Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-23
Self Helps for
the New. Soldier
Practical Home Hints IN Military
Training Thnt VIII Stand You
IN Good stead when You
Are Called to the COiors.
Copyright. 1917. Wheeler Syndicate
rho First Lesson OF the Soldier
By A Uuitcd stntcs Army Omccr.

w c.I
Thc First Lcsnon Of the Soldier.
The first thing OF all that the young
American OF the new army will be
taught. and must learn thoroughly, IL
he is to serve his country efficiently
as soldier, is obcdicnce-obedienc
expressed in discipline.
Discipline is the fundamental Of the
soldier
discipline is not punishment. Uisci-
pine is not tho goose step. Discipline
in the proper sense. is control-coutrol
Tor IL definite purpose. obedience is
merely the adapting of oneself to such
control. Ana to make the system ef-
tcctire from the private to the army
corps. the discipline OF the soldier must
begun with tho discipline OF himself
Obedience. or discipline. is not in
tended TO convert "A man into AN un-
thinking machine. y soldier who can
think is twice the soldier who cannot
The most efficient national euardsncn
on the border year ago were invari-
ably the most intelligent What dis
ctpline does attempt to do is to supply
Il man with the machinery Of action
after his thoughts have been blasted to
pieces by shells His motions must he
Erained--automatic. This is attained
through steady drill. the routine of
camp. aud the school OF "a soldier"
No man is tit to command who has
not first learned to obey. Command in
the nature OF things. will fall to those
who obey most quickly, most intclIi-
gently.
Discipline. TO the young American
soldier. Will he manifest in his conduct:
III the way he carries himsclf-the
poisc Of his head. tho ercctness OF his
shoulders. 1t will be evident in the
neatness OF his clothes: the care with
which he buttons his uniform: in the
way that he ties his shoes. 1t will he
evident in the degree that he keeps
himself washed and brushed: in the
scrupulous fashion in which he dresses
his cot. his Kit. his quarters. II will
be obvious in the conscientious manner
IN which he attends to all the routine
duties OF tho day: in his observance Of
The code of military ctiquc,.
Discipline or this character runs
throughout the whole dsy. except when
a man is off duty. and then he can
be as carc-frcc as he likes. But a
man whose mind and muscles have had
The training OF soldier no longer
hhds himself at ease in tho old slouchy.
habby slump Of the boy OF the street
corner. His body. corrected. becomes
the figure that Nature Intended. both
walking or sitting.
The fact that discipline runs through
the day-and the nights irnportant
That is the method by which /, becomes
a habit. IL discipline were confined
TO marching or drilling. then IL would
Impress itself only when marching or
driilinE-at other times TO he forgot
ten. This would not save the situation
u the camp were attacked by surprise.
inc point Is simply this: the soldier
learns that everything he does is the
way most carefully studied out TO hiring
me most effective results from "A large
body Of men. with tho least confusion.
the least loss OF energy or combined
power. When he has learned this. the
young american viii have learned his
FIRST lesson soldier.
To- morrow's article will explain the
soldiers place in a group formation