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Published Mar 2, 2024 by Lynda Edwards ledwards@postandcourier.com

When Vivienne Johnson applied to The Citadel, she knew all about Hell Week, 5 a.m. wake-ups, punctilious inspections and rigorous physical training in Charleston’s blistering August heat.

She also was aware the historic military college fought for years in court to remain all-male.

In the 1990s, legions of alumni and others nationwide vehemently opposed the introduction of female cadets. The first, who entered the corps of cadets in 1995, received death threats and required escorts to class by federal marshals.

Three decades later, Johnson is a high-ranking, sword-bearing officer surrounded by male Citadel alums — dad, uncles, godfather — cheering for her. Her brother is a West Point alumnus, Class of 2022. (He and their father shared clever military school hacks, like carrying fast-food mustard packets to use on PT muscle cramps.)

“I took a long look at myself as a senior in high school, in the midst of COVID, and realized I needed some rigor and some structure in my day-to-day life or else I wouldn’t be successful in my academic studies,” said Johnson, who soon will graduate as a member of The Citadel’s Class of 2024. “No one has come up to me and said, ‘I don’t think women belong here.’ Nor would I care about their opinion if they had.”

In the past 25 years, about 800 female cadets have graduated from The Citadel and wear the legendary gold school ring adorned with palmettos, stars and oak leaves, the ancient symbol for bravery. The Citadel celebrated its alumni and current 272 female cadets on March 1.

U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, Class of 1999, was the first female cadet to graduate. In May, she will deliver the commencement speech.

The evolution didn’t happen overnight, from an embattled quest to be included to finally being accepted.

Mace was one of four female cadets to enter The Citadel as freshmen in her class. Two left after one semester, claiming physical and verbal abuse by upperclassmen.

Citadel culture — rooted in antebellum history and male camaraderie — has ultimately grown to respect and value women and boost them to hold powerful positions within its corps.

The Citadel rulebook now gives cadets tools that the female pioneers didn’t have when they navigated a system that allowed older cadets to give orders freely to knobs.

If an upperclassman today gives a sexist or unethical order, rules suggest a cadet reply: “Request better judgement, sir.”

Johnson, who possesses preternatural poise, is confident she would feel comfortable saying those words, if necessary. In four years, she never has.

Before that confidence came a different era — one defined by the fight of a woman who still bears unseen scars and a legacy that doesn’t include a golden ring.

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