The return from the holiday break

MG John S. Grinalds U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.) President, The Citadel

There is probably no more unsettling time for members of the fourth class than that long ride back to campus following Christmas break. Cadets who had just become used to the routine and the demands of the fourth class system had nearly a month to ease back into the comforts of home.

The toughness of The Citadel became even more apparent when they compared their lives to those of high school friends at other colleges. Not only does The Citadel demand more in terms of non-academic commitments; The Citadel also has a strong honor system that holds cadets to ethical standards well beyond the academic issues that most college honor systems focus on.

Cadets who reflect on their Christmas break during their first year tell me that as they socialize with high school friends, one question inevitably creeps into their minds: Do I really want to return to The Citadel?

I understand this mixture of emotions and that is why I write a letter to each fourth class cadet during the holiday break. I remind them of what they have accomplished during the fall, of the excellent education The Citadel offers, and of the progress they have made toward Recognition Day and a time when they will have greater responsibilities within the chain of command. I also congratulate them on their perseverance, pointing out that the hardest period of adjustment is behind them.

As I recount the mileposts of a Citadel education that they can anticipate, I tell them that when they receive their diplomas and join the Long Gray Line, they will look back with pride on achievements that they will treasure for the rest of their lives. Then I give them my home phone number and ask that they call me personally if they are having reservations about returning after the holidays.

The point of this letter is to assure these youngest cadets that people at The Citadel take a personal interest in their success starting with the president. It also gives me a chance to personally reaffirm my convictions about the value of a Citadel education.

I feel passionate about what The Citadel offers and do not want any cadet to walk away from a lifetime of potential without seriously considering the long-term benefits this year of challenge and self-discipline offers. As our commandant Brigadier General Emory Mace tells cadets when fourth class training begins, if one quits because a system is too tough, it becomes easier to quit the next time a major challenge presents itself, setting in motion a system of choices that can result in lost potential and a dramatically different life.

I received a few calls from fourth class cadets or their parents during the holidays; only 23 out of the 532-member class decided not to return.

This tough system at The Citadel produces principled leaders; it is an education not to be tossed away without serious consideration and apparently the cadets realized that. The members of the fourth class are back, rested and with a renewed resolve to make a strong finish to what has already been a very good beginning.

The year 2003 is off to a great start.