The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1917-08-23

keeping the machine level, making
figure SIS and spiral nose dives. The
sensation Of riding through the air
cannot be described-it must be ex-
perienced. The initial part of avia-
ton training is not unlike that of the
average college.
The chief difference. is that while
college students invariably rush for
the back seats of the class room our
prospective ayiators tumble over each
other to reach the front row.
Interest is always at a high pitch,
the attention of the entire class be-
ing concentrated on the subject under
discussion. There is no evidence of
the familiar trick Of arguing an in
structor off on a tangent. Occasion.
ally, when from loss OF sleep a stu
dent mods in class, he has the pleas
IRE Of repeating the work the follow
ing week. A notation on his school
record shows an indifferent attitude
toward work and he is dropped back
to the following squadron, Cases
ike these are the exception and not
the rule, however.
From reveille at $50 until taps at
$50 the day is all routine. An iron
clad schedule regulates the work of
the day, and woe be to the individual
who for his own convenience at
tempts to change that schedule even
TO the slightest degree. Formations
and classes follow in regular order
day after day. The very system of
the routine makes the weeks 60 by
quickly and before one realizes it he
to move out and make room for an
other budding aviator.
THE organization Of the school is
no less systematic than the daily
schedule. The squadron, made up of
the men entering in a single week.
usually about %, is the unit of the
school. 1t is commanded by a mem
Der of the squadron, the command
changing each week.
with the ringing of the bell which
announces a class period, squadron
commanders compete in lung capaci-
ty calling their %squadrons to assem-
bly,. Then follows a period of con-
fusion while each cadet gets into his
proper place. All are then marched
to their classes in a military manner
The squadron commander reports TO
the instructor, Squadron , all
present sir. What can be more NOR
tifying to the squadron commander
than the stifed giggles when one or
two come struggling in after he has
made such a report?
"The delight of the militarily in
clined comes with the hour Of infan-
try drill every afternoon. From the
National Guard, the Training Camps
and land grant colleges all over the
country come men who know the last
word of infantry drill. Their way is
right. lnasmuch as no two have had
just exactly the same experience, diff
ferences of opinion often give rise to
periods of heated discussions during
which the less enthusiastic listen
quietly, drowsily resolving TO look the
matter up in the regulations later.
Discussions like these make the drill
interesting and help to bring out the
real truth of the matter.
FORMATIONS are frequent. SO far
as we know, no attempt has even
been made to count the number each
day. The command fall in is given
Immediately upon rising in the morn
ing, before and after all meals, be-
fore and after classes and at any
other time the commandant may see
fit. In time one responds to this
command automatically. Careless
ness in regard to attending formation
may result very seriously.
tine c~ommandant is looked upon
more as a military governor Of abso-
lutte power than anything else. The
remarkable discipline which he main
tains is due entirely to his methods
of administration. Some are inclined
to chafe at the strict rules at first.
but as they get further on in the
school they come to see how such
methods are necessary in a school of
this kind.
"A uppercIassman advising a new
conner on how to approach the COM
mandant, said, Salute when o
walk up to him, each time you add
dess him, when you leave him. and
there or four times in between won't
do any harm. That would be car
rying 1t to the extreme, but expert
ence has taught that it pays to be
liberal with salutes. 1t at least