VMI, Famed Military Academy, Giving Cadets Coloring Books for Stress

Washington Free Beacon ^ | December 6, 2016 | Elizabeth Harrington

[kevcol]

A prestigious private military school is providing coloring books for cadets to deal with stress.

The Virginia Military Institute, the first state-sponsored military college in the country founded in 1839, offers a “stress busters” program to provide students with yoga classes to “unwind and relax.”
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“This is an opportunity for cadets to unwind and relax before studying for finals. This event often includes stress reduction activities such as yoga, therapy dogs, coloring book stations, card/game stations, and grab-and-go snacks to take with you on your way to study!”

[SWEETSUNNYSOUTH]

Lot of difference in “Hollywood” Marines and PISC Marines. At least there were in ‘67.

[manc]

Yep there is, my son said the same.

He did his boot camp at Parris Island, and MCT at Camp Geiger, right on Camp Lejeune.

He got put out west where he met this snowflake, and yes he did his boot camp at Pendleton.
My son said he would never have graduated Parris Island.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

But aren’t they stressed if a crayon breaks or they cannot stay inside the lines?

[castlegreyskull]

The days of the “Battle of Lost Shoes” are long gone.

[castlegreyskull]

Field of Lost Shoes*

[WKUHilltopper]

My God! Will coloring books be a standard issue on the combat line now? Our enemies are salivating....

[Rannug]

When exactly were you at Knox? I was there from Apr - June....
Got there in mid October....BCT and AIT.They said that the winter of ‘69/’70 was the coldest that the area had seen in 50 years.It was *cold*...and I grew up in New England! And our junior DI (Sgt Donald King) had just finished his second combat tour of Vietnam...Combat Infantry Badge and all.Yikes!

Echo 13/4...we always come back for more...Echo,Echo,Echo galore!

Jan - Mar ‘65
E 17 4 Every man a soldier sir.
Good old frigid Fort Knox.

[Mr Rogers]

I didn't really believe it, but:

"“The goal is to get cadets to come down, learn about stress relief options, and learn coping skills,” explained Capt. Cera Wadsworth, program director at the Cadet Counseling Center. The dogs, she added, have become a powerful draw, with cadets asking her about the event days in advance.

She added that therapy dogs, who must pass a rigorous temperament and behavior evaluation in order to be admitted to the TheraPets program, have been shown to increase motivation in those who interact with them...

...“The goal is to get cadets to come down, learn about stress relief options, and learn coping skills,” explained Capt. Cera Wadsworth, program director at the Cadet Counseling Center. The dogs, she added, have become a powerful draw, with cadets asking her about the event days in advance.

She added that therapy dogs, who must pass a rigorous temperament and behavior evaluation in order to be admitted to the TheraPets program, have been shown to increase motivation in those who interact with them...

...Offering stress reduction events and programs as the academic year winds down is a vital part of keeping cadets mentally healthy, said Maj. Kristin Hoff, psychologist with the Cadet Counseling Center. She explained that stress tends to build as the semester rolls along..."

http://www.vmi.edu/media/content-assets/documents/communications-and-marketing/institute-report-archives/2015-06-Institute-Report.pdf

VMI's online store offers parents a chance to buy their kids a Stress Buster package:

"Do away with your student's stress during Final Exams with a Care Package from home full of brain-boosting treats! College students love enjoyable snacks that they can munch on while studying. Make your student's day and help them stay on track and motivated with one of our largest Care Packages built to please. This package includes Smarties, Crunch and Munch, Slim Jim Single, ...Chips Ahoy Cookies, Animal Crackers, Skittles, Dum Dum Pops, Bugles, Smile Bender, Beach Ball, 2 oz. Bubbles, Slinky, 2" Stress Kick Ball, Dice, Puzzle Game, Mini Playing Cards, Play Doh, and plenty more!"

Yes, "Play Doh"

http://www.bkstr.com/vmistore/shop/care-packages--1

[onedoug]

Enemy islamism.

And we’ve just put up with it.

[onedoug]

But for their blocking a female prospective cadet from wearing a hijab, I’ve begun to suspect, from reading their cadet paper, and picking up on various vibes there, that the cadets at the Citadel are perilously close to similar levels of “training”.

[Robe]

A quote from the article......

“VMI once took America’s youth and prepared them for duty and the harsh realities of war,” a VMI alumnus and veteran told the Washington Free Beacon. “Now, for $20k a year, VMI will turn your teenagers back into children.”

[Qiviut]

I have very close ties to the Civil War history of VMI. The proud tradition of courage & bravery by the VMI cadets during the Battle of New Market compared to this current day snowflake cr@p should have anybody at VMI involved in this pitiful behavior hanging their heads in shame. Wow ... what a mess.

[Bedford Forrest]

One wonders whether General Breckenridge would have seen fit to request the assistance of the current VMI Corps of Cadets at the festivities then being held at a place called New Market. The Corps of Cadets reported to that action AS A UNIT and performed with courage. Semper Fi to them all.

[hal ogen]

This is truly an abomination. The administrators at the school need their asses kicked...before being thrown out.

[Cecily]

The article says that VMI has removed the Stress Buster program from their website after publication of the article.

Isn’t exercise a good stress buster? Maybe the cadets should go on a long walk every day, or visit the gym or fitness center if it’s raining.

[bgill]

How many MREs and ammo must soldiers leave behind to make room for and the weight of yoga mats, crayon boxes and coloring books?

[Bull Snipe]

Doubt Patton would be spinning in his grave, he was a West Point Graduate. However, I suspect Stonewall Jackson would be spinning in his grave. He taught there. So would officers such as Thomas Garnett, William Mahone, Robert Rodes and George Marshal. They all attended VMI

[bgill]

Send each to the front lines with these.

[ridesthemiles]

This ought to completely dry up any Alumni donations.

[timestax]

ping