VMI Bugler Rob Allen featured…

Playing Taps at the annual New Market Parade

This article was published about me in the Roanoke Times on Memorial Day:

Still, some are trying to maintain the tradition of the bugle, the brass instrument without valves that traces its military use back more than 250 years.

“I think it’s a disgrace to see an electronic taps played at military funerals,” said Rob Allen, a rising fourth-year cadet at Virginia Military Institute who leads the bugle corps.

VMI is one of the few military schools that still relies upon live music for calls to duty — such as reveille in the morning and taps at night — and to announce formations. Allen, a 21-year-old electrical engineering major from Boulder, Colo., is one of five scholarship buglers, but he is the only cadet who actually plays a bugle. The rest play trumpets.

Check out the online article here:

http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/205948

And the multimedia slideshow:

http://roanoke.com/multimedia/soundslides/0525_taps/gallery.html

VMI Cadet and Jessica Simpson

This picture is an instant classic. This was taken last week at some kind of Tiger Woods event that the VMI Brass Quintet was playing at.

Josh Applewhite and John Brodie

EYES TO THE FRONT APPLEWHITE!  YOU THINK THIS IS SOME KIND OF A GAME SON?!?!?!  LOOKING AT LADY PARTS WHILE YOU ARE IN YOUR DRESS WHITES WILL GET YOU A WEEKS WORTH OF CLEANING LATRINES AND SHINING BOOTS!  Maaaaaan. It looks like all his dreams are coming true right there.  He’s gonna enjoy the back of that dress too.  Unfortunately, Jessica’s tail game is not going to hold it down.

See the post at Us Versus Them

Swine Flu in Lexington

Received this email today from someone in administration:

The state health commissioner reported last night that two students at Washington and Lee University who were treated with mild flu symptoms are probable cases of swine flu.

There are no suspected cases of swine flu among cadets at VMI. Institute officials are monitoring the situation and at this time are not calling for any exceptional actions.

According to Dr. David L. Copeland, Institute physician, cadets with a high fever and aches should report to the Post Infirmary any time day or night for evaluation.  Faculty and staff with any flu-like illness should see a family doctor.  Sick employees should stay home and sick cadets should report to the Infirmary.

The best preventive measures are careful hand washing and covering a cough to avoid spread of viruses.

The VMI pandemic flu Web site (www.vmi.edu/pandemic/) provides information concerning the flu and preventative measures individuals can take. Another excellent website for accurate and up to date information is www.cdc.gov/swineflu.  The epidemic continues to be a cause for concern but not panic.  The Institute has prepared for an epidemic like this and we are ready to react appropriately.

I still don’t think there’s anything to worry about. Famous last words, right? Today finals, tomorrow Bacon Lung!

Midwinter Formal Hop Permit 2009

REGIMENTAL S7

CORPS OF CADETS

VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE

LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA

9 December 2008

Midwinter Formal Hop

1. EVENT. The VMI Corps of Cadets is permitted to attend the Midwinter Formal (MWF) in Cocke Hall on Saturday, 14 Feb from 1900-2300 in accordance with the following eligibility requirements.

2. ELIGIBILITY.

a. A cadet must have a date to attend the MWF. Male cadets must have a female date and female cadets must have a male date to attend.

b. A cadet must pick up tickets for his/her date from the S7 staff to attend the MWF, as tickets will be taken at the door of Cocke Hall.

Ghost Storys of VMI

Some cool ghost stories. There’s a few that have been left out…. but still interesting.

Virginia Mourning Her Dead

A beautiful bronze statue, Virginia Mourning her Dead, by Moses Ezekiel, has captivated generations of VMI cadets. The statue has a long history of suspected paranormal activity, including moans and cries that are reported to come from the area in which it stands. Many alumni claim to have seen tears coming from Virginia’s eyes when they went to inspect the mysterious sounds in the vicinity.

VMI ghost storys

VMI Jazz Band in Germany

Thank God for the Jazz band and Colonel Brodie. Without these things, I wouldn’t have been able to visit Germany over break. We played in Munich at the Bundeswehr University, and in Garmish at the Edelweiss resort. I loved being out of the country and tasting some good European beer. Maybe I can go back for the starkbierfest some time. Here’s a picture of us playing at the resort:

VMI plays at Edelweiss resort.

VMI at President Obama’s Inauguration

Here’s some video of us in the parade. The buildup to the actual event was really annoying, but I’m glad we had the opportunity to march. I was kind of disappointed though because by the time we marched the entire crowd had left. We maybe passed 2000 people, most of which were security. Oh well. On the bright side, the first lady seemed really excited to see us. The president even gave us a salute!

2010 Ring Figure at VMI

Ring figure was amazing. It was all we hoped it would be and more. The week started out well with some kind of moderate celebration every day prior to the first event. At the class dinner we were given our combat rings. The theme for the dinner was combat, which is appropriate. The gym was dressed up and hardly recognizable with camo nets, cannons and guns. The class was pretty obnoxious, but very excited so it was understandable. After we got our rings, we started a new tradition by ring-tapping a brass helmet that we’ll pass to our rats. The idea is that we “left our mark” on the institute by denting this helmet.

The ring presentation ceremony was very long because they read the names of every cadet and presented the rings individually. General Pea gave a speech and cracked some okay jokes, but we were too busy admiring our rings to really take note. The ball was interesting. Originally the plan was to have assigned seating, but then someone realized there’s no way everyone could fit into the right seats. When we arrived, they changed the plan and said it was a free for all. In the end that worked out better and helped the atmosphere seem more like a ball.

Just after my date and I passed through the ring, My good friend Paul proposed to his girlfriend. When he dropped to one knee, the entire room went silent and the girls squealed. It was pretty cool.

This is my class ring. 14kt gold, light blue topaz, 1/4 kt diamonds.

VMI Ring figure 2010

VMI SURI 2008

For the first part of my summer, I opted to participate in SURI (Summer Undergraduate Research Initiative). It’s a paid summer research program, and I’ve chosen to build an inverted pendulum. If you’re not familiar with this classic feedback dependent control problem, it can be described as a robotic cart that balances a pendulum. We can train a micro controller to react to sensor information much quicker than a human can. My particular project explores the use of a spiking artificial neural network to control the cart. However, due to time restraints, the project won’t be finished until next semester. Today, I finished the hardware. It uses the chassis of a remote controlled car, a 20 amp H bridge, and a handy board we had kicking around the lab. I built the pendulum out of legos only because they offer a simple solution for gearing an encoder wheel at a high resolution. The encoder uses two light-to-logic gates which were placed approximately 90 degrees out of phase. This allows the controller to determine the angular position, velocity, and acceleration of the pendulum.

With the help of my instructor, I wrote a program that simulates the behavior of the cart. This will allow us to test the control algorithm before we program the hardware, as well as train the neural network in a timely manner. Pictures are below.

End of the year circuits project!

As my circuits class ends, we all were assigned to design and build a circuit that uses parts and techniques we learned over the year. Jared (my partner) and I decided to build a remote controlled outlet switch. Some other cadets built powered speakers, a mixer, and booby traps. All the projects are generally limited to our knowledge of medium order circuits and digital components.

Here’s a picture of the finished project:

As you can see, it uses a set of FRS radios. It works perfectly, and is waiting to be used in the creation of chaos.

VMI Class of 2010 Ring Figure Website

Quick update-

The site style has been finalized! I’m still not sure how useful or up-to-date the information is, but here it is:

Secretary of Defense to speak at VMI Class of 2008 Graduation

Much to the excitement of the corps, the Secrateary of Defense Robert Gates will speak at 08’s graduation. Last year, Virginia Govenor Tim Kaine spoke and granted the corps amnesty. Although this blessing will not be extended to the corps this year, the honor of having the secretary of defense speak will more than make up for it. From The Institute Report,

“Prior to being named the secretary of defense, Dr. Gates served as president to Texas A&M University; Was chairman of the Independent Trustees of The Fidelity Funds, the nation’s largest mutual fund company; and was on the boards of directors of several major companies. Secretary Gates served as Director of Central Intelligence from 1991 until 1993. He is the only career officer in CIA’s history to rise from entry-level employee to Director. He served as Deputy Director of Central Intelligence from 1986 until 1989 and as Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Adviser t the White House from Jan. 20, 1989, until Nov. 6, 1991, for President George H.W. Bush.”

VMI has a history of distinguished speakers at both academic addresses and graduation. This year alone we had Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and presidential candidate John McCain- in addition to many other impressive speakers.

VMI Navy FTX, and update

For the record: This past FTX was the best i’ve ever been on. In addition to our tours of the USS Oklahoma City and the USS San Antonio, we stayed abord the USS Iwo Jima for two nights and got a familiarization tour of NECC. We were given near free reign to explore the vessle and mingle with the skeleton crew. I got an in depth tour of the engine room by two seamen on duty.

By far the best part of the weekend was the NECC tour at Little Creek. We were taken on Sea Arc 34’s by a riverine squadron. This meant a high speed demonstration of the manuvering capabilities of these boats while we stood on the gunner’s deck. I managed to hold on ok, slipped once or twice, but one of the rats on our craft lost his grip and nearly flew off the deck at a 40kt 180 turn. They also showed us all the equipment they use for EOD, diving, and communication. The seals showed us their obstacle course, and we got a demonstration of the fleet’s drug and attack dogs.  Pretty awesome.

School is becomming more time demmanding which is cutting into my sleep. Teachers are wrapping things up for the semester and giving lots of tests over the next four weeks. I’m excited for the summer, because i’ll be doing research then hitting the water for training with the Navy. Should be a good time. Ring figure is approaching, and we’ll be ordering our rings soon.

Here’s a link to the class website with our ring:

http://www.vmi.edu/2010

It must be nice

Here’s a photo of the sentinel marching third post over midwinter formal last year…

Midwinter Formal permit

REGIMENTAL S7

CORPS OF CADETS

VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE

LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA

                       

                                                                                                                                                24 JANUARY 2008

 

Midwinter Formal Hop

 

1.      EVENT. The VMI Corps of Cadets is permitted to attend the Midwinter Formal (MWF) in Cocke Hall on Saturday, 9 Feb from 1900-2300 in accordance with the following eligibility requirements.

 

2.      ELIGIBILITY.

a.      A cadet must have a date to attend the MWF.

b.      A cadet must make a reservation with the S7 staff to attend the MWF because of the limited capacity of Cocke Hall.

c.       A cadet with restrictions who has a date and made a reservation will have restrictions lifted from CMD Saturday 9 Feb 08 until noon Sunday 10 Feb 08.

d.      A limited number of cadets without dates may sign up with the S7 to work at the hop to earn hop privileges.

 

3.      STIPULATIONS.

a.      Eligible cadets must stay at least three hours at the MWF to take advantage of the hop privilege which is a free in-county weekend as per Blue Book regulations. Cadets may only be in civilian clothes:

                                                  i.      En route to and from Zollmans

                                                ii.      At the hotel

b.      Cadets with restrictions must return to Post by noon Sunday.  Cadets with FCP must return to Post by taps Sunday.

c.       There is no charge for admission to the hop.

d.      Uniform for cadets is coatee with white ducks for men and long white skirt for women, no cover or gloves. Uniform for military attendees is mess dress.  Dress for civilian guests is long gown for ladies and tuxedo for gentlemen.

e.       Regardless of restrictions, eligible cadets may depart at CMD Saturday, 9 Feb 08 in the hop uniform or gray blouse to spend time with their dates prior to the hop, but they must then stay at the hop for at least three hours.

f.       Eligible cadets with drill vehicles may use their vehicles for activities relating to the formal from Friday, 8 Feb through Sunday, 10 Feb. Cadets must be accompanied by their dates or meeting their dates while using their vehicles.

g.      Reservations and work sign-ups will be accepted by the S7 beginning noon, Monday 29 Jan 08 for firsts; noon Tuesday for seconds; noon Wednesday for thirds; and noon Thursday 31 Jan 08 for fourths.

h.      The S-7 Captain may authorize 1 for 1 PTs and haydowns to facilitate execution of the event.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Cadet Christopher N. Malta ‘08

Regimental S-7 Captain ‘07-‘08

Room 167

Sigma Nu

Here’s an excerpt from the Arizona State University’s Sigma Nu site:

Hazing was rampant at Virginia Military Institute. First year students were treated as subservants. In the fall of 1866, three young men entered V.M.I. and would change the face of the school and emerge as leaders…

Sigma Nu’s beginning started on a blue-moonlit night in October 1868 when the three founders met at the limestone outcropping on the edge of the V.M.I. parade grounds, presumably following Bible study at Superintendent General Francis H. Smith’s home. On this night, they gave their solemn pledge to form a new society called the Legion of Honor.

We love the Washington and Lee Sigma Nu chapter out here in Lexington. Honorable and friendly bunch of guys.

Internet connection in barracks to be fixed?

Here’s the highlights of Col. Hopkins’ plan to fix our slow barracks connection:

• VMI currently pays $4,427 monthly for Internet connection
• 45Mbps current bandwidth
• 110Mbps proposed in new contract
• Spring furlough is target implementation
• Budget issues are standing in the way of speedy upgrade
• If the increase is made, VMI will have highest per-capita bandwidth in state

Sadly, I still don’t know when they’re going to fix the broken Internet jack in my room. It’s been broken all year, and their temporary solution was to give us a switch. IT said they would send someone by to fix it within the month (this was September) but they haven’t.

Don’t even get me started on my window… this was reported in November. Yes, that is packaging tape holding the glass to the wood.

Rant chaser

Here is a picture of a horse that I took:

Why, VMI?

Everyone who goes to VMI has some kind of gripe with the system. It’s not surprising that people always ask us in astonishment why we pick this place as our home for four years, because so much of what we have to say is about why we hate it. From day one, we’re bombarded with tasks and trials that don’t serve an immediately obvious purpose. As time goes on, we slowly realize why some things we do are so important.

Take the ratline for example. A rat knows why they’re going through it for the first few days, but as it progresses it’s purpose becomes less obvious. As rats loose sight of their purpose, the default becomes breakout. Get there at any cost, as painlessly as possible. But as they get closer, rats wonder if they have somehow wasted the experience… as if there was something they were cheating themselves out of. Rats who wonder this know exactly what they have cheated themselves of: the satisfaction of having put themselves through difficulty by trying as hard as possible all the time. This isn’t an obvious concept to a rat at the beginning of the ratline, because they simply don’t understand why they’re here yet. For most cadets, the ratline serves a very specific purpose that becomes obvious about a month in to their third class year.

I’m a third classmen, and found myself asking if i thought the ratline was doomed to become a failure in it’s purpose. In modern times, we have been forced to abandon traditions and difficulty that generations past consider paramount to the cadet experience. Who made us abandon those traditions? It’s not as simple as just the supreme court or women. Those two were simply a trigger for a chain of realizations that lead to what we know as the ratline today. Hypothetically, if we had continued some traditions and hardships, we would have lost the ratline completely. Our experience is foreign to outsiders. To someone outside the system, it could easily appear that traditions that serve great purpose to our cause have no purpose and exist for the sake of twisted pleasure and punishment. This, I imagine, would lead to eventual court ordered termination of the ratline. Although my class didn’t have the same hardships as classes even five years before us, I’m glad we can carry on the ratline.

The ratline is different, but it still serves the same purpose. The ratline gives us right of passage. It gives us the right to call ourselves VMI cadets, and not students at a military college. Without the ratline, anyone could get in and call this place home. I disagree with anyone who says attrition isn’t the mission, because if it wasn’t we wouldn’t be the elite. The ratline removes college freshmen from the rats much like a steak knife cuts fat off the meat. Any hard worker can be good enough on paper, but to stay here is the true test. The ratline does need to be be harder, and I believe we’re trying to find a balance that will fit it’s purpose.

As an upperclassmen, there is far more thought that goes in to the why factor. Why is the ratline getting easier? Why can’t we eat dinner early, even if we march down with the corps later? Why do we have a bizarre emergency drill tomorrow? Why do we wear overcoat to SRC when it’s warm out? Why hasn’t someone fixed my broken window after two months? Why can’t we put our wool out with the rest of our laundry on Mondays? The constant unanswered questions are unmotivating and turn cadets against the administration. It is easy for anyone to assume that they’re just out to screw us over, because they don’t tell us why we do the things we do.

There’s a breakdown in communication at nearly everything we do here. We find out about mandatory events five minuets before they start. We aren’t told why we have to do things that seem like filler in our overly busy days. This is my main gripe with VMI. A leader who tells his men to charge a bunker will be most successful if he tells his men what it will accomplish and how they fit into the strategy. His men will perform with pride knowing that there will be positive consequences for their actions. The same is true with VMI. A cadet is fundamentally responsible, unless they feel like they’re being screwed over by doing tasks for the sake of doing them. When this happens, even the best can learn to resent their leaders and distrust any goal they present.

 

Room 374

Here’s a schematic depicting my room…

rm-374.jpg