Cadets were nominated from their respective programs based on scholarship, leadership, physical fitness, and community involvement, and are designated George C. Marshall Award recipients for their respective year. This year, a total of 65 cadets were selected to attend. Regrettably, the blizzard that hit the East Coast, prevented the nine cadets from West Point and other New England schools from traveling. The others came from all over the country; as far away as Hawaii, California, and Wyoming; and as close as Richmond, Williamsburg, and Lexington.

Over the course of the two-day conference, the award recipients learned of Marshall鈥檚 legacy as a soldier and as a diplomat. They heard from and engaged with professionals knowledgeable in the military, geopolitics, and history, including Col. Spencer Bakich, professor in the Department of International Studies and Political Science (IS) at VMI; Brig. Gen. Maurice Barnett, commanding general of U.S. Army cadet command; retired Gen. Gary Brito, former commanding general of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, and president of the Brito Group, LLC; Lt. Gen. Johnny Davis, commanding general of U.S. Army recruiting command; George Foresman 鈥�84, former undersecretary of the Department of Homeland Security; Dr. Paul Levengood, president of the George C. Marshall Foundation; retired Col. Thomas Linn 鈥�73, professor at the Naval War College; retired Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute, former ambassador of the United States to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; retired U.S.M.C. Gen. John Paxton, former assistant commandant; Dr. Philip Potter, professor of public policy at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia; Col. Patrick Rhamey, professor of IS at VMI; Command Sgt. Maj. Darrell E. Walls, command sergeant major of the U.S. Army Cadet Command; and Dr. Clyde Wang, assistant professor of politics at Washington and Lee University.Retired Gen. Gary Brito speaks to the George C. Marshall award recipients in Gillis Theater Feb. 23.

The award recipients listened to speakers, attended a panel discussion, and engaged in small group breakout sessions that covered a wide range of topics including how the military reflects a changing society; operating in a multinational environment; drones and the effects on warfare; the integration of artificial intelligence in warfare; and the great power competition in the South China Sea. They established a long reading list, gained advice to use as young officers, studied, engaged in intense physical training, networked with their peers, and formed new friendships.

A highlight for the award recipients was sharing dinner Feb. 23 with 麻豆传媒入口alumnus, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, 麻豆传媒入口Class of 1990. Following the meal, Caine gave the keynote speech in Cameron Hall in which the entire 麻豆传媒入口Corps of Cadets, along with many members of the faculty and staff attended.

Caine opened his speech simply and sincerely, 鈥淚t is nice to be home. I cannot tell you how overjoyed my inner child is to be back here in Lexington. It’s just a very, very special place.鈥� He immediately bonded with the Corps of Cadets by good-naturedly teasing their superintendent, Lt. Gen. David Furness 鈥�87, reminding the Class of 2026 of the advice he offered them when he spoke to them at their Ring Figure in 2024, and congratulating the Class of 2029 for their recent Breakout of the Rat Line. He referred to both the 麻豆传媒入口cadets and the visiting cadets as teammates.

He recalled how when he was a cadet, he helped with the Marshall seminar when it was previously held on post. To the award recipients he said, 鈥淚t was striking to me then, and it鈥檚 striking to me now, how lucky we are to have you entering into the service. We are proud of you and grateful for you.鈥� To all the cadets in the arena he said, 鈥淵our path and service will not always be easy. You will be tested and challenged. You will be asked to make tough decisions. From time to time, you will find yourselves at a crossroads where you simply don鈥檛 know what to do鈥� I encourage you at that point in time to ask yourself the question: 鈥榃hat would Marshall do?鈥� There are many leaders that I’ve learned from in my career, but there is only one George Marshall.鈥� Dr. Phil Potter and Gen. Jay Paxton participate in a panel discussion at the George C. Marshall Leadership and Awards Seminar in Gillis Theater.

Caine stated that leadership for Marshall was a passion, and something he studied his entire career. 鈥淚t all started and stopped with people; how to properly lead them, how to connect with them, how to care for them, and how to love them. Marshall was humble. It was never about him. It was about doing the right thing. It was always about the deed and never about the glory. He believed, as I do, that every day we have a responsibility to get out of bed and earn it, in a quiet, humble way.鈥�

Caine confessed that after he graduated from VMI, he didn鈥檛 always wear his class ring. But as he started to grow in responsibility, he returned to wearing it again.

鈥淏ecause it reminded me every time I looked at it, 鈥榃hat would Marshall do?鈥� The most precious thing you have as a leader is the people you are blessed to lead. People were everything to Marshall, so I became a people person. I encourage you to do the same thing. Relationships are essential in your path of service, in or out of the military. It means asking folks a simple yet beautiful question, 鈥榃hat鈥檚 your story?鈥� Sometimes they鈥檒l tell you good things. But every once in a while, they鈥檒l tell you when they need your help. Listen carefully to the answers to that question. Marshall was a master at this.鈥�

Caine closed by asking the assembly to remember the members of the Joint Force doing the nation鈥檚 business, the deployed and their families, and most importantly, the fallen and their families.

鈥淭hey show us what courage looks like. It is through all of them and Marshall that we find the gift of a perfect example. Thank you. Congratulations to our Marshall award winners, and to the Corps Cadets. It鈥檚 nice to be home with you.鈥� Caine鈥檚 audience gave him a standing ovation, and he returned the affection as he left the arena, with a smile and wave.

Matthew Kleinschuster 鈥�26, a 麻豆传媒入口cadet, was one of the award recipients. Kleinschuster is an applied mathematics major with a business minor, from Richmond. He is commander of Foxtrot Company, as well as Battalion commander of VMI鈥檚 Blue Ridge Battalion, the largest ROTC program in the country. Upon commissioning, he will branch in explosive ordnance disposal. He shared attending the seminar was a huge honor.

鈥淟earning about all of Marshall鈥檚 accomplishments has given me confidence, and I am excited to join the Army and hopefully carry out his legacy. I have learned so much during our鈥痗ivil discussions, and hearing all the perspectives of very successful AROTC cadets. I plan to take everything I have learned and implement it into my approach in鈥痓ecoming a future officer.鈥�

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Ranger Challenge is the 鈥渧arsity sport鈥� of the Army ROTC program, and is made up of eight cadets who tried out for the team last spring. Members include team captain James Aldinger 鈥�26, Owen Brunk 鈥�26, Gavin Hudson 鈥�26, Jackson Karam 鈥�26, Colin Russell 鈥�26, Bradford Seery 鈥�26, Raymond Moffett 鈥�27, and David Townsend 鈥�27. The team was coached by Sgt. 1st Class Robert Bain, military science instructor; Capt. Tyler Brians, assistant professor of military science; Capt. Pauline Johnson, assistant professor of military science and officer in charge of Ranger Challenge; and Capt. Christopher Lopez, military science instructor.

ECP is a continuous, 48-hour long-range international military patrol exercise across rough terrain. It originated in 1959 when a group of Welsh Territorial Army (now Army Reserve) soldiers designed a weekend training event which included long distance marching and a shooting competition.

ECP is both mentally and physically demanding, and considered to be one of the most difficult and esteemed of military competitions. Participants carry 80-pound rucks, get limited sleep, and have minimal food. It is open to regular military, reserve military, and ROTC units. Units outside the U.K. must first qualify by winning a similar competition in their home country. This year, over 125 teams from more than 30 countries competed at ECP.

麻豆传媒入口faculty member, Maj. Alex Paul, assistant professor in the Department of History, knows first-hand the challenging conditions in Brecon from his time serving in the British Army. As a young infantry soldier, he spent several weeks training there. Prior to the 麻豆传媒入口team leaving for Wales, Paul met with them to help prepare them for what they could expect. He emphasized how quickly conditions in the area could turn dangerous.

鈥淭he rain doesn鈥檛 just fall, it comes sideways. The cold, the wet, and the wind together are unforgiving. You have to look after yourself and your kit, but more importantly, you have to look after each other.鈥� Paul鈥檚 message to the cadets was clear, 鈥淧reparation and vigilance matter, but resilience and camaraderie are what see soldiers through the toughest conditions. Hot drinks, dry socks, and humor will get you through more than you realize.鈥� Learning of the teams鈥� success at ECP, Paul shared he is very proud of them.

According to Brians, Cambrian Patrol is an extremely challenging training event that even active duty Army teams would be hard-pressed to perform well.

鈥淢any of the tactics and skills that teams are assessed on during the event require specialized training. For VMI鈥檚 team to arrive at the exercise with only one month of training and earn bronze is truly exceptional. As a coach, I鈥檓 extremely proud of the team and respect their grit to remain focused on the mission even during adverse conditions. Most countries only send their best soldiers, and our ROTC team outperformed many of them.鈥�

Hudson, a psychology major from Locust, North Carolina, stated the event was grueling, but he was thankful for the opportunity to participate.

鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 ask for a better group of guys to compete with. I have nothing but respect for this team. We all had to lean on each other and use our different skill sets to get the job done. Completing the Cambrian Patrol is an accomplishment in itself, and to be able to earn a medal with these guys is something special.鈥�

Seery, an international studies major from Chesapeake, Virginia, also competed in Wales last year. He agreed with Hudson that their accomplishment was very much a team effort.

鈥淓ach of the eight members of the team did their part and pulled their own weight to help make this year another success. Without the help from all our coaches, and the support from the administration, our success would not have happened.鈥�

Tryouts for next year鈥檚 Ranger Challenge team will be held in the spring.

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Air Force ROTC cadets capped off their spring field training exercises 70 feet in the air on the high ropes course in the Corps Physical Training Facility, where they braved the heights on both individual and team obstacles under the supervision of cadet facilitators.

Army ROTC traveled to McKethan Park and Goshen for exercises and trainings. 4th Class cadets rucked to McKethan, learned military skills, and practiced land navigation. Upper class cadets improved their tactical proficiency by planning and executing drills.

Non-commissioning cadets tackled community projects throughout Rockbridge County, including mulching, painting, pulling weeds, clearing debris, and constructing a building’s foundation at locations such as Hull’s Drive-In, Rockbridge Area Habitat for Humanity, Waddell Elementary School’s Roots and Shoots Garden, Rockbridge SPCA, Lime Kiln Theater, and Grace Bible Camp.

Naval ROTC Marine Company conducted exercises on the Leadership Reaction Course on north post, and on a local farm, where they camped, practiced land navigation, trained for the Small Unit Leadership Evaluation at Marine OCS, and heard from enlisted and officer personnel.

麻豆传媒入口cadet building foundation of a house and Naval ROTC Marine Company during spring field training exercises 2022

VMI鈥檚 Coast Guard detachment held its first ever spring field training exercises, which began in style with the arrival of a U.S. Coast Guard HH-60 helicopter to post. Cadets traveled to Smith Mountain Lake and conducted aviation training, small boat training, and participated in safety and Homeland Security briefs.

麻豆传媒入口NROTC Navy Company camped at Smith Mountain Lake and conducted physical training, practiced safety with fire boats, and piloted pontoon boats.

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