The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-10-18
TIE TEAM LEADERS.

| Fdlc SOlul0rSs 1uolr WOFk Is OIL the
greatest Importance and deserves all
the respect and praise which it re-
ceives. A great many men in the ma
tional army, however, will be ambi-
tious to rise to higher ranks. They
will find plenty of encouragement and
Of opportunities for promotion.
If you are one of these men, don't
allow yourself to forget the fact that
you can win promotion only by prov
ing your fitness in each duty intrusted
70 you. 1t is rare case when man
Is Jumped" several ranks ahead. AS
a rule, he climbs from one rank to the
next higher rank after having demon
strated in each position his intelli-
gence, honor and reliability.
Even as a private, you may win adj
vancement to the grade known as first
class privates. About one-fourth OF
the privates in each company may be
given the rating of ''first-class," which
means in substance that they are re-
garded as skilled and trustworthy SOL
dierS.
From the first-class privates are usu-
ally chosen the corpOrals. These are
the squad leaders. They are appoint
| ed by the commanding officer of the
regiment on the recommendation OF
| the commanding officer of the COM
pany. In addition to the regularly APP
pointed corporals each company may
have one lance corporal. This Is
| fn+, NV
company commander for TIE purpose
of testing the ability Of some private
whom he is thinking of recommending
| for permanent appointment. In case
| the lance corporal does not make
good showing, or for any other reason.
the commander OF the company sees
| fit.
Next above the corporal in rank
comes the sergeant. There are usually
8 to II sergeants in company. I'm
less sergeant has some other duty
assigned to him, he is normally the
leader of platoon. There are, how
ever, many special duties constantly
assigned to sergeants. The first SER
geant Tin army slang, the stop ser
| geant"), for example, keeps certain
company records, forms the company
in ranks, transmits orders from the
company commander, and performs
many other important tasks. The sup
ply sergeant sees to bringing up sup
plies of all kinds to the company. The
mess sergeant looks after food The
stable sergeant is responsible for the
proper care of horses and mules. The
color sergeant carries the national or
regimental colors. There are many
other grades within the rank of ser
geant which cannot be described here.
You, will gradually become familiar
with them during your army expert
ence.
! Sergeants and corporalS are known
as noncommissioned officers, because
they are appointed by their regimental
commanding officer. officers of higher
ranks are known rs commissioned
since they hold their rank by virtue Of
commission issued to, them under au-
thority of the president of the United
| States. The commissioned officer is
thus on quite different footing from
the "noncom" (nonconmissioned Off
cer). He obtains his rank and author
ity from a higher source. He is treat
ed with respect which is of differ
ent character from that extended to a
noncommissioned officer. This is one
of the fundamental things IN army or
ganization.
Lowest in rank among the commits
stoned officers Is the second lieutenant.
Above him comes the first lieutenant
and above him the captain. These are
the three company officers" The
captain is ordinarily the commanding
officer of company, while the lieu
tenants might be described as assist
ant captains. In the absence or disa-
bility of the captain, however, the first
lieutenant takes his place and has full
command, and in the absence or disa-
bility of both the second lieutenant
takes command.
Next above the captain is the major,
whose proper command is a battalion.
A step higher is the lieutenant colonel
and above him the colonel, the COM
handing officer of regiment. The
lieutenant colonel ordinarily assists
the colonel and in his. absence takes
the command. In case both the lieu
tenant colonel and the colonel are dis
abled or absent, the senior major takes
the command.
Above the colonel is the brigadier
general, whose proper command is a
brigade. Above the brigadier general
| is the major general, the highest rank
at present held by any officer of the
American army.
One general, however, serves as
chief CT staff of the army. AS such he
srperyises all troops and departments
of tho military service. He in turn re-
ports to the secretary of war. The
secretary of war in his turn acts I'M
Ger the general direction of the prcsi-
dent of the United States, who is the
commander in chief.
The chain of authority reaches in
an unbroken line all the way from the
president TO the newest recruit. If
the president chooses to give an order
which in any Way affects the recruit,
it passes through the secretary of war,
chief of staff, major general. brigadier
general, colonel, major, captain, SER
geant and possibly corporal until the
recruit is reached and the order
obeyed.
al