Family Resources
PASSES AND LEAVE
Cadets have two ways to request to leave campus. A cadet may request pass for travel within 50 miles of campus. For travel further than 50 miles from campus, a cadet must request leave.
CLOSED WEEKENDS
The corps plays a traditional and visible role in several university activities. These activities are mandatory events for the commandant’s staff and every cadet. Cadets must complete all required events before departing on pass. Exceptions may be given for major family events (e.g. reunions, weddings, funerals), family emergencies, medical appointments, or academic commitments.
REGULAR PASS
First-year cadets will sometimes be given pass (depending on the training schedule), usually on Friday evenings. Pass authorizes a cadet to travel within a 50-mile radius of campus and expires at midnight. Regular pass is issued and approved by your cadet’s chain of command.
REGULAR LEAVE
Regular leave requests are reviewed and approved by the cadet’s deputy commandant. Regular leave allows a cadet to depart beyond a 50-mile radius of campus during open weekends. In all cases, regular leave requests are reviewed and approved by the respective deputy commandant.
FAMILY PASS
When immediate family members are visiting the Blacksburg area, first-year cadets may request to stay overnight with their family members on a Friday or Saturday. Family pass will not normally excuse first-year cadets from weekend training activities and mandatory Corps functions on closed weekends, but family passes may begin after all Corps-related functions have been completed. Deputy commandants review family pass requests.
HOLIDAYS
First-year cadets observe all university holidays. Because of closed weekends and ROTC and corps training activities, first-year cadets may have limited opportunities to take leave. Occasionally, a home football game or mandatory ROTC event may occur on a three-day weekend.
TRAVEL PLANS AFTER FINALS
All students must depart within 24 hours after their last final. All students can see their finals schedule at the end of their course descriptions in Hokie SPA or in their class schedule.
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
KEY EVENTS
Parades and Formal Retreats
Formal retreats are held on Upper Quad as the regiment brings down the flag in the evening. Formal retreats typically begin at 4:45 p.m. and last about 15 minutes. Parades are held on the Drillfield. They usually last about an hour.
Caldwell March
The Caldwell March is an important marker in the three phases of training for first-year cadets. The corps has adopted the 26-mile trek followed by Addison Caldwell, the first student to enroll at Virginia Tech, as their capstone event. Cadets march the first 13 miles in the fall to complete the first phase of new cadet training and the second 13 miles in the spring after the end of new cadet training. Families may choose to attend the end of these events, but there is no obligation to do so.
Home Football Games
Cadets attend all home football games. They do not need tickets and will enter the stadium during a march-on with the regiment. Cadets must sit in corps seating in the South End Zone for the duration of the game. Visitors are not authorized to sit in the cadet section.
PARKING INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES
All visitors must pay to park on campus Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. The North End Center parking garage on Turner Street is available for paid parking seven days a week.
Detailed information is online at parking.vt.edu.
New cadets can only receive letters during Forge Week. After the New Cadet Parade, new cadets will receive an email from VT Mail Services that will let them know where they can pick up any packages they have received. Be careful when addressing mail. Amazon and other sites may cut off addresses. If "Virginia Tech" is not included, it will be delayed as well. Any mail items or packages that do not adhere to the correct format will not be deliverable. Below are the correct addresses for the corps residence halls:
Pearson Hall East Pearson Hall West Upper Quad Hall North
First Name Last Name First Name Last Name First Name Last Name
260 Alumni Mall Room # 310 Alumni Mall Room # 280 Stanger Street Room #
Blacksburg, VA 24061 Blacksburg, VA 24061 Blacksburg, VA 24061
PACKAGE DEILVERY
Students will receive an email with information on where to pick up any packages they have recieved throughout the school year. Details about mail and package delivery to include how to address mail to your cadets are available at Student Packages & Mail.