Law Shows origin of Vermont State Militia

By Marshall Bates
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

Many people who are not familiar with Norwich University might wonder why the faculty are uniformed. Many faculty may even wonder why they are required to wear the green uniforms with a little pin of "VT" on them. This pin, and the uniform on which it is worn, means that they are a part of the Vermont State Militia.

According to Norwich History Professor Gary Lord, university museum curator and university historian, the Vermont State Militia is a military organization that is headquartered at Norwich University whose authority "comes from state legislation passed in 1898." The current rank structure for professors is based upon their position at the university, according to Vermont legislation, and holds no obligation for service.

Norwich University President, Major General Richard Schneider, the rank structure is set by the president of the university with recommendations from the board of trustees, on authority given by the state of Vermont.

According to Vermont state law, Norwich University is "hereby recognized as the Military College of the State of Vermont," in chapter 77, subchapter two. In the same passage, the law designates that the faculty and administrative staff will have local rank assigned by the board of trustees. "The president shall have general officer rank; the dean and heads of departments and members of faculty and administrative staff shall have a rank below the rank of the president comparable to the position on the faculty."

The state law also prescribes that the VSM officers and personnel at Norwich receive their rank "without pay from the state."

"If you were to ask me what the Vermont State Militia means, I would tell you that the faculty and staff members that are in uniform, and in their contracts are provided rank," said Maj. Gen. Richard Schneider, President of Norwich University. "They are not paid for their rank, but for the jobs they do at the university, and that rank is given out by the board of trustees based on recommendations by their commanding officer," said Schneider, referring to the faculty division structure.

"It is the authority from the state to the president of the university to appoint members of the faculty to grades of rank appropriate to their jobs as instructors and professors in the university," said Major General W. Russell Todd, US Army (Ret.) and President Emeritus of Norwich University.

"For example, we have had presidents that have never served in the military but have held rank in the Vermont State Militia. I happen to be a two-star Admiral [US Coast Guard Reserve (Ret.)]," Schneider said. "But I wasn't when I became president in 1992. However, I am a general officer by statute. In fact, I am the commanding officer of the VSM encamped in Northfield."

Northfield is the only place where the VSM is encamped, Schneider said. "There used to be others before there was a National Guard."

Among those familiar with the origins of the VSM, some find it to be a dated organization.

"The militia today is a figment of someone's imagination; it isn't used for anything," said Mike Popowski, attorney and counsel for Norwich University. He said that the faculty and staff rank was "more relevant" when the campus was strictly a military school, without a civilian student body. He said that the "honorific rank" of the VSM couldn't be transferred to any military organization.

The professors of the university have no special responsibilities or obligations, because the VSM is not formally attached to the state, and the rank they hold is strictly honorary, said Lord.

While Schneider is unsure of whether or not Corps of Cadets also comprises the VSM, there are no indications in the state law to the contrary. "It is not clear in my reading of the statute if the corps also makes up the VSM, because they do not hold rank, they hold rank only in the Norwich University Corps of Cadets," said Schneider.

Though the rank may be honorary, faculty and staff are instructed to take their appearance seriously.

"Professors are expected to maintain Army standards in wearing their uniform and grooming, which is currently being revised right now," Schneider said. "Also, for all professors in or out of uniform, it is most important to educate and train cadets in citizen soldiery."

Sometimes, the faculty and staff don't always follow the order to wear it properly. "To many of the professors, sometimes it's no different than if they worked at a Wal-Mart, or a hotel," said William Knox, a 23-year-old communications major from Basking Ridge, NJ.

Todd said that there was a time when the professors wore the uniform properly, and anyone "could be proud of them." He also said that "there were also times where the professors looked sloppy in protest of wars or a number of other things and some of these reasons still linger today."

"I think when people think of Norwich University, they think of us collectively as a whole," Schneider said. "There are no other officers other than my faculty and staff that are in the Vermont State Militia."

While Schneider says that the VSM helps to identify Norwich, it alone is not sufficient.

"The cadets are the Military College of Vermont," Schneider said.

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