The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-11-01
HOME READING COURSE
for CITIZEN SOLDIERS
Issued BY the War Department and All
Rights to Reprint ReSerUe1
GETTING AHEAD IN THE ARMY.

Since regimental and company off,
GERS have full responsibility for the eff
hciency of their teams they are given
corresponding authority in promoting
men from the ranks to positions as
nOncommissioned officers. For all prac-
teal purposes their judgment as to the
men under them is regarded as final.
One point as to which you may feel
assured is the earnest desire of every
officer to give promotion to the men
who are best qualified-in other words,
to select the men who have cultivated
the soldierly qualities and in addition
show capacity for further development
and for leadership. The officers are
fully as much interested in promoting
men On the basis of merit as any of
the men are interested in securing pro-
motion. For the officers own burdens
are lightened and their success is In
creased almost in direct proportion to
their ability to promote the right men.
The first rank above private is cor
poral. The corporal should be real
leader. He Is expected to be more ia
miliar with the various manuals and
regulations and with the duties of the
men in the squad than are the men
themselves. He is expected also to use
his influence strongly toward building
up soldierly qualities among these
men.
Among the qualifications which all
noncommissioned officers should pos
sess the following have been selected
by one military writer as being of the
first Importance:
1. Proficiency as guides in close-order
drills, and particularly as column lead
ers in route marching.
2. Aggressive leadership, especially
In drilling, marching and fighting.
3. Ability to act as instructors.
4. Thorough knowledge Of the ele-
ments of field service.
5. Thorough knowledge of interior
guard duty.
6. Skill in range finding and in esti-
mating distances so as to assist men in
firing accurately.
- L IOllClcuCy III lcouluS pdIIOlS.
s. Ability to prepare written mes
sages that are clear, complete and con-
else.
8. Ability to sketch and read maps.
This list will suggest some of the
lines along which you should work,
whenever you have the chance. Many
of the noncommissioned officers in the
National army will be chosen, not only
because of the knowledge or skill they
already possess, but also because they
show capacity for further development
and for leadership.
This question of winning promotion
all comes back to the question of max
ing yourself a thorough soldier, of
demonstrating that you possess loyal
ty, disciplined obedience, physical fit
ness, intelligence, cleanliness, cheerful
ness, spirit, tenacity and self-reliance
the nine qualities of a soldier. ,
The National army must fit itself for
effective service at the front in the
shortest possible time. To accomplish
this result it must produce out of its
own ranks men who are fitted for pro-
motion first to places as noncommis-
stoned officers, either in the first con-
tingent or more probably in later con-
tingents.
This need is your opportunity. 1t is
an opportunity not merely for personal
advancement-which in time Of war Is
a small thing to work for-but more
than that, an opportunity to render to
your country the most effective service
of which you are capable. Strive to
fit yourself for the duties and RESPONSE
bilities of leadership. Make yourself
count to the utmost in the victorious
defense Of American rights and prin-
ciples which the national army will
devote itself.