The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-11
Plan Reserve Force
of Military Officers

People of the State of Connecticut
should be interested in a recent inno-
walton at their state college. This
Innovation is the establishment of a
unit of the Reserve Officers Training
Corps at the Connecticut Agricultural
College, Storrs, Connecticut. This
unit is established under Section 40,
Act of Congress, June 3, 1916.
The primary object of the estab-
lishment of these units of the Re-
serve Officers Training Corps is to
qualify students at civil institutions
for reserve officers, by systematic and
standard methods of training. The
system Of instruction prescribed pre-
sents to these students standardized
measure of that military training
which is necessary in order to pre-
pare them to perform intelligently the
duties of commissioned officers in the
military forces of the United States.
l. enables them to be thus trained
with the least practicable interference
with their civil careers.
1T is hoped that every educational
institution will endeavor to establish
and maintain a unitN of the Reserve
Officers Training Corps in order that
in time of national emergency there
may be sufficient number of educat-
ed men trained in military science and
tactics to officer and lead intelligently
the units of the large armies upon
which the safety of the country will
depend. I think Connecticut should
be proud to be among the first to- do
so.
In order for unit to be established
at an institution the authorities must
agree to maintain a compulsory course
in military training of three hours a
week for its Freshmen and Sopho-
mores and to arrange it's curriculum
so that those Juniors and Seniors who
elect to take an advanced course of
five hours a week may do SO.
A young man now entering this in
stitution, if a, citizen of the United
States and physically fit, becomes a
member of the Deserve officers Train
ng Corps.s He is furnished with a
rifle and unifo1 IN and necessary equip
ment. For two years he devotes three
hours week to his military training
and follows prescribed course. On
the completion of these two years,
if he SO elects and is recommended by
the president of the institution and
the professor of Military Science and
Tactics, he is allowed to sign, an agree
ment to devote five hours a week to
an advanced course in Military Train
ing for the two remaining years Of his
college course, and to pursue such
camp training as shall be prescribed
by the Secretary of War. Those who
take this course will be paid a sum
estimated to be about $500 a month.
The summer camp training as at pres
ent contemplated will consist Of two
camp periods Of four weeks each. All
the students expenses, including
transportation and subsistence, will be
paid.
After graduating a man is eligible
for appointment by the President of
the United States, for additional mill
tary training, as an additional End
lieutenant for period of six months
with pay of 800 a month, and for
assignment to an organization of the
regular army for instruction. A grad
uate is also eligible for a commission
in the Officers Reserve Corps, and it
is hoped that all who graduate will
avail themselves of it as a patriotic
duty.
CHARLES B. ANfORY, JR.
Captain of T. S. Cavalry,
Prof. of Military Science and Tactics,
Conn. Agricultural College.