Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-18
EVERY MAN IN CAMP LEE
HAS CHANCE TO ADVANCE
Promotions Will BE Made on Sheer
Merit Under System Being
Inaugurated.
RECORDS ARE CAREFULLY KEPT
Recognition May Come Quickly to
Those Who Deserve 1t, While Old
Rule of Seniority No Longer Will
Be Binding.
lrrom a STAFF Correspondents ]

IRON a StaI Correspondent
CAMP LEE. VA. October 17.-Each
man in Camp Lee, both Of the enlisted
and commissioned personnel. who
proves himself TO be of marked value
to the military service, and whose
record points him out as n man of
worth, will stand an excellent oppor-
tunity for quick promotion. The merit
OF every man in the National Army
here. Will be determined, and the right
to advancement thus shown will guide
the commanding general in selecting
men for higher ranks.
Major-Gcneral Cronkhite, command
ing the EiGhtieth Division, after con-
ferenccs with the officers OF his COM
mand, has issued an order to all bril-
Sade and separate unit commanders
to submit to headquarters a list of
the names and rank OF the nifty en-
listed men of each company or bat
terry whom the commanding officer be-
lieves TO be the best all-round men in
the organization. He also ordered that
the names and rank of the fifty en-
listed men OF each company or battery
who were considered TO be the poorest
and least desirable men in the organi-
cation be furnished by the company or
battery commander.
ABLE TO ASCERTAIN
PROGRESS OF MEN
From the reports thus made, which
will be rendered further from time to
time. the commanding general will be
enabled to ascertain just what men are
making satisfactory showing In their
military duties. and which would be
qualified for promotions. a complete
record. the plan of which will go into
an individuals merit SO completely that
his every ability can be determined.
Will be kept of the men. Those who
are thus shown to he possessed of the
requisite qualifications will be put in
line for commissions.
While the initial step in this matter
has been taken relative to the enlisted
men, 1t will also extend to certain ranks
of commissioned officers. going perhaps
as high as major or lieutenant colonel
y detailed record of the service Of
officers already in the army Will be
kept. and their advancement guided
accordingly.
1t would thus be indicated that merit
will govern promotions in the commits
stoned ranks in the future. rather than
seniority Of rank, and that IL second
lieutenant shows capabilities which ut
him for a captaincy. he will be so ad-
vanced. rather than having his promo
tion cocmc in the order OF his num-
her. which method has obtained in the
past. This new manner OF advancing
commis sSioned officers would be a radical
departure from that followed for so
long a time. but it is said to be based
on the idea Of the government to place
a man according to his work and abil-
ity to perform efficient service. in
stead of having an officer assigned to
duties for which nc is i'll fitted, and to
which he was assigned because of tho
order he was In for promotion.
With The enlisted men il shows that
enen of real value in the National Army
will he given every opportunity for
bettcrment. II also explodcs the old
idea that because a man was in the
ranks he was consequently lost sight
OF and became only an atom among
thousands of troops. Under the new
plan. which is being worked out by
General Cronkhite at Camp Lee, and
will obtain in all the cantonments OF
the country. the opportunity Of the
enlisted men for commissioned rank
Is always present. provided he proves
that he has qualifications for such pro-
motion and develops himself accord
ingly.
MAY DECIDE CANDIDATES.
FOR TRAINING CAMPS
1t Is believed that the results Of tho
plan will also guide the officers in Sc
lecting men who will be permitted to
attend the third series OF officers train
Ing camps. one Of which will be To-
Gated at Camp Lee. 1t has been an
nounced by the War Department that
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