The first military haircut is an iconic moment at the beginning of a soldier’s career. The new class of Rats at VMI got their first military haircut this weekend at matriculation. Matriculation Day at Virginia Military Institute was held on Saturday, August 17, opening the Rat Line for the new academic year. This year marks the Institute’s 185th year.

Since 1839, VMI has been founded on the core values ​​of honor, excellence, self-discipline, courage, esprit de corps, selfless service and resilience.

One cadet, Sean Bergman of Richmond, already embodies this core value of selfless service. On Saturday, matriculation day, he got his first haircut in three years at the barbershop on the VMI post.

He has been letting his hair grow since June 2021.

“So on matriculation day we arrive, they take us to the barber, we get our heads shaved and then the cadres shave our heads and then hell week begins,” Bergman said.

His long hair reaches mid-back. Growing it out wasn’t necessarily a style choice, but more of an act of service. It’s a family tradition. He said many of his family members have grown their hair and donated to charity in the past. Continuing a life of service and giving back to the community was something that inspired him to attend VMI. That and his aunt helping to make history at VMI.

“My aunt was a graduate of VMI. She was part of the class of 2001, the first all-female graduating class. She currently works as a physician at the post,” Bergman said.

Now he wants to give back in his own way.

Glenda Dudley has been running the hair salon there for 13 years. She does an average of 60 haircuts a day and has seen a lot of hair on the floor in this salon.

“When I first enrolled, I saw a lot of hair. And I thought, oh, it would be a shame to waste all this beautiful hair.”

So she started giving back to help rats like Sean. While she was enrolled, she started collecting hair to donate to a charity that makes wigs for children – for free.

“Just knowing it’s not going to waste and is helping someone else feel and look better is a blessing,” Dudley said.

On Saturday, she made sure Sean’s curls were carefully cut so they could be donated and used to make wigs for children.

“I’m really proud to make a difference in someone’s life,” Sean said. Then it was time for the buzz cut; a whole new look for this rat boy starting his career at VMI.