<p>I was reading the Citadel’s Prospectus, and it kept refering to the Long Grey Line, and almost all the cadets photographed had dress grey on. The Citadel is a multi-branch institution isnt it? so then how can it be part of the long grey line? Isnt that reserved for Army only, and the USMA for that matter? Can someone explain this to me?</p>
<p>A lot of military colleges try to model parts of themselves like West Point. The ‘Long Grey Line’ isn’t reserved for West Point, the Citadel has just adopted the name.</p>
<p>Also: stay away from the Citadel unless you’re extremely masochistic.</p>
<p>I wouldnt say that the Citadel is my #1 back-up choice, I was just thinking that because it is a military college it may offer a more regimented experience than a civilian college. USMA all the way, but I have to be realistic along with optomistic. I really hope I get nominated… the wait has been almost unbearable, and I hope my LOA was factored in. I asked Feingold’s office if they recieved it, and confirmed that. But we never talked about it in the interview, and some of the updates I needed to make to my file were only scribbled down by the secretary, which I can only hope helped sway a favorable decision in my regards.</p>
<p>You will see that from time to time. We were out to lunch years ago with our cadet in white over grays and a waitress came up, brimming with excitement. “Do you go to VMI?”, she asked. He said “No, West Point”. She had never heard of it. I was thinking to myself, “marketing”. Many schools emulate the Academy. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.</p>
<p>“He said “No, West Point”. She had never heard of it.”
Surprisingly, that is a problem and WP is aware of it. I think the figures are that less than 10% of people west of the Mississippi know about West Point. Interestingly, those who do know about West Point often know about it from the Army Navy game…</p>
<p>There is a reason The Citadel cadets wear the same uniform as West Point cadets - probably there is a historian out there who knows for sure.</p>
<p>I think it is because after the Civil War left the south decimated and destitute. The Citadel had no money for uniforms and West Point donated uniforms and/or the cadet grey cloth. They have worn the same dress grey ever since.</p>
<p>My son, who is a cadet at West Point told me that a couple of cadets were walking in New York City in their official cadet winter uniforms a few weeks ago when they were mistaken on the street for parking valets. </p>
<p>I think most West Point folks would tell you that there is only one “Long Grey Line.”</p>
<p>I have also heard that cadets can sell their coats on e-bay immediately after graduation. Apparently Civil War reenactment groups will pay good money for them.</p>
<p>I actually thought those uniforms came from VMI and the Citadel before West Point. I think it had something to do with the fact that they are gray and resemble the uniform of the CSA.</p>
<p>[West</a> Point in the Making of America](<a href=“http://americanhistory.si.edu/westpoint/history_1.html]West”>http://americanhistory.si.edu/westpoint/history_1.html)</p>
<p>According to this site, the West Point gray cadet uniform, still in use today, was patterned after uniforms worn during the War of 1812.</p>
<p>[The</a> early years | The Citadel](<a href=“http://www3.citadel.edu/symposium-andrew]The”>http://www3.citadel.edu/symposium-andrew)</p>
<p>In 1839, Virginia founded the first state-supported military college, followed by South Carolina’s founding of The Citadel and The Arsenal in 1842. Partridge and others charged that West Point was training an aristocratic clique of officers that held a monopoly over the nation’s military power. What was needed, they thought, was an efficient, well-led militia in each state that could serve as a check on centralized federal power and protect their states’ citizens. Military academies could turn out young officers who could ensure that the militia was well organized and well trained. At the same time, these “civilian” military colleges and academies could give the nation’s young men a classical and scientific education, training them as engineers, lawyers, teachers, and in other civilian professions.</p>
<p>[The</a> Citadel’s History | The Citadel](<a href=“http://www3.citadel.edu/citadel-history]The”>http://www3.citadel.edu/citadel-history)</p>
<p>"In 1955, West Point Cadets visiting The Citadel gave a presentation on the Honor System adopted at the United States Military Academy. This drew strong support among the Corps of Cadets, and in September of 1955, the Honor Code was officially adopted for the Corps of Cadets by order of General Mark Clark, then President of The Citadel. The Honor Code states simply that: “a Cadet does not lie, cheat or steal, nor tolerate those who do.” "</p>
<p>Finally found what I was looking for:
[Daniel</a> Library, The Citadel: Knob Knowledge](<a href=“http://citadel.edu/library/Knob/knob_u.htm#unifg]Daniel”>http://citadel.edu/library/Knob/knob_u.htm#unifg)</p>
<p>Citadel cadets have been wearing gray uniforms since the very beginning. The Citadel based its regulations on those at West Point, and the West Point regulations specify gray uniforms. (Source: Oliver J. Bond. The Story of The Citadel, pp. 17-18, 40-41. U430 .C5 B57 1989.) (HN)</p>
<p>West Point was founded in 1802. VMI in 1839, 37 years later. The Citadel in 1842. The Civil War was when??? It would have been impossible for the uniforms to be fashioned after the CSA gray since it did not come into existence until February 9, 1861.</p>
<p>A fascinating bit of history is the painting inside the Supe’s house showing Robert E. Lee in his dress BLUES.</p>
<p>From the USMA website:
[West</a> Point](<a href=“http://www.usma.edu/publicaffairs/publicityimages/press_kit_files/inauguniforms.htm]West”>http://www.usma.edu/publicaffairs/publicityimages/press_kit_files/inauguniforms.htm)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Robert E Lee graduated in 1829. Incidentally, many West Point grads were officers in the civil war - on both sides. </p>
<p>I still think - West Point grey came first - in an effort to promote healing on both sides after the war West Point helped out the Citadel and provided grey cloth.
Now - I can’t find this story and think perhaps it was told by a tour guide on one of our tours to West Point…maybe in a book I read - I will keep searching.</p>
<p>Thank goodness for Cadet Casual. 
Does anyone know when it was first allowed?</p>
<p>[Brief</a> History of The Citadel | The Citadel](<a href=“http://www3.citadel.edu/brief-history]Brief”>http://www3.citadel.edu/brief-history)
On February 18, 1865, The Citadel ceased operation as a college when Union troops entered Charleston and occupied the site. The Arsenal was burned by Sherman’s troops and never reopened.
It was not until 1882 that the Board of Visitors regained possession of The Citadel and The South Carolina Legislature passed an act to reopen the college. The 1882 session began with an enrollment of 185 cadets.</p>
<p>As I recall, it is only the West Point dress gray uniform that has ball buttons, the others do not.</p>
<p>I am a Citadel graduate and have a son at West Point…I find it fascinating to compare and contrast the the two institutions…The first difference is the level of academics…West point is by far the superior academic institution…I think this comes as no surprise to anyone and I am not selling The Citadel short academically as their engineering schools are rated among the top 30 in the nation. About the uniforms…only subtle differences…Buttons on the full dress…the epulets(sic) on the Indian White dress and white over grey dress. Of course the hat brass is different. My son walked into a hotel room recently (Army V. Navy) and my mother almost passed out as she reverted twenty some odd years back to my cadet days. One point I will make, I do not know wether this is good or bad, The Citadel puts much more effort and attention into the details of wearing the uniform. I usually keep my mouth shut as I glance at my sons brass, shoes, gig line, etc…Though he looks very presentable and is very proud, he typically would not pass muster at El Cid…Maybe that is why West Point academics are so much better than The Citadel’s…they spend more time in the books and less time polishing brass and shining shoes…Another note, the fourth class system is much more difficult and plain brutal (The Citadel) than the four class system(West Point) but has much less usefull leadership training…West Point should be very proud that they have adopted the four class system (The only academy/military collegethat has) that builds upon its self and really teaches leadership principles from the bottom up…</p>