The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-04-06
NORTH CAROLINA
NATIONAL GUARD
Some of the Exactions OF the
Service as Seen by One of
The Officers
tBy Capt. w. A. Fair. ConlInandiu <
Troop A. Cavalry, n. c. y. G.

(By Capt. W. A. Fair. Connnan,iine
Troop 4. Cavalry, \. G. n. CD
The requirements for the National
Guard, as specified by the War De
partment. are becoming more and
more eSacting every year. The mill
r. " policy of the government calls
~qh, |hs~ organization, arming and
., of the militia forces Of the
| vaf> 'e,o Ntes and territories accord
| ing To- standards and regulations
of the gular army. The discipline
| required the same aS that OF the reg
| ular army. The courses OF study
| mapped out Tor the commissioned of
| ficers. OF the guard are such that con
| siderable time and thought must be
| given to study and prepa ration for
the various examinations that are
| hold from time to time to determine
| an officers fitness for holding his
commission. The non commissioned
officers also have courses OF stuGv
! laid out for them which require
no little thought and care. This is III
addition to the time expended at drill
and in instructing the rank and file
Yet, this is absolutely necessary III
order that each company, troop OF
battery may be made at all efficient
So, it can be readily seen that the
Guardlnan who fulflls the require
ments and lives up to his obligations
sonaI sacrifices to render good and
, efficient service TO the State and to
the Nation.
; When it is borne in mind that the
men III the National Guard are no
only not paid for their services but
are frequently put to personal ex-
!, pense to help maintain the standard
. required, surely the credit due them
for this voluntary service will not be
: denied. 1t is one kind of patriotism
,, to make flowery speeches and wave
"Old Glory and harangue about
the great United States 1t requires a
far different brand Of patriotism to
: prompt a young man to cheerfully
l give up his amusementS night after
l night to attend drills and pore over
e military problems, yet hundreds Of
D bright young fellows are doing this
y very thing here in North Carolina and
why? Simply because they want to
be efficient soldiers when their cOun-
0 try has need for trained soldiers. To
e be ready and prepared to meet the
r call, and to meet it not only bTavely
v but efficiently. Is not this a very
: true and a very practical kind OF
y patriotism
r Under the new conditions in the
q National Guard it is not easy to ''get
! something for nothing" Promotion
y and preferment call for both ability
y y and for hard work. The day has
:, | QaWned when the man VINO sweat:
= and works throughout the year help
} ing to hold his organization together
. and to build up it's efficiency will come
q q in for his reward. The hard working
II captain, or lieutenant, sergeant o.
corporal is the man who counts now
The fellow with political pull
y only, has to take back seat. /
l. there is any reward to be given i
t. goes to the man who has honestly
It won it. This is why the Nationa
: Guard means something today.
n Of course, there are young fei
$. lows who would glory in the title o
3 captain, Or lieutenant, and would en-
IL joy immensely leading q tango dane
l. in a full dress uniform. But thos
l. chaps balk at digging trenches on
y hot July afternoon. For these, ala
1t and alack, camp sanitation is helt
t more important than camp filtration
d Swat-the-fly propaganda has replac
! ed the two ?steI.. Vlean latrines ant
h a spotless company kitchen fin
'e greater favor with the army surgeo
es than mere social graces. Thus tn
W tin soldier retires from the militi
j Of today.
Id Neither is the present day mill
at tary company purely social organi
w zatiOn. A serious court MARTA
IS awaits the fresh young dude, or tn
at "rOugh-neck," who essays to tell hi
1e superior officer to go to h. Off
q GERS do not have to kow-tow TO thei
90 men. It is not q debating society
Of The will OF the commander controls
le When orders are issued they ar
* promptly and cheerfully executed
Drunkenness is tabooed. It reali