The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat., 1917-04-05
HAVE CHANCE TO
BECOME OFFICERS.
Civilians Who Have Never Had
Training May Become Second
Lieutenants in U. S.
Army.
MANY PLACES ARE OPEN
onIv Qualification Necessary 10 That
Of Passing Physical and
Mental Examina-
ton.

The grade of second lieutenant In
the officers reserve corps Of the army
has been thrown open by Secretary
Baker to men without any military
experience whatever, provided they
are physically and mentally aoapteo
to military life. An urgent plea mas
been sent out to men between t"eu-
ty.one and thirty-two years all over
the country to send in appllcat1ons
| for commissions with assurances
that the army will supply after en-
rollment the military training neces-
sary to fit them for duty.
| Under the national defense act, the
corps should be able to furnish ON
GERS for a force of l,0O0,0oo Volun-
teers in war time and also serve as
reservoir from which additional ON
GERS for the regular army could DC
drawn at need. Less than l,ooo men
have been given reserve commissions
in the line, despite the fact that tne
law has been in operation for more
than eight months. Applications are
coming in slowly and army oflcers
arc using every means in their power
to attract young men to this service
as a patriotic duty.
There appears to be no lack or
men desiring to serve in the stan
cc.rps reserve, such as the engineer
corps, the quartermaster's division
and the medical service. Enough
commissions in these corps have been
issued to provide the special arms
for million troops. 1t is fighting
m.n 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 re-
serve is due only to lack of lnforma-
ton as to the requirements. for 1t Is
the fighting lines that are attractive
to Young men in war time.
| Eventually the reserve officers
training corps, composed of units at
universities, schools and colleges,
will provide more than 5000 men
wear, it is estimated. for reserve COM
missions. The first fruits OF this
Ischeme for educating reserve officers,
however, will not come until 1918 and
then not more than 5000 junior Off
GERS can be expected to be turneS
into the reserve. In all probability
lmany of these will be required for
Irregular army commissions, reducing
1.-The reserve strength by that much.
Pass Examination.
| The law prescribes that no man
shall be commissioned in the reserve
without having passed examination:
iThe war department has realized
that lack of previous military expert
sence of any kind is probably pre-
venting young men past their col
Ilege days from making application.
For that reason every effort has been
made to make it known throughout
the country that military experience
lis not required Men will be COM
Imissioned who have never worn
uniform or faced a drill sergeapt
The army will gladly undertake to
finish those who are otherwise suit
liable. with the necessary training after
they have entered the service.
This applies, however, only to the
Grade of second lieutenant. First
lIieutenants, captains and majors must
show previous military experience to
earn their commissions. The heaVy
.l RESPONSIBILITIES for the care OF troops
that goes with such grades necessi-
ltates this restriction.
Applicants fer second lieutenants'
commissions are being assured that
every opportunity will be given them
after enrolment in that grade to ad-
vance themselves to higher rank.
How to Enlist.
The department has appealed to
Young men who care to oner their
services TO apply without delay to
1.-The commander of the military de-
partment in which they live for
necessary papers and Information.
Letters should be addressed to the
Commanding General, Eastern De-
nartment. Governors Island, n. VI:
Central Departm ent, Chicago, ILL.,;
Southern Department, San Antonio,
Texas. or Western Department. San
Francisco. Calf They will receive
nrompt attention and arrangements
made for the examination OF an ap'
nIicant will be made to suit his con.
venience as nearly as possible
To those who receive commissions,
the summer training camps or the
army will be open and they Will re-
caive travel allowance and pay that
will more than Offset any expense 70
which they may be put. Only
simple field uniform is required tor
reserve officers, involving little ex
pense, and the government assumes
this cost also eventually :,
In wartime reserve officers would
he required to report for duty either
In person or by letter, as he ma!
direct. to the commanding general oi
the department in which they reside
, They will be assigned to regular OF
! volunteer regiments, as the occasion
, warrants. and when called out viii
, receive the full pay and allowances
4 i. tkc raQlIlaT GHTNiCG