Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-11-02

WITH TIE STUDENTS ARMY
TRAINING CORPS AT HOWARD
UNIVERSITY.
Under the sturdy guidance OF the
following stan officers: Lieutcnants:
Russell Smith, Commanding officer;
T.. Pride, Personnel Officer, Acting
QuartermaSter and Canteen Officer;
Campbell G.. Johnson, Senior Instruc-
tor, Military Science and Tactics;
John II. Purnoll, Instructor, Military
Science and Tactics; Ogdon N. Sim
mons, Instructor, Military Science
and Tactics and Supply Officer; Burl
BaSsottc, NJ. c., Post Surgeon; o. E
Davis, ID. c., Post Dental Officer the
Howard University Unit Of the Stu
dents Army Training Corps has met
with remarkable success
At present there are about eight
hundred students enrolled in the
unit. In accordance with an order
from the War Department, the Med
ical students were recently enrolled
AT this enrolment about one hundred
and fifty medical students entered.
will be received into tho unit soon.
Tho unit is divided into two sec
tons; namely, Section A and Section
b. Section A consists of students of
college grade including in it the
medical and law students. In Sec
ton A five hundred or moro students
will DO enrolled. These students
will enter upon Il course Of training
especially designed for them by the
War Department Committee on
Education and Special Training.
The course Of training is so ar
ranged that tho men Of twenty years
of age are to be retained in school
for Il period of ono quarter; those OF
nineteen years OF age, two quarters;
those Of eighteen, three quarters. Tho
purpose of the course Is to train mon
in such Il way as to produce n maxi
mum number of prospective officers
for the United States Army.
Section b consists of selected mon
indicted into the service prior to
October l. These men are being
trained as Radio Operators, Wood
workmcn, Carpenters and Elcctri
clans. These arc high grade branches
Of tho service and tho men selected
were necessarily OF high grade.
The course for radio operators is
designed 10 cover period Of two
months. In that time n student is
required to have gained rapidity OF
sending messages OF twenty words n
minute to become an authorized
radio operator. The men in Section
b are required to drill eleven hours
a week. Students in this section
who show exceptional ability are
recommended to officer training
schools.
The accommodation for students
in the Howard University Unit are
being wisely arranged and adjusted.
1t is the desire of the officers in
charge to make every possible con-
venienco for the men In their unit.
Owing to the large number OF men
enrolled in the unit, the available
buildings at the University did not
contain sufficient rooming space,
therefore, the War Department pro-
vided that new barracks be built.
These barracks were built by car
penters who are members Of the
unit. Three OF these barracks have
been built and are now occupied by
students Of tho unit. The fourth
barrack is now in process OF building
modations for training the men along
lines Of modern warfare are also
being very wisely planned. Evi
dence Of this is seen in the Gallery
Range now in process Of completion.
Bayonet Charge Course is also
being completed. This Bayonet
Charge Course Is we'll mapped out,
Stimulating trench conditions, shell
holes, barb wire entanglements and
every other condition as seen on the
battlcfields Of France.
The progress made by the men is
truly remarkable. AS result Of tho
suspension Of school due to the pre-
valence of the Epidemic, Spanish
Influenza, moro time could be spent
in perfecting the close order drill.
A schedule was prepared by the Of
ficers to consume the time which
would have been otherwise spent in
the classroom. The schedule was so
we'll carried out by the student in
structors that, at present, the Howard
University Unit Of the Students
Army Training Corps would make q
good showing anywhere.
The assistance given by the stu
dent instructors, who finished the
S. A. r.. G.. course held at Howard
University this Summer, in the train
ing of the men is we'll worthy Of
mention. They have been very val
liable assets to the officers Of the
unit, giving every possible help with
in their power. The officers have
shown their appreciation by intrust-
ing them with much responsibility.
Amusement for the men is also
arranged for in the way Of moving
pictures, which are shown every
evening. Football games, basketball
games and other athletic events are
planned. Ceremonies at the camp
are very impressive. A band con-
sisting Of thirty-two pieces, in charge
Of we'll trained and efficient leaders
nrnnilne M IL sic nf on nxnnnt ion n ll1x