IT ISN’T!

One of the places we visited while in Charleston, South Carolina was the Citadel, a great place for a young man or woman to get an education. Situated just outside the city, tucked into a residential neighborhood, the grounds are simple and the buildings impressive.

The school is a military styled college, not unlike West Point, but without commissions. There is no affiliation to the U.S. Military, as the students do not get a commission or automatically join the military with a rank.

SHADOWS, KNOBS AND WHITE STRIPES

TLW (The Little Woman) and I toured the campus and she noticed that the campus had the feel of West Point, with it’s fast paced freshman walking double time to class, young knobs, (head shaved freshman) being berated for not recognizing officers, ‘shadows’ students just joining the college assigned to an upperclassman who they followed a step or two behind, and of course the white stripes, the upperclassmen who wore a white strip on their caps.

TWO BIG SHOTS

TLW: “Wow, look how fast they have to walk!”

“Yup, just like West Point with their grey uniforms and discipline, but it ain’t West Point!”

As we walked we decided to find the library, and as we were leaving the interdenominational chapel a young student entered as we were leaving.

“Excuse me, can you tell me where the library is?” I inquired.

A look of confusion comes across this kids face.

“Well Sir, it is either this side of the building or this side.” He answers pointing in different directions.

As we leave the building TLW says: “Wow, a student here and he doesn’t know where the library is!”

“It ain’t West Point.” I said.