VTCC Inspections

The alarm clock goes off. You roll out of bed, put away your sleeping bag, and then get the iron out.

This is what a typical freshman in the Corps of Cadets experiences each morning.

Every day, freshmen rooms and uniforms are inspected, each by their own company. Fire Team Leaders (sophomore cadets) inspect the freshmen dorm rooms and uniform to make sure they follow the code of the Corps inspection and uniform regulations.

Uniforms must be clean, with absolutely no stains, as well as pressed and starched to ensure the creases of the uniform are sharp. They are kept this way all the time because freshmen inspections are daily.

But, ironed creases aren’t the freshmen’s only worry; they also must have their beds just as perfect. Many cadets end up sleeping in a sleeping bag on top of their bed so that they don’t have to make their bed to regulation every morning.

Freshmen are not allowed to move any furniture or have anything on the walls. As a cadet moves up, less and less room restrictions apply.

“The upperclassmen have a few more things they are allowed to have in their room…posters, extra furniture (and) they can rearrange the room too, etc,” Cadet Jacqueline Bethel said.

Fire Team Leaders and all sophomore cadets are inspected three times a week by Squad Leaders (junior cadets). Squad Leaders also inspect all other juniors rooms bi-weekly.

Every week the Inspector General gives an inspection of an entire battalion. These inspections are very formal and also include random uniform check resulting in uniform inspections a rotational pattern.

These inspections are mostly unknown to the civilian students here on campus because they only take place in cadet dormitories.