East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1917-08-28
HOME READING COURSE
FOR CITIZEN SOLDIERS

company in ranks, transmits orders
from the company commander. and
performs many other important tasks
The supply sergeant sees to bringing
up supplies Of all kinds to the com
paRy. The mess sergeant looks after
food. The stable sergeant is RESPONSE
BILE 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 not be de-
I scribed here. You will gradually be-
come familiar with them during your
army experience.
Commissioned Officers
Sergeants and corpOrals are known
as noncommissioned officers, because
| they are appointed by their regimen
tai commanding officer Officers Of
higher rank are known as commits
stoned, since they hold their rank by
virtue of a commission issued to them
under authority Of the President of
the United States The commissions
ed officer is thus on quite differ
ent footing from the "noncom" mon |
commissioned officer). He obtains !
his rank and authority from a higher |
source. He is treated with respect |
which is of a different character from |
that extended to a noncommissioned |
officer. This is one of the fundamen-
tai things in Army organization
Lowest in rank among the commits
stoned officers is the second lieuten-
ant. Above him comes the first lieu
tenant and above him the captain |
These are the three COMPANY Off
GERS" The captain is ordinarily the
commanding officer of a company.
while the lieutcnants might be de-
scribed as assistant captains. In the
absence or disability Of the captain.
however. the first Lieutenant takes his
plac" and has fun command. and in
the absence or disability of both the
second lieutenant takes the command /
Next above the captain is the ma
ior, whose proper command is Il bat
aliDn. \ step higher is the lieutenant
colonel and above him the colonel the |
officer of regiment
The lieutenant colonel ordinarily as
lists the colonel and in his absence
axes the command. In case both the
lieutenant colonel and the colonel are
disabled or absent. the senior major
akes the command
The General Officers.
Above the colonel is the briga der
''NtlHI' W must proper command Is q ,
rigade. Above the briGadier Eener-
! is the major general, the highest
ank at present held by any officer
T the American Army.
one general. however serves as
'hief Of staff Of the Army. As such
e supervises all troops and depart
1ents of the military service. He in
urn reports TO the Secretary Of War
he Secretary Of War in his turn acts
ndor the general direction Of the
resident of the United States. who
the Commander in Chief.
Tho chain Of authority reaches in
n unhroken line all the way from the
resident to the newest recruit. If
IL President chooses to give an or
rr which in any way affects the re-
'uit. it passes through the Secretary
War. chief of Staff, major general
-igadier general, colonel major. cap
in. sergeant. and possibly corporal
ltii the recruit is reached and the =
der obeyed.
Ordinarily only the most general ~
are issued by the higher -
ficers. The manner in which these oe
structions shall he carried out is left an
the Judgment of officers in closer
intact with the troops and with tri
ore intimate knowledge of the con- vi
ions under which they are work Oh