The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-17
INEXPERIENCED
TO Get CHANCE
AT oFFICERSHIP
Reserve Corps Thrown Open
BY Secretary Baker to
Civilian Recruits

Washington, March 1.-THE grade
of second lieutenant in the Officers
Reserve Corps of the army has been
thrown open by Secretary Baker to
mon without any military experience
whatever, provided they pre- physically
and mentally adapted to military life.
IAN urgent plea has been sent out to
men between p and 80 years all over
the country to send in applications for
commissions with assurances that the
army will supply after enrolment the
military training necessary to tit them
for duty.
Under the National Defense Act, the
corps should be able to furnish officers
for force of 1000, 600 volunteers in
war time and also serve as a reservoir
from which additional officers for the
regular army could be drawn at need
Less than 1000 men have been given
reserve commissions in the line, de-
spite the fact that the law has been
in operation for more than eight
months. Applications are coming in
slowly and army officers are using ev-
cry means in their power to attract
young men to this service as a pa
triotic duty.
There appears to be no lack of men
desiring to serve In the staff corps re-
serve, such as engineer corps, the
quartermasters division and the medi-
cal service Enough commissions in
these corps have been issued to pro-
vide the special arms for a million
troops. Tt is fighting men 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 reserve is due only to lack
of information as to the requirements,
for it is the fighting lines that are at
tractive to young men in wartime
Eventually the Reserve Officers
Training Corps, composed Of units at
universities. schools and colleges. will
provide more than 5000 men a year,
1T Is estimated. for reserve commits
sions. The first fruits of this scheme
for educating reserve officers, how
ever, will not come until 1918 and then
not more than 5000 Junior officers
can be expected to be turned into the
reserve. In all probability many OF
these will be required for regular ar
my commissions. reducing the reserve
strength by that much.
The law prescribes that no man
shall be commissioned in the reserve
without having passed examination
The war department has realized that
lack OF previous military experience
of any kind is probably preventing
young men past their college days
from making application. For that
reason every effort has been made to
make 1t known throughout the coun-
try that military experience is not re-
quired. Men will be commissioned
who have never worn Uniform or
faced a drill sergeant. The army will
gladly undertake to furnish those who
are otherwise suitable with the neces-
sary professional training after they
have entered the service.
This applies. however. only to the
grade Of second lietenant. First lieu
tenants. captains and majors must
show previous military experience to
earn their commissf ons The heavy
RESPONSE bilities or the care Of troops
that goes with such grades necessi-
tates this restriction.
Applicants for second 1ieutenants
commissions are being assured that
every opportunity, will be given them
after enrolment in that grade to ad-
vance themselves to higher rank.
Ths department has appealed to
yoonS Ificn WnQ CdTS 70 OIIGf tnG1f
services to apply without delay to the
commissi Of the military depart
ment in which they live for necessary
papers and information. Letters
should be addressed to The Command
ing General Eastern Department, Gov
ernors Island, N. Y, Central Depart
ment, ChicageA ILL.,, Southern Depart
aent, San Antonio, Texas OF Western
Department, San Francisco, Cal. They
will receive prompt attention and ar
rangements for the examination Of an
applicant will be made to suit his con-
yenience as nearly as possible,
To those who receive commissions
the summer training. camps of the
army will be open and they will re-
ceive travel alloH ances and pay that
will more than offset any expense to
which they may he put, Only a simple
field uniform is required fef reserve
officers, involving little expense, and
the government assures this cost also
eventually:
In wartime reserve officers would
be required to report for duty either
in peTsos7 or by letter, as i1e may di-
rect, TO the comma ndihg general of
the department in which they reside.
They Will be assigned to regular or
yeiunteeF regiments as the occasion
WarraRte, and when called out will re-
ceive the full pay and allowances of
l. B. H.