The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-09-04
War Departments Lessons For
Men of The National Army

supplies 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 sergeant which can no
be described here. You will gradual.
ly become familiar with them DURING
your army experience.
Commissioned Officers,
Sergeants and corporals are known
as noncommissioned officers, because
they are appointed by their regi-
mental commanding officer. Officers
of higher ranks are known as com.
missioned, since they hold their rank
by virtue Of a commission issued to
them under authority of the Presi-
dent of the United States. The COM
n1issioned officer is thus on quite a
different footing from the "noncom'
(noncommissioned officer.) He OBJ
tains his rank and authority from a
higher source. He is treated with
respect which is Of different char
acter from that extended to a non
commissioned officer. This Is one oi
the fundamental things in army or
ganization.
Lowest in rank among the-com-
missioned officers is second lieuten-
ant, Above him comes the first
lieutenant and above him the cap
tain. These are the three company
officers" The captain is ordinarily
the commanding officer of a COM
pany, while the lieutenants might be
described as assistant captains. In
the absence or disability of the cap
tain, however, the first lieutenant
takes his place and has full COM
mand, and in the absence or dis
ability of both the second lieutenant
takes the 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 commanding officer of
a regiment. The lieutenant colonel
ordinarily assists the colonel and in
his absence takes the command. In
case both the lieutenant colonel and
the colonel are disabled or absent,
the senior major takes the command
The General Officers.
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 of staff of the army. AS such
he supervises all troops and depart
ments of the secretary of war. The
secretary of war in his turn acts un-
der the general direction of the Presi-
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.
II the President chooses to give an
order which in any way affects the
recruit, 1T passes through the secre-
tary of war, chief of staff, major
general, brigadier general, colonel,
major, captain. sergeant, and pos
sibly corporal until the recruit is
reached and the order obeyed.
Ordinarily only the most general
instructions are issued by the high
err officers. The manner in which
these instructions shall be carried
out is left to the judgment of off,
GERS in closer contact with the troops
and with a more intimate knowledge
of the conditions under which they
are working.