Breakout! – In the News

Link: Fishburne cadets promoted to ‘old men’

It’s not easy becoming an old man. Ask any of the new cadets at Fishburne Military School.

On Saturday, several “new cadets” became the school’s “old men.”

Their day started with a 3-mile jog at 5 a.m. Then came field exercises, including running, doing push-ups, pushing the football sled around, tossing rings and racing one-legged while attached to four other people.

Around 9:30 a.m. the group drove to Humpback Rocks on the Blue Ridge Parkway where they scaled to an elevation of 2,960 feet in 40 minutes.

The cadets then came back and marched in formation chanting, “One, two, three, four. Left, left, left, right, left. One, two, three, four. This is how we end our day.”

The cadets were exhausted, but excited as family and friends cheered while they ran up the hill toward the school. Parents and relatives pinned each cadet with a private first class pin. The cadets were now considered old men.

“They are old men, meaning they are experienced and fully integrated,” said Susan Johnson, assistant superintendent of the school. Old men are allowed more privileges than younger, newer cadets, sometimes referred to as rats among other students.

“I’m sore but I’m proud,” said Richer Rogan, 17, the battalion commander. “I’m really proud of these guys.”

Stacy Whitlow, who traveled four hours from Sunbury, N.C., fought to keep her composure.

“It’s very emotional,” Whitlow said. “I am so proud. I told them I didn’t cry when I dropped them off, but I was going to cry today.”

Her son Miken Pinner, 15, and stepson Timmy Whitlow, 14, both ninth-graders, were pinned Saturday after the breakout exercises.

Miken, who has asthma, couldn’t finish the last seven minutes of the hike up Humpback Rocks because he was having trouble breathing, but it didn’t take away the pride he felt in being promoted.

“It’s awesome,” Miken said. “It’s better then being a rat. Rats don’t get as much stuff as old men. Old men get to do whatever. They get more passes, video games, to use laptops.”

W.B. Edwards, Stacy’s father and Miken and Timmy’s grandfather, was among the 11 relatives who came to see the two boys become old men.

“It’s just very exciting,” Edwards said. “I’m proud of them. They look so grown up. They’ve only been here four months and already they’re so grown up.”

Some students were spared. Those in the summer school program had the option of participating.

Christian Palmer, 11, and Joseph Mastro, 16, opted not to participate in the break out.

“Even though I wasn’t there it was fun,” said Christian, adding he didn’t participate because he was too lazy.

Joseph became an old man by participating in the summer program.

“Summer school kids had it pretty easy,” Joseph said.

He does acknowledge the hard work the other cadets put in.

“They went through hell and back,” Joseph said. “They did a really hard thing. Almost impossible. I have so much respect for them. We’re on two different levels.”