the rounds,” she said. “Sometimes I’m up chatting probably later than I should be, but human connection is important.” 

She focuses on prioritizing what’s important to balance her hectic schedule. 

“When I’m at soccer, I can’t be thinking about anything else. I need to think about soccer. I have to forget about it when I leave the field because I have 1,000 other things to do,” she said. “I also think it just takes sacrifice. I tell the rats you have to figure out what’s important. You’ve got to understand you can’t do it all.” 

Her determination on and off the field shows. It’s the main reason her teammates nominated her as co-captain this year.  

“It was such an honor. I felt very grateful and thankful I had a team that entrusted me with that and saw my potential,” she stated. 

Jones is also grateful for the community that VMI provides.  

“I think that’s what makes VMI stand out from a lot of other schools that I’ve seen, the brotherhood’s there for a reason.” 

Looking back, Jones says she owes a lot to VMI. 

“If 18-year-old Cameron could see where I’m at right now, I think she’d be in awe,” she admitted. “I think it’s taught me the importance of just knowing what you can control and what you can’t control.” 

You can control three things: effort, attitude, and toughness, she said. Making mistakes is hard but gives you the opportunity for growth. She’s learned to adapt, overcome, and ultimately embrace failure. 

“I learned VMI quickly teaches you that you don’t have a lot of control on things — what you wear, how you talk, when you talk, where you’re going — but you can control those three things, and I think that showed me that if I have a good attitude, it makes a lot of sucky situations a lot better.”