The Vanguard series highlights cadets of Virginia Military Institute who exemplify promise, perseverance, and the true spirit of leadership. While they may not be the top-ranking students or those in prestigious positions, these individuals' dedication, resilience, and growth embody the essence of being a VMI cadet. By sharing their stories, including the challenges they've faced and overcome, we shine a spotlight on the diverse paths to success at the Institute, proving that leadership and excellence come in many forms.  

LEXINGTON, Va. Oct. 31, 2025 — Aidan Carman ’27 can be described as committed to whatever Virginia Military Institute can do for him. His professor, Col. John David, professor in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Jackson-Hope Distinguished Professor of Natural Science, said Carman is trying to get everything he can from his time at the Institute — utilizing his math degree track and plans of commissioning into the U.S. Navy.

“I feel like there' s been a lot of good Naval officers come out of our department, and I think he's going to be another one,” David said. “I think beyond his effort and hard work is the fact that he seems to fit in well with his [brother rats] and other math majors. He’s a great kid. My job would be easy if they were all like him.” 

Carman says he’s focused and confident in himself, but he’s still trying to improve himself. The math major said he’s academically sound.  

“I’m fortunate that I can grasp a lot of material. Not to say that I don't have to put in any work, but it seems, for the most part, I pick up things pretty quickly, so that's good. I've been able to keep good grades,” he admitted. 

There was a bit of a learning curve in his first year, especially when it came to time management.  

“That was a very big shock coming here, especially throughout the Rat Line, was learning how to manage my time,” he stated. “As a high school student, I didn't have to put any effort at all into it. I never brought home homework. It was all done by the end of the day. I didn't have labs. So, learning how to balance school with also getting sleep and managing all that time to do the little in between things. 

“The biggest thing I had to learn was not doing homework the night before it was due, but when it was assigned,” he said. “Procrastination is what really gets people. All the little things start to add up. Once I started just getting the smaller stuff out of the way, I had a lot more time for bigger projects and tests.” 

One of the biggest lessons Carman has learned is to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.  

“Throughout the Rat Line, just some of the mental challenge of not quitting when that's the easy way out, and even if something's harder to do, still doing it and just grit your teeth and do it,” he explained. “I feel like I was not that way before coming here. I was the, ‘take the easy way out,’ but that changed when I got here. I learned to just grit my teeth and do the hard way over the easy.”

As a platoon sergeant for the Old Corps, his day begins and ends with accountability.  

“Mostly it’s just being accountable at formations,” he explained. “For BRC [breakfast role call] and SRC [supper role call] every morning and evening, I stand out in front, get accountability, report it back, and then march down.” 

But even with a system in place, each year at VMI brought its own unique challenges.  

“As a rat, you just do what you’re told and go where you’re told — you’ve got your dyke (senior mentor) to support you,” he said. “By 2nd Class year, you know the people who will have your back, and you know the school a lot better. Third Class year, though, is tricky. You’re not completely alone, but it feels like it sometimes. You’re trying to figure out your support system, both personally and academically, and really learn what works for you and what doesn’t.”

One of the places he found direction was in the math department, where he got involved in research opportunities. Through the Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI), there’s a program called AIM, or Applied Industry Mathematics. Carman explained that it’s focused on working with local businesses or even departments at VMI. He's worked with VMI's financial aid and administration office, but most recently he partnered with a company in Buena Vista.

Those experiences gave him something more than classroom learning — real-world work experience. 

“You get credits, a stipend, and, most importantly, the chance to apply what you’ve learned to actual problems. Sometimes in class you’re just solving for a number,” he explained. “I feel like I got a very wide breadth of experience from working with different entities in a professional line of work and applied the things I've learned in class and put them into practice to see how they can solve real world problems. That’s a valuable skill.” 

“He always does what he’s supposed to do,” David, director of the AIM program, said.  

Carman has enrolled in three of David’s classes and in 2024, did research to help VMI’s admissions and financial aid offices analyze what factors best predict whether cadets will stay at the Institute and ultimately graduate. 

“He just seems to be really committed to getting everything he can out of his time at VMI,” David commented. 

Laura Peters Shapiro
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE