Citadel alumni (who were in the Corps of Cadets program) have followed West Point's example of terming themselves a "Long Gray Line" which includes numerous senators, governors, generals, athletes, and writers.

In January 1861, Citadel Academy cadets manning a battery on Morris Island fired the first shots of the conflict when they shelled the Union steamship Star of the West which was attempting to resupply Fort Sumter.

[18] In 1922, the school moved from its original location on Marion Square in downtown Charleston to a new campus on the banks of the Ashley River on the northwest side of the city.

During World War II, The Citadel had the highest percentage of any American college student body serving in the military and all but 346 of its living graduates were members of the armed forces.

She matriculated into The Citadel in 1995 with an otherwise all-male corps of cadets on August 15, 1995, but soon withdrew after she said she and her family received dozens of death threats and her parents' home was vandalized.

[26] In 2018, The Citadel appointed the first female, Sarah Zorn, to lead the entire South Carolina Corps of Cadets as Regimental Commander.

On February 22, 2017, The Citadel announced that Tommy Baker, who attended as a veteran student after serving in the Marine Corps,[32] and his wife, Victoria, had made a gift to endow business programs, and that the school would be named in their honor.

The Degree Completion programs allow students to begin once they have earned a minimum of 24 academic credit hours in general education courses.

The institute also sponsors programs that offer cadets an opportunity to perform community service and instill a sense of commitment to one's fellow man.

[62][63][64] Undergraduate students desiring to join the South Carolina Corps of Cadets must meet physical fitness and SAT/ACT testing standards for acceptance.

On most days, cadets have both morning and afternoon physical (fitness) training, called "PT", military instruction on leadership, weapons, drill, and discipline, in addition to their regular college classes.

The haircut policy changed starting with the 2019–2020 academic year, where fourth-class male cadets only have to shave their heads during their initial week but can otherwise have hair as long as Department of Defense regulations allow it.

"[79][80] According to The Citadel, the Fourth Class System "creates the discipline and instills the core values of Honor, Duty, and Respect which is expected of principled leaders in all walks of life.

A tour is one hour spent marching in the barracks with a rifle at shoulder arms and is normally performed when a cadet would otherwise be permitted to leave campus.

The Band and Pipes made their inaugural appearance at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 1991 and were the only group from the United States to perform that year.

[86] The Band and Pipes will return to perform again at the Tattoo in 2020, broadcast on the BBC it is viewed by more than 100 Million people in 30 countries across Europe and Scandinavia.

In the summer of 2013, the Band and Pipes performed as the United States representative at the week-long Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo in Halifax, Canada.

The Guards have performed at numerous high-profile events around the United States, including four presidential inaugurations, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and at several NFL games.

The Citadel Bulldogs baseball team has won 20 Southern Conference regular season and tournament championships, most recently in 2010; 43 players have been selected in the MLB draft[97] The 1990 team won the Atlantic Regional, earning the school its first trip to the College World Series (CWS) and finishing the season ranked sixth in the final Collegiate Baseball poll with a record of 46–14; they also became the first military school to play in the CWS.

ESPN color commentator Paul Maguire was a tight end and punter for three AFL champions with the Buffalo Bills and former St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals running back Lyvonia "Stump" Mitchell has been a head coach at two Division I colleges and served as an NFL assistant for Seattle, Washington, Arizona and the New York Jets.

Current NFL players also include cornerback Dee Delaney of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and wide receiver Raleigh Webb of the New England Patriots.

[116] In June 2015, the school's Board of Visitors voted in favor of moving a Confederate naval jack from the chapel to what was called "an appropriate location on campus.

[119][120] The Prioleau Room on the first floor houses special collections and is considered by many as one of the best places on campus to study with its dark wood panelling and fireplace.

[123] Located next to Mark Clark Hall at the northeast corner of Summerall Field, this uniquely shaped monument contains artifacts from the British submarine HMS Seraph, which carried then Major General Mark Clark to a secret landing in Algeria before the Allied landings in the North African Campaign of World War II to negotiate a surrender of the Vichy French forces; the vessel was also involved in Operation Mincemeat, a covert operation which succeeded in convincing the Germans that the allies intended to invade Sardinia, not Sicily.

The memorial honors Anglo-American friendship and cooperation during World War II and is the only shore location in the United States authorized by the UK Ministry of Defence to fly the Royal Navy Ensign.

Lo, France, he was so respected that his flag-draped body was carried on the hood of a Jeep at the head of the column of troops so he could be accorded the honor of being the first American to enter the city.

Located at the southeast corner of the parade ground near Lesesne Gate, the main entrance to campus is a giant replica of The Citadel ring, recognized as the most important and treasured symbol of a graduate.

They include a Marine landing craft (LVT-H-6); an Army Sherman Tank (M4A3); an Air Force fighter jet (F-4C Phantom II); an AH-1 "Cobra" helicopter gunship and an anchor from the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea.

Senator Ernest "Fritz" Hollings, best-selling authors Pat Conroy and Robert Jordan,[130] football commentator Paul Maguire, NFL player and coach Stump Mitchell, Space Shuttle astronaut and International Space Station Commander Colonel Randy Bresnik, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Andre Roberts and the Commander of U.S. Central Command General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr.[131] Notable alumni include 6 governors, 3 U.S. senators, 12 congressmen, the presidents of 47 colleges and universities, the Director of the U.S. Olympic Committee and many professional athletes.

[135][136] Alumni also serve in the military services of foreign countries including six 4 Star Generals from Thailand and the head of Jordan's Security Forces.