The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-07-05
FOR AWKWARD SQUAD
.uI sERGEANT'S ADVICE TIC
THE MILITIA RECRUIT.
,..-uetions for the Making Of a Good
coIdier That Contain Much vaIu-
.bIe Inside Information Couched
In HomeIy PhraseoIoay.

r,structions to a newly enlisted
an inst published, issued for the in
NATION of the organized militia OF
Wv York, contains some interesting
inside information.
,diutant General Verbeck states in
foreword that the instructions are
aoucbed in a homely phraseology, such
40 drill sergeant might use in talk
@oo recruit in whom he is interested.
Here. then, is the drill sergeant in
action;
nDon't get mad because. you don't
understand the reason for a command
# NAV have a deeper meaning than
rou can fathom. Just do 1t and let 1t
"Tbe object of drill and discipline is
mt TO worry you. The captain is not
sitting up all night to invent contrap-
tions to prosecute you.
"f you are weak and easily thrown
oH YOUR base, get back into control OF
Yourself as quickly as you can. If you
oro the kind that boils over at the
SLIGHTEST rubbing the wrong way, put
IN the bluff that you are cool as a Gu
cnmber Disguise your anger.
Don't stay mad long; it uses up too
much energy. Save your energy as you
would ammunition. Remember that it
is a sign of strength to hide your tenn
per. Don't copy after some few off,
rprs who buster and storm with brave
oaths. They peter out on the firing
line Hot heads make cold feet. Be
afraid of the quiet kind.
Rub Yourself off the slate and you'll
get along with the men of your com
many 1t is only the conspicuous, fresh
recruit who talks too much with his
mouth that is sent on errands for
'skirmish line, 'saber ammunition,
tent wrenches' and other imaginary
ordnance property.
"'If you are easy going and good
sport. you will take these harmless
Jokes in a good natured way and get
along with your bunkie and other
comrades. If you can control your tenn
per and have the nerve to stand lit
tie teasing without suffering, you
won't run up against any of the cheap,
high school variety of hazing.
"eWar your hat straight on your
head, not cooked saucily on the side.
Don't wear it on the back of the head.
Don't stick cartridges in the hatband.
Don't have the service hat used as an
autograph album.
Learn to stand steadily. not like a
ramrod but without strain. Don't spit
in ranks; don't wiggle Don't follow
the Inspector with your eyes.
when your company is dismissed
from drill don't turn handspring,
howl with joy or fire off blank cart
ridges On the other hand, don't limp
off, cussing out your captain, thus ad-
vertising that you are all in. Just dis
appear; evaporate.
Don't roll up your shirt sleeves un-
less you are doing dirty work and
want them kept clean. Never point
YOUR gun at anyone Keep 1t locked.
You must habitually imagine that it is
loaded. When you are on the range,
keep the bolt drawn back except when
you are actually shooting.
Don't fence with your bayonet or
swing it about recklessly, as 1t is as
sharp as a razor.
Initiative tells you what to do and
when to do it. It's the brains in the
head, not in the heels. It's the stuff
cut OF which captains are made. When
you're in the trenches and you can't
near yourself think for the rattle, 1t
Tells you when to cease firing and
when to dash forward, STOPPING low to
me ground until you come to the next
cover. Initiative tells you when you're
10 follow me- 1t dopes out the plan.
carries it out. Initiative is the happy
thought put into action
obedience, nerve and initiative, but
lie greatest of these is initiative"