Virginia Tech Corps Added Puppy Bedford
The young cadet joined the Corps of Cadets to serve as a future mascot ambassador.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Dogs
Virginia Tech has introduced a new puppy named Bedford to the Corps of Cadets. Named in honor of the Bedford Boys, he will eventually succeed the current mascot, Growley III.
Why it matters
The program serves to boost morale across the Corps and provides a unique ambassador for the university. Bedford will undergo a structured training program before officially stepping into his role.
The mascot program was originally reintroduced at Virginia Tech in 2016. Bedford will shadow the current mascot for one year before assuming full duties in the fall of 2028.
The players
Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets
This is the military leadership development program at the university.
Bedford
He is the new puppy recruit named after the Bedford Boys.
Growley III
He is the current mascot serving as an ambassador for the corps.
The details
Bedford will spend the next year shadowing Growley III to learn his duties within the corps. The puppy is slated to join cadets on the Upper Quad starting next fall as part of his training transition.
Timeline
The Growley mascot program was reintroduced in 2016.
Bedford was introduced as a new member of the Corps of Cadets on September 29, 2026.
Bedford will join cadets on the Upper Quad in the fall of 2027.
Bedford will officially assume his duties in the fall of 2028.
Culture Shift
The introduction of Bedford continues the tradition established by the 2016 reintroduction of the Growley mascot program. This ongoing commitment highlights a shift toward using animal ambassadors to foster institutional identity and morale.
Residents and students in Blacksburg can expect to see Bedford more frequently as he begins his training on the Upper Quad. His presence serves as a point of community engagement and morale during official cadet functions.
The takeaway
The addition of Bedford illustrates the university's focus on maintaining institutional traditions through long-term succession planning. This mentorship model ensures that morale-boosting ambassadors are prepared well in advance of their official service start dates.
What happens next
Bedford is scheduled to join the cadets on the Upper Quad in the fall of 2027, followed by his official duty assumption and the retirement of Stryker in the fall of 2028.
Further reading
Learn more about the history of the campus program at Dogs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wdbj7.
