Lifestyle of the Cadets

Cadets take a group photo in front of Main Building

     A day in the life of a Cadet at St. Edward’s Military Academy was a schedule comprised of long stretches of a disciplined routine, where in each hour a Cadet had an assigned objective to complete. The Cadets started and ended their day by attending morning and evening prayer at their local church or at the military academy’s on-campus Catholic church.[2] The Cadets would then head off to the mess to be served chow, where they would have about forty-minutes to eat before heading to class.

     Class attendance for the cadets was strict at all times. If the Cadets were to miss a class period, the cadets would be disciplined by their instructors.[3] The Cadets also had a strict code to follow when it came to maintaining their barracks and uniforms. The Cadets had to make sure that their barracks were cleaned and organized for their daily inspections; each daily inspection occurred from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

     Cadets were strictly forbidden to talk, run, or make any type of sound when walking around their barracks. Civilians were not allowed in the barracks at any time during the day; if civilians were caught in a Cadet’s barrack, the Cadet would receive disciplinary punishment.[4]

Dell Dahlstrom standing next to memorial wall 

     As for the uniforms, the Cadets were required to wear the dress uniform that the military academy assigned to each of them. Each Cadet was given instructions on how their uniform should look, and if it warranted change, then each of the Cadets must be given full permission to change their uniforms from the Commandant.[5] Study Hall was a period where it was mandatory for each Cadet to attend if they finished their classes or assignments early. The study hall’s availability was divided into four sections that occurred all day, Monday through Friday. Saturdays were reserved for study hall, that was held late in the morning.[6] Only the cadets commissioned and non-commissioned officers were allowed to study in their dorm rooms unlike the rest, but only if they maintained an average of 80 percent or above in their classes. Furthermore, they would be recommended to the college admissions office.[7] 

     All of the Cadets at the military academy were categorized into two separate sections. The first section was called “New Cadets;" these were cadets that had not completed a full semester at the Hilltop yet. The second section, called “Old Cadets;” these were students who had completed at least one semester at St. Edward’s Military Academy. The Cadets were also categorized based on their year; for example all incoming college freshman would be designated as “First Classmen.” While the Juniors and Seniors were labeled as “Academy Juniors” and “Academy Seniors.”[8]

Cadets on Flag Duty at St. Edward's 

     During the Cadets time at St.Edward's, they were taught how to adapt to a difficult military schedule during their stay at the Hilltop. The Cadets did more than simply looked like a soldier, they were taught the skills to become a military soldier; by adapting their skills set to best of their ability. Each of the cadets learned the regulations on how to wear their uniforms, what to say to their higher-ups (the upperclassman), and what rules were laid out in their barracks. All of these new methods/rules helped shaped the Cadets' way of life during their four-year experience at St.Edward's Military Academy.[9]