In the News

Step into cadet life and explore various extracurricular activities that are offered at VMI. See how cadets, faculty advisors and coaches, and post itself, reflect the ever-changing landscape of athletics, academics, community service, and interests beyond the classroom, going the extra mile.


The VMI Ducks Unlimited Club focuses on conservation

The Extra Mile: Ducks Unlimited

The mission of Ducks Unlimited is to conserve, restore, and manage wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl.

The Extra Mile: Firefighting Club

Cadets in the VMI Firefighting Club have the option of serving at three different departments — Lexington Fire Department, South River Fire Department, or Kerrs Creek Fire Department. Members of the firefighting club are permitted to volunteer for two days each week.

Hayden Rose portrait over image of VMI barracks

Cadet Rescues Injured Civilian

Hayden Rose ’26, a computer science major at Virginia Military Institute, used the skills he learned as a VMI emergency medical technician (EMT) to save a woman’s life recently while embedded with the 91st cyber brigade for a military activity at Camp Pendleton.

Students part of VMI's Promaji chapter during a meeting.

The Extra Mile: Promaji

To better understand VMI, and navigate the Institute as a Black cadet, students assembled to build what is now known as “Promaji.”

Students part of Ranger Challenge at VMI, a military college in Virginia

The Extra Mile: Ranger Challenge

Have you ever wondered what a mix of Army ROTC and a varsity sport would be? You’d get the Army ROTC Ranger Challenge team, which is a club at Virginia Military Institute.  

Students part of yearbook at VMI, a military college in Virginia

The Extra Mile: Yearbook Club

James Burns ’23 and his team spend the year scouring post for memories. They come in the form of pictures, words, moments, and more. From the Rat Challenge, Breakout to Ring Figure and graduation, the VMI yearbook, “The Bomb,” takes a snapshot in time that can be memorialized forever.

Students part of the Drone Club at VMI, a military college in Virginia

The Extra Mile: Drone Club

The club has a membership total of three to five cadets. Most members of the club are also computer science majors. This common trait presents difficulties when cadets have overlapping group study sessions and cannot make it to the club meeting time.

The VMI team receives their Sandhurst Medallion for placing fifth overall at the annual Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at West Point.

VMI Places Fifth at Sandhurst

Team members of Ranger Challenge, the “varsity sport” of the program at Virginia Military Institute, placed fifth, winning a Sandhurst Medallion for the top five overall teams out of 48 teams in the annual Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the U.S. Military Academy (USMA) at West Point.

Students in the Theater Club performing at VMI, a military college in Virginia

The Extra Mile: Theatre Club

Tori Wright ’24 was looking for anything to escape COVID-19 on post as a rat. The catch — there were not a lot of activities for rats to join due to the amount of work that was required of them in the Rat Line. Nevertheless, Virginia Military Institute’s Cadet Theatre was one she could.  

Student in the swimming pool for Scuba Club at VMI, a military school in Virginia

The Extra Mile: Scuba Club

When thinking of a military college in Southwest Virginia, the VMI Scuba Club is probably not on anyone’s radar. Surprisingly, cadets have applied this fun club to real-life experiences and necessary job training.  

VMI: Forging 21st Century Leaders