Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-11-25

tant General OF the Army 10 puolisned
for the information and guidance OF all
Q ,ncerned:
/. Attention IL invited to the provis-
ion of law which authorizes the appoint
ment of cadets to the United States Mill
tary Academy from among enlisted men
of the National Guard, between the ages
of 10 and % years, who bave served as
enlisted men not less than one year.
The original purpose Of this law was to
encourage enlistments, and 1t is sug.
gested, therefore, that the matter be
brought to the notice of the adjutants
general of the respective States and Ter
ritories, and that they be urged to give 1t
wide publicity, in the hope that interest,
not only In the National Guard, but In
West Point as we'll, may be stimulated.
@ There are forty-eight cadetships at
the Military Academy available for the
admission next June of candidates from
the National Guard, who are to be Sc
lected by the Governors of the several
State from among the successful COM
petitors In preliminary examination to
be held between December and Decem-
ber Is, next. The requirements as to age
and length Of service apply to the date
of admission to the Academy. Prior
service of candidate who enlisted in q
National Guard organization may be
taken into consideration In determining
his eligibility for appointment, including
any subsequent service with the Army of
the United States, regardless Of the
branch to which he may have been as
signed. Similarly, service with new
National Guard organization prior to Its
recognition by the Federal Government
may be considered, the date OF enlist
ment of the soldier and not the date of
the recognition Of the organization, be-
ing the governing date. To be eligible,
however, q man must, at the time of his
designation, be an enlisted man of rec
ognjzsd unit OF the National Guard, Or
under the National Defense Act
Of June 8, 1915, subsequently to the
draft of August 8, 1917. From the fore
going 1t will be seen that it is not now
too late for young man who has bad
sufficient prior service to acquire eligi-
bility under new enlistment.
8. There has never been g. time since
the passage of the law authorizing ap.
from the National Guard
when all the vacancies have been filled,
and every candidate from that source
" ho has qualified and who desired en-
trance to the Academy has been admit
ted. It is not believed probable that all
he vacancies will be filed next June, SO
that any candidate from the National
Guard who qualities may be practically
assured of admission. The educational
and other advantages afforded by West
Point are such that any ambitious youth
" ell might consider seriously the ques-
lion of enlisting In the National Guard
Tor the purpose of competing for an ap-
pointment.
The cadetships referred to In above let
Ter have been allotted for the various
States BY the Adjutant General Of the
Army. In view of the short time avail
,ble for preparation for such preliminary
as may be held by the re-
,pective Governors between December l
md Is, and the final entrance examina-
ion for successful candidates which will
Do held beginning on the third Tuesday
n February, 1920. all officers concerned
ire urged to expedite the selection of
and to take full advantage of
he opportunity offered for stimulating
esprit in individual organizations as we'll
Is interest in the National Guard as q
whole. It is the belief of this Bureau |
hat there is no class of men In this coun. |
ry from which better and more suitable
Material could be selected for cadetships
han the class represented by the younger
,plisted men of the National Guard.
Pamphlets containing information re-
,arding the appointment and admission |
II cadets to the United States Military
cademy and other useful information
elative thereto have been distributed by |
he Adjutant General of the Army to the
,srious Governors and should be obtain |
bile by those interested by applying to
be State AdjutaDt General.
GEORGE Mel. PREssoN,
Adjutant General Of Maine.