Студенты Вирджинского военного института выбирают службу из-за патриотизма и семейной традиции

VMI cadets cite family, patriotism as reasons to enlist Pentagon data points to pay and benefits, but some cadets say other factors drive their decision. LEXINGTON, Va. (WDBJ) - About 1,500 cadets make up the corps at the Virginia Military Institute. Some are commissioning cadets, meaning they plan to enlist in the military after graduating. River Smith plans to enlist in the Marines. “I’m wanting to enlist for the reason that it’s something that’s ran in my family,” Smith said. “I’ll be the first one to be an officer in my family.” Katelyn Redlinger has a scholarship to play soccer. She is commissioning into the Army because of that opportunity and to defend people’s rights. “The reason why I am continuing with it and haven’t dropped my scholarship is ultimately because I want to defend the rights and values of American citizens and non-citizens,” Redlinger said. Andrew Luna, VMI’s director of institutional research, assessment and planning, said the number of cadets who commission has stayed roughly the same over the last decade - about 50% of the corps each year. Pentagon data shows that military officers enlist because of pay and benefits. Luna said he has seen another trend. “I do tend to think that our young people, there is a sense of greater sense of patriotism than there has been in the past,” Luna said. “COVID might have brought about some of that because people generally want to help out.” It has been half a year since the Middle East conflict began. Smith said it does not change his decision to enlist. “The conflict in the Middle East, I think, if anything, that will push more people to enlist because America normally comes together in patriotic reasons during those type of events,” Smith said. VMI’s convocation takes place Wednesday, where the school will welcome the largest class of new cadets in its history. Copyright 2026 WDBJ. All rights reserved.