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 The Citadel Freshman Experience Jun 28, 2008
As a Class of 1975 Citadel gaduate my memories are now mostly centered around the good times of Knob year and Senior year. The book reminded me of all the challenges of being a knob and why I get that funny feeling in my stomach when I travel down Moultrie Avenue into Lesane Gate. I recommend the book to all graduates.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Citadel life as it was Apr 13, 2007
First off I'm Citadel Class of '83 Spring Roach from 4th Bn so I lived both the Citadel and Spring Roach experiences. Read the book and you'll understand what that means. I didn't have enough rank to continue the Roach process. It does absolutely accurately describe The Citadel experience of the '80s. I even did my own "drive by" to Mr Epps room. As the other reviewer stated this is not a Pat Conroy book by a world class author. And that is it's strength. This book is written by a regular guy relating what he went through. It does get somewhat vainglorious at times. And it does use Citadel unique terms without a good explanation of all of them. If you want to know the beauty of The Citadel, Charleston, MUSC-College of Charleston, Southern gentlemen and the academic experience that is The Citadel you have to read this book.
1 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 Sword Drill Mar 16, 2005
I waited anxiously for this book to arrive, hoping it would unlock secrets of Junior Sword Drill. In that regard, I think it failed. First, it is a very long book, over 600 pages, and the portion devoted to Sword Drill was disappointedly short. Also, I found the writing somewhat pedestrian compared to Pat Conroy's "Lords of Discipline", which is, in my opinion, the work by which all others will forever be compared.
I liked the characters and actually found it very believable. I came away with an appreciation of the sacrifices young men gave to belong to a very elite fraternity. Basically, they gave three years of their life for a 14 minute performance. What continuosly boggles my mind, is the sadism of the cadets who haze those wishing to be part of this or any other group. Even to a reader, it is hard to understand how people can be so brutal. Honor at the sake of spirit is a uneven tradeoff. I would have liked some pictures of the drill. I would have liked to know if Sword Drill members went on to suceed in life; also did they gain unusual rank too.
If it were just better written, I would have given it another star.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
An amazing account of JSD Nov 08, 2004
As a current Citadel cadet I was amazed at how accurately knob year was portrayed and although I never experienced Junior Sword Drill, I can imagine it was done just as accurately. This was an amazing account of the struggles, hardships, and training that these men went through. Hopefully the Guards will never die like JSD did, but the way things are changing it's easier to disband them than to defend them. Let's just hope that the administration never takes the easy route, for the Citadel has never been about taking the easy way out!
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
The Lords of the Swords Nov 03, 2004
In 2001, we drove to The Citadel for my son's first Parent's Weekend in his knob year. I used the opportunity to read Conroy's Lords of Discipline. Last weekend, we drove to Charleston to see him get his ring. I used the opportunity to read The Sword Drill while there and on the way back home.
As such, both of the books become more of the genre of docu-drama than fiction - it creates a rather surreal environment to experience these "alpha-omega" events as a parent. The context of Epps' superb book is that of a cadet as a knight in search of an ideal perfection. As a parent who has watched his son grow from boy to man in those three years under the influence of The Citadel, it was indeed a powerful and moving experience to read the book in conjunction to seeing him get to "wear the ring".
For those readers who have only a peripheral knowledge or involvement with the unique institution that is The Citadel, Epps provides a superb insight as to what a Citadel education is all about. It is a must read for any prospective family or cadet recruit.
I am still torn as to the proper role of the Junior Sword Drill in such training - its propriety precariously balanced on a sword's razor edge. All things considered, it is probably for the best that it has been disbanded - but each reader/parent/cadet will have to come to their own judgment after much introspection.
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