Character Development: Captain Frank Vitale ’94 (Loyalty)

Valley Forge Military College hosted its first Character Development Chapel Speaker Series of the 2025-26 academic year on Friday, September 19, 2025.

Captain Frank Vitale, a 1994 Valley Forge Military College alumnus, was the guest speaker on the character trait of Loyalty.

“Loyalty is a deep and unwavering commitment and devotion marked with faithfulness and steadfastness even when faced with adversity,” Captain Vitale said in his speech to the cadets.

Captain Vitale gave nearly two decades of service in the U.S. Army Reserves and the West Virginia Army National Guard, achieving  the rank of Captain, and concluding his military career as the Senior Officer Instructor for the Officer Candidate School with the 197th Regional Training Institute at Camp Dawson, West Virginia.

He currently serves as the President and CEO of Forge Business Solutions, which he founded in 2017, is the former Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, and holds an appointment as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at West Virginia. He is also an Amazon No.1 Best Seller with his book Forge Ahead – The Blueprint to Creating a Winning Strategy in Business, Life and, Wrestling.

Captain Vitale remains actively involved on numerous professional and civic boards, including the National Veteran Owned Business Association, the West Virginia National Guard Foundation, and the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative.

“Being loyal most importantly to yourself is what matters,” Captain Vitale said. “Because I would submit to you that things will change, conditions will change, political climates will change but what remains is the loyalty that each and every one of you has to your very own ideals. It is critical as a cadet, but also in life that you remain steadfast and loyal to what is important and what matters most: your values.”

Captain Vitale earned a degree in Criminal Justice at Valley Forge Military College while serving as the Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major of the Corps and the student body president. He is also a recipient of the Order of Anthony Wayne award, The Forge’s highest leadership distinction.

Throughout his speech, he emphasized the importance of his leadership development at The Forge and mentioned the influence of his peers and faculty and staff like Brigadier General Alfred A. Sanelli, who was the chaplain during Captain Vitale’s time at the school.

“I would pray for courage, pray for knowledge and wisdom, so I could right my wrongs and go back and face those that I was responsible for leading,” he said, “and get back up and demonstrate to them that yes, I’m not perfect, but I’m here for the right reason and I’m going to lead by conviction and courage of doing the right thing.”

“It’s important to admit when you make a mistake. It’s important to own it. So being loyal to those principles gave me the courage to stay loyal to what is right, even when it costs.”’

Captain Vitale’s speech often hit on the importance of staying loyal to oneself and one’s values during times of adversity and challenge, claiming that is when character is most often forged.

“I will tell you that because you are here at Valley Forge, you are among the best and the brightest in the history of the world, and your history has not yet been written, but I pray to God that you will write it, and you will write it strong,” he said.

See the speech here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLqOq2FAFvs

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Character Development Chapel Speaker Series

Valley Forge Military Academy & College’s mission is to develop individuals to be fully prepared for the responsibilities and challenges of being citizen leaders. We strive to develop the whole person within an integrated academic and military environment. Valley Forge Military Academy & College produces highly focused graduates who are strong in mind, body and soul.

Since our founding in 1928 by Lt. Gen. Milton Baker, our philosophy is built upon Five Cornerstones: Academic Excellence, Character Development, Personal Motivation, Physical Development, and Leadership. We expound on one of these foundational Cornerstones through the monthly Character Development Chapel Speaker Series. Each month, the VFMAC community focuses on a specific character trait which is shared with our Corps of Cadets through communications, teachings, and activities. Through the speaker series, Cadets have the opportunity to learn from industry experts, build campus culture and institutional strength, and challenge their own insights by asking thought-provoking questions.