Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-16

VOuR real training for your duties as a
l. soldier will begin after you and your
comrades are assembled at the training
camps. However there are few simple
things you can do during the next few weeks
which will be of decided value in getting
you started along the right lines.
The simplest thing, and perhaps the most
useful of all, is to begin at once to practice
correct habits of standing and walking.
Even in civilian life a mans reputation in his
communicates, and for that matter his
own self-respect is determined to a surpris-
ing extent by his bearing. The man who
souches feel like a slouch The man who
holds his head up faces the world with
confidence and courage.
If this is true in civilian life it is ten
times truer in military life. For soldier
must always be strongly marked by his
snap, his precision and his vigor. He
can not have these traits unless he carries
himelf like a soldier.
The BEARING OF A SOLDIER
Few people without military training have
correct idea of what is meant by the
position and the bearing of soldier. They
are apt to imagine that 1t means strut
or an extremely strained attitude. Or
more frequently, they think that the term
can properly be applied to any erect posi-
ton. The truth of the case, however, is
that there is a definite procedure to fol-
low in order to place yourself in what
is known in the army as "the position of
a soldier" 1t is the position which the
dismounted soldier always assumes at the
command Attention" except as 1t may be
slightly modified to enable him to carry
properly any arms he may have in his
hands.
1t will be we'll for you to memoriZe para
graph 81 of the Infantry Drill Regulations
which gives the complete and accurate de-
scription of the position of the soldier.
This paragraph is slightly paraphrased and
simplifed in the description following:
Keep in mind that there are ten elements
which must be properly adjusted to eacn
other and check yourself up to see tha'
each one OF them is properly placed.
First Heels-on the same line and as
near each other as possible; most men
should be able to stand with heels touching
each other.
Second Feet-turned out equally and
forming an angle Of about forty-five de-
grees.
Third. Knees-straight without stiffness.
Fourth. Hips-level and drawn back
slightly; body erect and resting equally on
hips.
Fifth. Chest-lifted and arched.
Sixth. Shoulders square and falling
equally
Eighth. Hands hanging naturally,
thumb along the seam Of the trousers
Ninth. Head--erect and squarely to the
front; chin drawn in so that axis of head
and neck is vertical (rneans that straight
line drawn through the center of head and
neck should be verticaD; eyes straight to
the front
Tenth Entire body-weght of body rest
ing equally upon the heels and balls of
the feet.
Note especially that you are not required
to stand In strained attitude. You are
to be alert but not tense
One OF the very best things YOU can do
today is to spend fifteen minutes practicing
this position, getting 1t right. Keen this
up every day until you report at camp. In
the army, as in everyday life, first i'm
pressions are important The first impress
sion you make on your officers and fellows
will depend. more than you probably realize
on the manner in which you stand and
walk. '@'''
MAKING YOURSELF FIT
If you can devote part Of your time ho-
tween now and the opening of camp n nb,,
steal exercise you are fortunate and shmIId