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The @Citadel1842 has made Tripp an honorary Summerall Guard. He passed while going thru BVA. I miss him everyday.
The Bond Volunteer Aspirant (BVA) training is a rigorous process required for cadets at The Citadel to qualify for the prestigious Summerall Guards, an elite silent precision drill platoon. This training typically occurs during a cadet's junior year and is a voluntary, highly competitive undertaking designed to test physical stamina, mental toughness, and drill proficiency.
The BVA process spans several weeks, often lasting around six weeks, and begins with an initial physical fitness test that candidates must pass to participate. The training includes intense physical exercises such as military push-ups, sit-ups, and rifle-bearing drills, all of which demand exceptional endurance and strength. Cadets also undergo close-order drill practice, mastering the complex and unwritten "Citadel Series," a series of movements based on German close-order drill, including the Prussian Goose Step, passed down orally from one class to the next.
A key component of BVA training is the "Cuts Run," a demanding run led by the Summerall Guard Commander, who determines the distance, pace, and targeted attrition rate to weed out those who cannot meet the high standards. The process is both physically and mentally challenging, often likened to the freshman "knob" year but more intense due to the added responsibilities of junior-year leadership roles and academic demands.
Selection for the Summerall Guards, which consists of exactly 61 rising senior cadets, occurs after the BVA training culminates, typically around "Cuts Day." Successful candidates demonstrate not only physical capability but also discipline, leadership, and dedication. Membership in the Summerall Guards is considered one of the highest honors at The Citadel, reflecting the exactness and thoroughness of a cadet’s training. The new Guards are officially recognized during the annual Corps Day/Recognition Day weekend, where they receive their rifles and patches from the outgoing platoon in a ceremonial changing of the guard.
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