Board of Directors

Board of Directors: The SMI Board of Directors is responsible for upholding the original mission of the SMI, its Christian foundation, education programs, and its Southern military traditions.

The Board shall consist of three to nine members and will establish advisory groups, as necessary, to assist the Board in conducting necessary business affairs, self-studies, and fund-raising activities of the Institute. The Board members should be graduates of VMI, The Citadel, Norwich, one of the U.S. Federal military academies, or have demonstrated an understanding of the educational missions of those institutions. Additionally, the Board members must have a deep appreciation and respect for the moral truths of the Christian faith as taught by Jesus of Nazareth (the Messiah and Christ) and his disciples and handed down to us in the Holy Scriptures.

Board Members

Dr. Michael J. Guthrie of Madison, AL, President
Mr. Lester S. Phillip of Madison, AL, Secretary
Mr. Jay C. Willis of Madison, AL, Treasurer
Mr. Michael S. Guthrie of Madison, AL, Director

Mr. Sean C. Andino of Pace, FL, Director

Mr. Bryce R. Kuykendall of Madison, AL, Director

Proposed Operational Organization

Superintendent
Corps Chaplain
SMI Surgeon (part-time)
Assistant Superintendent for Academics (Dean of Faculty)
Director of Institutional Development
Business Administrator
Commandant of Cadets
Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering
Department of Electrical Engineering
Department of Aerospace Engineering and Naval Architecture
Department of Physics and Chemistry
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
Department of Military Science
Department of History
Department of English and Modern Languages
Physical Training Department
Tactical Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers

Note: All senior operations staff members, including the Superintendent, will be members of the faculty and teach courses of the curriculum which are appropriate to their professional specialties.

Proposed Support Organization

Office of Administration
Office of Admissions and Academic Records
Office of Accounting and Finance
Buildings and Grounds Administration
Medical Clinic
Mess Hall
Military Supplies and Armory
Horseback Riding and Stables
Flight Training and Soaring Operations
Library
Telecommunications

Cadet Honor Court

The SMI Corps of Cadets will live by the Gentleman's Honor System. The Corps of Cadets will elect the Honor Court members from the upper two classes, and the President of the Honor Court will be a member of the First (Senior) Class. The Honor Court will be responsible for education on and enforcement of the Honor Code without interference by the Board of Directors, administration, or faculty, in accordance with original VMI Cadet Honor Code tradition.

All SMI cadets must make the following pledge upon matriculation at the Southern Military Institute:
"I hereby pledge to serve as a cadet of the Southern Military Institute and obey all legal and moral orders of the constituted authority of the Institute. I give my word of honor, as a member of the SMI Corps of Cadets, and as a future Alumnus of the Institute, that I will never lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do.

I affirm that I am not married or divorced, and that I have no legal dependents.

I will not join or affiliate with any secret society or fraternity while a member of the SMI Corps of Cadets.

So help me God."

Class System

The Ratline and "Brother-Rat" class system will be re-established at SMI and will be considered the direct lineage of the VMI Class System. The "Dyke" system will also be adopted by SMI and will be considered the direct lineage of the "Old Corps."

Corps of Cadets

The SMI Corps of Cadets will be organized according to the traditional “Triangle Regiment." Therefore, the “Corps” will be equivalent to an infantry regiment consisting of three (3) battalions, each battalion consisting of three (3) companies. In turn, each cadet company will consist of three (3) platoons, and each platoon will consist of three (3) squads of 11 men. The cadet ranks will follow the traditional cadet ranks of the VMI Corps of Cadets.

The total strength of the cadet regiment is computed as follows:

• 1 platoon = 1 2LT + 1 PLT SGT + 3 CPLs + 30 Privates and Lance Cpls = 35
• 1 company = 1 CPT (CO) + 1 LT (XO) + 1st SGT + 1 Guidon + 3 Platoons (105) = 109
• 1 battalion = 1 CPT (BN CDR) + 4 Staff (S1-S4) + 3 companies (327) = 332
• Regimental Band = 1 CPT (CO) + 1 LT (XO) + 77 Cadet Musicians = 79
• Cadet Regiment = 1 CPT + 5 Staff (S1-S5) + 3 Battalions (996) + Reg. Band (52) = 1081

Therefore, the SMI Corps of Cadets is expected to have a total strength of approximately 1000 to 1100 cadets, but in any case no more than 1200 cadets to maintain a small college environment.