Herrell ’26: Following a Legacy, Forging Her VMI Story

“Those drumbeats were something I had dreamed of for so long,” said Cadet Anastasia Herrell ’26 of the drums ushering her into barracks on Matriculation Day. Growing up hearing her father’s VMI stories, Herrell knew she wanted to attend VMI from a young age. When she finally got the chance to chart her own course at the Institute, she didn’t miss a beat.

As a legacy cadet, Herrell’s VMI journey has also deepened her relationship with her father as they have bonded over their shared experiences in a way that has made her time at the Institute all the more meaningful as she approaches graduation.

Matriculating from Bonita Springs, Florida, Herrell was raised on old VMI stories from her dad, Bradford Herrell ’01, and she especially loved the tales of the challenges of the VMI system. “My favorite were, of course, his cadre stories and Rat Line stories. So that always piqued my interest. I couldn’t see myself going anywhere else,” said Herrell.

A graduate in the Institute’s first class of women in 2001, Herrell’s father is proud of his daughter’s cadetship, but he made it clear to her from a young age that he would never push her to go. As the years went by and it was clear that Herrell truly wanted a cadetship for herself, her dad was on board.

That didn’t stop him from being nervous for her on Matriculation Day, though. While Herrell was trying not to smile from the excitement of finally joining the Rat Line, she recalls spotting her dad, who looked unrecognizably worried, as the gates closed on barracks. Reflecting on this memory, Herrell said, “He told me it was probably the scariest parenting moment of his life, bringing me into barracks. I saw his face, and I remember thinking I’d never seen him look like that before.” She laughed, adding, “He was probably more nervous than I was!”

Despite her excitement, the Rat Line was still challenging, but Herrell never doubted her decision. “I’ve never second-guessed coming here,” said Herrell. “There were definitely hard moments during matriculation week, but I never thought about leaving. I knew this is where I was meant to be.” She also appreciated how these challenges bonded her with her brother rats, just as they did for her father and his class. “During those hard moments, all I could think about was my dad and all the stories that he’d tell me growing up, and those bonds that he made with his brother rats.”

Describing her personal transformation from rat to 1st Class cadet, Herrell said the maturity in her character and leadership has been “extreme.” “The growth period from rat to 1st Classman, I would say, is pretty extreme. I always thought that I was mature, but you don’t realize how much you grow until you become a 1st Classman. You have so much responsibility on your plate.”

Part of that responsibility for Herrell, in addition to being a dyke, is leading as the third battalion commander. In this role, she oversees the well-being and training of cadets and said being entrusted with the training of people’s sons and daughters is a great responsibility—one she’s deeply grateful for.

In May, Herrell will graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and will commission into the U.S. Army. Looking toward that graduation day, Herrell feels prepared for what the future holds as a military officer and beyond, thanks to her cadetship. “You’re going to leave this place with the tools that will support you in everyday life—how to handle your stress. Life is stressful; VMI is more stressful,” she quipped.

While Herrell feels prepared for life after VMI, she and her dad are not quite ready to close this special chapter of her cadetship—one that has brought them incredibly close. “What’s beautiful about this whole experience is my dad and I have never been closer. It was definitely a big bonding moment. My cadetship flew by, and he’s actually so sad about that. We’re both not ready for me to graduate,” Herrell reflected.

As sentimental as she is about graduating, Herrell is proud to soon call herself a VMI alum. “I am so honored to be at VMI; I cannot see myself going anywhere else,” she reflected. “The thing that I’m most proud of is to say, ‘I finished VMI, or I’m going to finish VMI with my honor intact. And I think that’s beautiful.”