Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1918-01-23
ARMY VOCATIONAL SYSTEM

Now that America is going to have one
of the largest armies and rank among the
greatest powers of the world, we should
learn from that great lesson, commonly
known as experience and not make the
mistake which our Allies made, upon en-
tering this, the worlds greatest war.
Our Allies have, but not until too late,
realized their great error in placing rifles
in the hands OF skilled artisans The
army consists of the following great de-
partments which can properly be termed
The brains of the army"
First, the Generals staff; then the In
spe3tOr Generals Department. which con,
ducts and supervises the inspecting of all
materials men and government property
in general. The next is the Judge Advo-
cate Generals Department, which con-
ducts the legal affairs of the army. The
Quartermaster's Corps which is the pur-
chasing department, purchases clothing,
etc; the Medical Corps; the Ordnance
Corps. which furnishes the army with it's
real punch munitions. Corps OF En-
gneers and Signal Corps, sometimes
called the "eYcs and ears of the army"
These departments are in constant need
Of good alert men; they must have excep-
tionally good training before entering
these departments. If a man has been
skilled artisan in civil or professional
life, let him retain his distinction In the
army. lie is of more value to his coun-
try than he would be in a trench. For in
stance, taking what foreign officers
have detailed in their reports as the aver
age length of life in the trenches. it would
take a comparatively short time to kill
off large numbers of our skilled mem
While they are in the trenches they have
no producing effect and as one can read
lily sec, little more than moral effect upon
the enemy The Hun, conducting this
war upon lines of science, found in the
beginning the absolute need of system
attic classification. This must be the ul-
innate means Of ending this great con-
hict, so if Eventually, why not now"
In looking forward to the universal adop-
ton CT this system, it must be remem-
bered that sonrething already has been
done in this line in the selective draft
system. However, the National Guard,
numbering about 400. 900, has seen but lit
tie of this selection. The National
Guard. which mp to the present has been
viewed with much adverse criticism, is, IN
this time of stress, looked upon as the
right hand of the army. 1t must be re-
membered that the National Guard men.
until their border service in 1916, received
no compensation other than about $l2 pay
for their annually weekly camp, which
was their practical instruction period.
Gaping the yearly indoor instruction
drills. held twice weekly. in their arm
cries.
One thing which is laudlble is that the
old rule Of seniority" which came into
favor both politically and socially, has
been removed. so that the right man
should now be fitted to each position.
There is arising at this time great need
for an expert Pharmaceutical Corps, to
consist OF graduate druggists and chem
lists with their assistants.
The rank and file of the National Guard
today consists of men from all walks OF
life often including doctors, lawyers and
other professional men. skilled artisans
such cas- automobile mechanics, electrical
workers of all descriptions, etc. Where
can be found better field for proper
selectiOn2 -
FRANCIS T. CONWAY
Battery 2, 108th f. A.