Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-08-16
HELPS for the
NEW SOLDER
BY . unised Ssases Army Oana
rug coRpoRAL's IMPORTANCE IN
EXTENDED ORDER.

We have 9 that, as the squad Is
,,,,iated into extended order the men
lion of the corporal becomes more fire.
onent. In the same degree, his impOr-
lance Increases. For. while u corporal
commands q squad In close order to q
,,uital extent, he exercises more au-
,hority and discretion when 1t Is de-
oloycd in a line OF skirmishers. He
then has the responsibility for the con-
duct and safety Of his mcn under vary
inc conditions and rules far less mi
'nutely prescribed.
II the new soldier. In vcrdant ignO-
rance. has been inclired to resent the
corroral and his exercise Of authority
heretofore. he will appreciate 1t dis
tinctly now. For, exactly us the rules
for extended order work are less cut
and dried than In close order, generally
sncoling, the new soldier now feels the
need for encouragement and guidance.
The function Of a corporal is to encour-
age and instruct as well as command
his men.
The basis Of the resentment which
the new soldier may ut first develop
srainst u corporal or a sergeant lies
IN the fact that the nOncomImissioned
officer. save for two or three stripes on
| the arm, shoulders his gun and plugs
along in the line just like Il private.
The "rookie" therefore dislikes to be
sbossed around" as he would express
II nv n man with whom he rubS ell
bows. As soon as he finds himself
in extended order, however, and loses
the sense Of mutual support that comes
.rom standing shoulder to shoulder as
y, close order, the new soldier becomes
exceedingly grateful for constant ad-
monitlon. instruction and command
from the corporal. These act as IL prop.
They do II vast amount toward filling
IN the II inches OF vacancy to either
side of him.
When a squad is dorloyed on the
firm. line with 4 platoon or company,
the corporal transmits to his men
commands and signals from the officers
when necessary. Even when it is not
at all times he observes the conduct OF
his squad and by talking in a cheer
full, encouraging manner-vcrbal pat:
on the back--abates the excitement
"The best troops" says the Drill Regu
lations, "are those thut submit longes
to fire control. Loss of control is nj
evil which robS success Of its creates
result. To avoid or delay such los
should be the constant aim of all"
In everyday, unmllitary English, thl
means that the last troops to "hioV
10" in a fight will win. Therefore
never blow up. 1t is the corporal
Job to see that the new soldier doe
hot blow up. And the new soldier
utter a skirmish exercise, eve
against blank cartridges, will find tina
he is e~xtrayagantly grateful for ever
word with which the corporal ha
helped to keep him firmly anchored
the ground.
The experience of citizen soldiers o
the Mexican border and, In Il more III
portaut degree, in the new armies {
England, has shown that obedience
the corporal and the sergeant. carrie
still a step further to obedience to tn
senior private, then to the next
length of service, rather than maxim
men seryile, has IN effect quite II
opposite. For each maj thereby lear'
automatically to command the ne
man below him, and In II battle,
his noncomnissioned officer or senio
are put out of action, he asstlIn'
their authority without a hitch.