The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-16
I'D LIEUTENANT
GRADE is OPEN
To Men Without Military Experience If
They are Physically and Mentally
Adapted to Military Life.

lHcy are FHy siCdHy ana Mentally
Adapted to Military Life.
Washington, d. c., March l6.-Tht
grade of second lieutenant in the officers
reserve corps of the army has beer
thrown open by Secretary Baker to mer
without any military experience what
ever, provided they are physically anc
mentally adapted to military life. Ar
urgent plea has been sent out to mer
between 81 and 80 years all over the
country to send in applications for com
missions with assurances that the army
win supply after enrolment the mill
tary training necessary to fit them for
duty.
Under the national defense act, the
corps should be able to furnish officers
fer force of 100000 volunteers in war
time and also serve as reservoir from
which additional officers for the regular
army could be drawn at need, Less than
900 men have been given reserve com.
missions in the line. despite the fact
that the law has been in operation for
more than eight months. Applications
are coming in slowly and army officers
are using every means in their power to
attract young men to this service as d
patriotic duty.
There appears to be no lack of men de-
string to serve in the staff corps reserve,
such as the engineer corps, the quarter
master division and the medical service.
Enough commissions in these corps have
been issued to provide the special arms
for a million troops. 1t is fighting men
who are lacking, line officers who may
look for service at the front in time
of war. Army officers believe the failure
to fill up this reserve is due only to lack
of information as to the requirements,
for il is the fighting lines that are at
trsctive to young men in wartime.
Eventually the reserve officers train
ing corps, composed of units at universe
ties, schools and colleges, will provide
more than 5000 men a year, it is estl-
mated, for reserve commissions. The first
fruits of this scheme for educating re-
serve officers, however, viii not come I'M
til 1918 and then not more than 5000
junior officers can be expected to be
turned into the reserve. In all probable
ity many of these will be required for
regular army commissions, reducing the
reserve strength by that much.
The law prescribes that no man shall
be commissioned in the reserve without
having passed examination. The war
has realized that lack of pre-
yious military experience of any kind
is probably preventing young men past
their college days from making applica-
ton For that reason every effort has
been made to make it known throughout
the country that military experience is
not required. Men will be commissioned
who have never worn a uniform or faced
A drill sergeant. The army will gladly
to furnish those who are 9TH |
erwise suitable with the necessary pro-
training after they have en-
tered the service.
This applies, however, only to the |
yrade of second lieutenant. First lieu |
tenants, captains and majors must show |
previous military experience to earn
their commissions. The heavy response
bilities for the care of troops that goes
with such grades necessitstcs this re-
'trietion.
Applicants for second lieutensnts COM
missions are being assured that every
opportunity will be given them after en-
'ollment in that grade to advance them
elves TO higher rank.
The department has appealed to young
men who care to offer their service to
lpply without delay to the commander
Il the military department in which
hey live for necessary papers and infor-
nation. Letters should be addressed to
he commanding general, eastern depart
nent, Governors Island. y. Y, central
department.. Chicago, Ill, southern de-
'artment, San Antonio. Tex, and west
IN department, San Francisco, Cal. They
yill receive prompt attention and ar
angements for the. examination Of an
,pplicant will be made TO suit his con-
enience as nearly as possible.
To those who receive commissions, the
uInmer training camps of the army will /:
g open and thew will receive travel al
Dwancc and pay that viii more than
ffset any expense TO which they nav
c put. Only q simple field uniform Is
equired for reserve officers, involving I
title expense. and the government as
umcs this cost also eventually.
In wartime reserve officers would Be !
equired to report for duty either in per- ,
ON or by letter, as he may direct, TO the 1
general Of the department.
4 which they reside. They viii be as I
.gned 20 regular or volunteer regiments J
: the occasion warrants. and when
allied out win receive the fun pew and ,
iiowsnoe Of their grade in the regular
rryice-