vmi is known for its strict honor code, which is as old as the institute and was formally codified in the early 20th century. under the vmi honor code, "a cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, nor tolerate those who do." there is only one punishment for violating the vmi honor code: immediate expulsion in the form of a drumming out ceremony of dismissal, in which the entire corps is awakened by drums in barracks and the honor court to hear the formal announcement. vmi is the only military college or academy in the nation which maintains a single-sanction honor code and in recent times, the dismissed cadet is removed from post before the formal announcement is made.