The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-06-16
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORM ALTON
BURE AU
FREDERIC J. HAaKIN. Director.
washinetaa. D. c
our NEW ARMY RESERVE.
washinsta. D. c

washington, D. c., June 9.-The
first American citizen reserve officers,
educated in the Reserve Officers
Training Corps, will be commissioned
this summer.
This event will mark the beginning
of a citizen army for this country,
which will make a sarge standing
army unnecessary, and VIII also
make it impossible for an emergency
again to find the United States with
out an adequate supply of men with
military training.
There are now nearly a hundred
thousand young men in the X. o. l.
c. units at leading colleges and uni
versities At six of the principal can
! tonments some of them will gather
this summer for a course OF six weeks
intensive military training, with spe-
cial attention to craftsmanship.
This Reserve Officers Training
Corps seems to be confused in the
minds of most persons with various
temporary war organizations. AS
matter of fact, it is permanent sys-
tenn for the training of American citi-
zens as army officers in order 10 FORM
reserve that can be called out IN
emergency. 1t was created by the
National Defense Act of 1915. During
the war it was temporarily suspended
by the Reserve Officers training
Camps, which were designed to pro-
duce trained officers in short time.
Now that the emergency Is past ~
war department is returning to the
r. o. T. c., as one of its most impor-
tant peacetime projects.
The committee on education and
special training of the general starr is
charged with the conduct of the r. o.
r G. The work of this committee is
already beginning to show results as
the reports from the various Il. .. L.
c. units thruout the country at the
beginning of the present month show
ed a total enrolment of $3.50 stu
dents in 321 educational institutions,
as compared with 36,243 students In
116 institutions year ago. This total
is expected to increase rapidly as
large number of schools have fded
applications for units, which have not
yet been approved.
The r. o. T. C. is designed to give
Young men, who desire to become re-
serve officers, a four years course OF
military training in connection with
their regular school work 1t is plan
of military training which does not
interfere with the preparation OF
young men for civil life. An institu-
ton, to secure a unit, must agree to
maintain not less than 100 physically
fit students of not less than IA years
of age.
and junior divisions. The senior units
are established at institutions which
require a four year course for a de-
gree, and at a few essentially military
| schools. Junior units are maintained
at secondary schools and high schools
! The course of training in senior units
| is divided into the basic and ad-
vanced courses, each of two years
| duration. Students sign up for~the
| four years, and completion OF the mil
itary course is made prerequisite to
graduation in their academic work.
l to- hot
| students fulfill the conditions agreed
| to on becoming members of the r. o.
T. c. would result in the withdrawal
| of the unit from the school.
A student who has successfully
completed the basic course and has
been recommended for the advanced
| course, sgns an agreement with the
| government to complete the advanced
i course, and attend such summer
| training camps of approximately SIX
| weeks duration as the secretary OF
war may prescribe. In return for his
services, the student is given COM
| mutation of rations by the govern
ment. all the year round. with the ex-
| ception of the time he might be called
| upon to spend in camp. when his food
| is furnished him. At the present time
Communication of rations amounts to
about 40 cents a day. This payment
has proved helpful to young men
| WORKING their way COAICSC-
| The student also agrees to accept a
reserve commission if he is found
Qualified at the end of four years, and
| serve as reserve officer for ten years
unless sooner discharged.
| Junior units esta blfshed at second
airy schools and high schools give the
| student a sound military training,
altho graduates of junior units do not
automatically become reserve officers.
| The four years junior course is con-
| sidered substantially the equivalent OF
| the two years basic course in the
senior units. so that a student who
has had four years in the r. o. T. c
in high school can, if found qualified
| enter the advanced course when ne
goes to college. Then he would he
able to qualify for a commission In
| two years.
This summer six r. o. T c. camps
of six weeks duration will be held
at the following environments: Camp
Devens, Mass: Camp Lee, Va: Camp
| Zachary Taylor, KY; Camp Funston
! Kan; Camp Custer, Mich; and Pre-
sidio, Calf. These camps will be held
from June 81 to August 2. All ex-
penses of the students will be paid by
the government while at camp.
Students attending these ca mps will
be given intensive practical military
training and will live the life of sol.
dierS during the period. All students
who have signed the contract for the
advanced course at the various col
leges are required to attend the camp
this year. with the exception of those
who, during the war, were at regular
training camps, where practically the
same instruction was given. Member.
of Junior units under certain restrfc
tions as to age and qualifications arr
permitted to attend.
The promotion of rifle practice l.
encouraged in every possible way In
the r. o. T. c. This year, the rule:
of the National Rifle Matches. which
are to be held on the navy. rifle range
at Caldwell, N. J., provide for tht
participation of one team from eacf
of the r. o. T. c. training camps
These teams will be selected by com
J petition, and the students fortunat,
enough to secure places on the team!
will be given a trip to the rifle classic
of the year at government expense. 1
is believed that this event will great.
| Fs,-fr,