The Washington times., 1915-12-12
INTENSIVE TRAINING

In the field service regulations of
the United States army frequently
appears the term ian experienced
private" Commanding officers are
advised, when a SQUAD leader is not
available for responsible details to
assign "an experienced private"
The accomplishments of soldier
truly deserving this description af-
ford an index to the problem of pre-
paredness.
"An experienced private" must be
not only proficient in drill, a marks
man, and physically able to endure
extreme fatigue, but likewise he
should be efficient to serve in the
mess squad, capable of administer
ing first aid to himself and his COM
rades. He must know how to load
wagon and upon occasion to act
as teamster. In these modern
times he should be familiar with
trench construction; should fit in as
a helpful unit in camp sanitation. 1t
goes without saying that he must be
self-disciplined; smooth cog in the
military machine, an aid not a drag
on the mobile army.
In the regular army soldiers are
given about as much work as they
will stand for. Under these condi-
tions an experienced private can be
made in about four years. 1t re-
quires about the same length Of time
to develop a man-o'- wars s-man. One
of the regular army captains at the
Plattsburg business mems training
camp has expressed the opinion that
in six months of intensive training
as vigorous as that given at Platts-
burg (Which exceeded the army
regimen) a well-rounded and efficient
company could be built up. Kitch-
ener took nearly year for train.
ing, even under war stimulus and
necessity, the last great army
thrown across the channel.
All this raises question as to
the thoroughness of the training
possible under the continental army
scheme. Thoughtful men who took
the Plattsburg training feared that
the excellent experiment and the un-
informed summaries of it's results
would create the wholly fallacious
public idea that an army could be
instantly called into being. As a
matter of fact the Plattsburg train
ing did not make soldiers; it gave a
body of intelligent and vigorous
business men good idea of the
further training necessary to rem
der them truly fit for military serv-
ice. This, too, with the benefit of
the best drillmasters in the world
picked officers from the United
States army.
Now the continental army scheme
proposes a period of intensive train
ing for probably two months a year
for three years, the instruction to
be impaired by officers of the regu-
lar army so far as their numbers
suffice and then by officers of the Ma
tional Guard. Herein lies weak
ness. By and large the officers
of the National Guard are not eff
clent drillmasters. An hour and a
half of drill week, plus ten to four
teen days in the summer, is not
enough service to keep even a first
class officer tuned up to his work.
Intensive training is possible only
through the best drillmasters; in
short, those of the U. S. A. stand
ard. Of course, the army cannot now
supply enough for the training of
100000 continentals. The need is
apparent not only Of increasing the
cadet corps at West Point; and
stimulating promotion of efficient
non-commissioned officers, but Off
GERS training schools and corps
should be established wherein officers
of the National Guard and graduates
of first class military schools and
colleges may be truly fitted for the
task of rendering the nation fit. AS
yet the theory, even, of intensive
training, adapted to our institutions,
remains undeveloped. A great op-
portunity awaits the army officers
who can hew the way to the effec-
tive system which must be built in
practice on whatever policy Con-
gress adopts.