Evening journal., 1917-08-21
LESSON NO 5.

ETTING READY FOR CAMP.

1E lAN0 .hEAbN F1n NFfWf
preceding Lessons: 1. Your Post
of Honor. .. Making Good as a Sol.
der. 8 Nine Soldierly Quelities).
Your real training for your duties
as a soldier will begin after you and
your comrades are assembled at the
training camps However there a few
simple things you can do during the
next few weeks which will be Of de-
cided value in getting you started
along the right lines.
The simplest thing and perhaps
the most useful of all, Is to begin at
once 10 practice correct habits OF
standing and walking Even in civi'
lian life q mans reputation in his
communlty-yes and for that matter
his own selfrespect-is determined
20 a surprising extent by his bearing.
The man who slouches feels like a
slouch. The man who holds his head
up faces the world with confidence
and courage
II this is true in civilian life. It is
ten times more true in military life.
For a soldier mat always be strong
ly marked by his snap. his precision
and his vigor. He can no have these
traits unless he carries himself like
4 soldier.
The Bearing OF A Soldier.
Few people without military train
ing have a correct idea of what is
meant by the position and the bear
ing OF a soldier They are apt 20
imagine that It means a strut or an
extremely strained attitude. Or, more
frequently, they think that the term
can properly be applied to any erect
position The truth Of the case, how
ever is that there Is a definite pro
cedure to follow in order to place
Yourself in what IS known In the
army as "the position Of a soldier.
IL is the position which the dis
mounted soldier always assumes a.
the command Attention" except al
Il NAV be slightly modified TO enable
aim to carry properly any arms h'
may have in HIS hands.
Il will be well for you 10 memorlz'
paragraph 81 OF the Infantry Drill
Regulations. which gives the com
plete and accurate description of tn
position of the soldier This para
graph is slightly paraphrased AM
simplifed in the description follow
ing Keep in mind that there are TEL
elements which must be properly ad
justed TO each other. and check your
self up to see that each one Of ther
Is properly placed
Heels-on the same line and a
near each other as possible; mos
men should be able 10 stand wit
heels touching each other.
. Feet-turned out equally an
forming an angle of about As degree
8. Knees-straight without stiff
ness.
4. Hips-level and drawn bac
slightly: body erect and resting eql
ally on hips
s Chest-Lifted and arched.
8 Shoulders-square and fallir
squslly
z. Arms-hanging naturally.
s Hands-hanging naturally thun
ilong the seam Of the trousers.
g Hesd-erect and squarely to u
front: chin drawn in so that axis
head and neck is vertical (meal
that a straight line drawn throul
the center of head and neck shou
be verticaO eyes straight TO q
front
10 Entire body-weight Of bo,
resting equally upon the heels al
balls Of the feet
Note especially that you are n
required 10 stand IN a strained
titude You are 10 be alert but n
tense.
One Of the very best things YOU c
do today Is to spend fifteen minut
practising this position. getting
right Keep this up every day NJ
YOU report at camp. In the army.
in every day life first impressio
are important The first impressi
YOU make on your officers and fello
will depend. more than you probal
realize. on the manner in which
stand and walk
Making Yourself gift"
II YOU can devote nart Of yoJh ti
between now and the opening
camp to physical exercise you
fortunate and should by all mea
take advantage Of every opportuni
Climbing, jumping. gymnastic ex
cises all kinds of competitive gam
swimming. rowing. boxing. wrestli
and running are all recommended
excellent methods of developing
kill. strength. endurance. gra