Middletown transcript., 1917-08-18

pany is the unit with which he will
be permanently identified. He may be
shifted from squad to squad as the
strength of the company varies, but
he will in all probability continue to
be a member of the same company.
Owing to the loose and tentative or
ganization of the Squad-that is, so
far as individual members are con-
cerned-real esprit de corps does not
begin with the squad but with the COM
pany. Even when in camp and men,
bers of the same squad are terminates,
a change in the formation of the COM
panys may occur at any time which
would throw the new soldier into a
different squad.
The company is different. 1t is a
fixed and continuous thing-a going
concern, so to speak. 1t is the new SOL
diers military home, even on the
march; or, to put it another way, it is
his military class in the regiment,
which corresponds to his military col
lege. Toward other regiments he feels
as he would toward a rival college.
The present regiment in the Ameri-
can army consists of Is companies.
These include II infantry companies,
authorized to have 100 men and three
officers at peace strength, and $50 men
and three officers at war strength. The
three additional companies which go
to make up the Is are headquarters,
supply and machine gun companies.
The captain is the commander of the
company. There are two subordinate
commissioned officers-the first and
second lieutenant. These command
platoons, and, as need arises, in order
of rank take command of the COM
pany.
Although the war department is con-
sidering the organization of companies
of $50 men, on the French plan, under
5 the Hay bill the company at peace
strength is constituted as follows: One
captain, one first lieutenant, one sec
ond lieutenant, one first sergeant, one
mess sergeant, one supply sergeant, six
sergeants, II corporals, two cooks,
two buglers, one mechanic, 10 privates
Of the first class, and Sc privateS of the
second class-tOtal, 1O3. For war
strength there are added two ser
geants, six corporals, one cook, one
mechanic, nine privates first class),
and 81 privates (second class)-total,
1853 men and officers.
A company is subdivided into pla-
toons and squads. The number both
of platoons and squads varies accord
ing to whether the company is at
peace or war strength, or even below
the authorized peace strength. Like
! wise, the strength of a squad may vary
in order to extend the framework of
the company, except that no squad
may contain less than six men.
The company, then, is divided into
two, three or four llatoons, each con-
sisting of not less than two nor more
than four squads. In other words, at
full war strength, there would be 16
squads, or 12S men, in the four pla-
! toons. The remainder besides the Off
GERS has assigned positions such as
: guides and file closers.
The sergeants, of whom there may
be IL at war strength, will be found
to be of more Importance in the COM
! pany than the corporal, who has no
! authority except over the men of his
a., immediate squad. Sergeants are not
only in charge Of two squads when so
grouped, but may be placed in COM
mand of a platoon. In a company of
four platoons, two platoons at least
must be commanded by sergeants. The
new soldier will find that the sergeant
is the normal medium between the non
! commissioned man and the officer, and
that sergeants are the supervisors of
all company affairs which relate exclu-
| sively to enlisted men.