Evening journal., 1918-08-14
HOW THE RECRUIT
BECOMES SOLDIER
Process Through Which
Candidate for Military
Fame Goes
CALL "ATTENTION"
AFTER TWO HOURS
The American Army Gazette says:

The American Army Gazette says:
On arrival OF the trains bringing
the draftees they are stopped at
crossing near the receiving station. A
detail OF sergeants is on hand.
Fall out" Is the first army order
the new men hear. and as IL flts In well
with their civilian experience they fall
out Of the train and line up. The re-
cruits are then assembled by the ser
geants into draft board lots or county
lots. according TO whether they are
from cities or country communities.
Each man carries his baggage and
sll are made TO stand in line They are
then marched 10 barracks, where they
are served hot coffee and sandwiches.
No. in line finds himself before the
register desk His local board papers
are on hand, his name IS verified and
entered in a loose leaf register. on
the register Is a column for his name
the number OF the papers accompany
ing him. the information they contain,
II any papers are missing, the date OF
his induction into service and the final
disposition or the organization 10 which
he finally is sent from Camp Funston.
At the same desk a typist makes out
a data card, which is handed to the
recruit and when ne carries on his trip
through the receiving station.
The card has space for his full name,
race. local board location, serial draft
number. order number, army serial
number, the date ne reported at Camp
Funston and the date OF his induction.
The recruit Is asked TO verify the
spelling OF his name before he leaves
the desk.
This card subsequently Is initislled
by each man who examines him and
at the conclusion OF his induction into
the services a glance will tell II II is
properly 1lled In and that there is no
duplication Of records.
He next passes an ofllcer who takes
possession OF and checks hi valu5bles,
money, iewelry, &c. and these are
placed In sn envelope. This property
IS returned TO him upon completion OF
the tour OF the station.
Next comes the express and parcel
post desk. The recruit is divcsted OF
his civilian clothes and Is left In his
Father Adam costume. shipping tag,
receipt for the clothes and card in
hsnd, he goes 70 tables provided for
wrapping and there surrenders his
clothes. lie gives instructions for
sending them homo or otherwise FOR
their disposition, and gives the ship
ping tags 10 enlisted men detailed 70
do the wrapping.
Here he Is issued a barrack bag con-
talnlng such articles OF clothing, equip
ago and ordnance supplies as ere Of
standard size and do not require spe-
cial measurements.
His name and serial number are
written on a tag which Is tied 10 the
bag. snd bag on shoulder and card
sur graspcd in his hand, he enters the
runway 20 the latrinc.
Arrived there no Is met by a guide
who takes charge OF the bag and card.
A cake OF soap and a towel are handed
him and he IS told 20 bathe. Ablu-
lions performed, ne again takes pos
session OF the bag and card and, still
nude. continues his journey through
chute 70 the medical departments.
lie again surrenders the bag. which
ls checked. \ line Of doctors stands
waiting him. Heart. lungs. orthogedic.
venereal, ur0-psychiatric and tuber-
culosis specialists have their Offices
here.
Tho recruit has his chest thumped,
his heart examined. must walk, jump
and go through PAGES. and finally
must stand mental tests before his
medical examination Is completed. II
the preliminary tests do not show aim
sound 10 the core he Is sent to which
ever one OF the specialists his case
seems 10 demand.
At the conclusion OF the medical
tests he flies by the brigade surgeon,
who examines tho records In his case
and accepts or rejects the man, sub
iect 10 the final action BY the camgp
commander. II rejected ho IS dis
charged from the draft, his chothes are
returned and he Is sent home within
twenty-four hours OF his arrival al
camp.
on completion OF these tests his bar
racks bag Is returned TO him and he
continues blithely on his way. His
next stop Is the clothing room. which
IS arranged with long aislcs and count
crs. Being nude his first garments are
suit OF underwear, with two extra
20 put into his bag. Socks, olive draD
shirts, gloves, etc. are given him, and
after QUILTING himself the surplus
goes into the bag.
Into another room he goes, where
brooches, coat, hat, legglngs and over
coat are issued to him and tried on.
BY this time the barrack bag con-
tslns approximately the required
weight for fho scientific fitting OF shoes,
rs required by a War Department or
der. The recruit. bag on shoulder
steps up on a 16 inch platform and the
weight OF the bag flattens his feet so
that the expert Can flt him. Russet
shoes and marching shoes are given
him. and the latter 90 into the bag.
His issue OF clothing now complete
and signed for by the recruit and sup
ply officer nc passed TO the record room.
Clerks make out his service record,
which Is TO follow him through all the
Journeys TO come. His enlistement rec
ord Is completed and his allotment OF
part pay TO some OF the folks at home
Is mado out.
An army serial number. to stick to
him in the future, though thick and
thin. Is givdn him and stamped upon