Parade to mark entrance of Class of 2016 into the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets
Four hundred twenty-three new members of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets reported to the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg on Aug. 18, one week before the rest of the campus, for New Cadet Training.
The Class of 2016, at 423 strong, will push the Corps of Cadets to an overall size of 1,077 cadets, the largest corps since 1968. Throughout the week these new cadets will be taught by approximately 130 upper class cadets on how to march and perform military drill with precision, how to properly complete a military obstacle course safely, how to rappel down a 40-foot tower, and will also compete in an athletic team-building competition along with many other experiences.
Sixty percent of the new class is from Virginia with over 20 cadets coming from each of the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Maryland. In addition, four cadets are from Germany, one is from Japan, and one cadet is from Rwanda. Numerous siblings of current and former cadets are also in this class, as well as children of corps alumni.
In recognition of their completion of the challenging training, a parade marking the acceptance of the new cadets into the corps will be held Saturday, Aug. 25 at 10 a.m. on the Drillfield. It will be centered on Burruss Hall. The incoming Class of 2016 will join a long-standing tradition at Virginia Tech which began with 132 cadets in October 1872, when all students were cadets and Virginia Tech was known as the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College.
During the parade, the Highty-Tighties, the regimental band, will play and Skipper, the Corps of Cadets cannon, will be fired when the cadets first enter the Drillfield, at the first note of the national anthem, and the first note of "Tech Triumph."
There will be three shots total, the first shot will be at approximately 9:50 a.m. and the final shot will be at approximately 10:45 a.m.
Everyone is welcome to come and watch this event. Parking is available around the Drillfield and no visitor’s pass is necessary on weekends. However, please be aware that move-in for the civilian first-year students is on Saturday and parking may be limited around the Drillfield. Parking is also available in the Perry Street Lots and the Perry Street Parking Garage near Prices Fork Road. Find more parking information online or call 540-231-3200.
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