The Jeep

It’s VMI lore. One of the greatest pranks in the history of the storied rivalry between The Citadel and The Virginia Military Institute.

Now, thanks to Slab’s Brother Rat Mike Judge, it’s a book.

This autobiographical account chronicles the adventures of a group of cadets at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) on a mission to play an elaborate prank on rival college The Citadel. The story is engrossing and fluidly written in honest, accessible, and thoughtful prose. The reader is slowly introduced to the history, culture, and language of VMI through the building Jeep story, during the telling of which, Judge reflects lucidly on his relationship with the institution and its impact on his life.

To uncover the intricacies of the prank (and the prank itself), I’m going to make you guys buy the thing instead of me summarizing. Mainly because proceeds are going to the Ryan Doltz Memorial Scholarship Fund (my friend Ryan was felled by an IED in 2005, a terrible loss).

Mike Judge was my company master sergeant when I was a rat. We loved him, and that’s unusual in the rat-cadre relationship. He didn’t yell, he inspired. One hell of a leader, even at such a young age. I remember during Hell Week, he held an intense literary discussion with my roommate, who remained at stiff attention throughout. Sounds weird, but guys like that could motivate you to do… well, just about anything.

And those are the stories that make The Jeep. It’s not just about one prank, it’s about VMI as an experience… an experience, as anyone who has saluted Jackson’s Statute will tell you, which is downright Shakespearean.

Mandatory reading for my brother Alumni, highly recommended reading for those who want an inside, uncut view of this remarkable Institution.

Purchase The Jeep.