Evening star., 1919-03-02

fact specialists in almost every field
of vocational occupation They found
the staff Corps $4,000 We're occupa-
tional specialists. and of every 40See0
men of an infantry division 10000
must be occupational specialists.
In order to find men for the many
vocational jobs in the Army person.
mel officers
Army Proves School for made up
| Vocational Training. men and Of
ficers showing the special qualifica-
| tions they possessed. as far as it was
possible to ascertain them from care
full examination of the men and their
records. They also classified the jobs
in the units. For instance. they knew
that for the chemical service GER
tain number of chemists must be had;
that in a division there must be so
many chauffeurs. so many saddlers
and SO on.
Concededly this division, which was
undertaking a great work, had not in
the comparatively short period of it's
as it would If preparation for the
emergency had begun in good season;
but it did take a long step in tho
right direction The one great fact,
however that it developed is that
the Army needs men of the best
qualifications and that good soldier
ing is not confined to the manual OF
arms. The fact stands out in promi-
nence that the Army itself is a great
machine that requires trained men TO
operate
But the greatest fact of all is that
the Army is a possible school for the
vocational or occupationai education
of the young men who are compelled
to take their training there. When,
after discharge from the service. men,
who are going back to civil life take
account of stock to see what they
have gained or lost in business way
from their connection with the Army
many will find that the Army has
started them in a direction toward
success which otherwise they would
not have attained. Through their
compulsory course in a vocation
which experts had found they were.
fitted by nature to take they have de-
yeloped qualities that they never be-
fore supposed that they possessed.
In a course of training where the
instructors are qualified by special
fitness and by experience; where they
are selected at leisure instead of up-
der pressure; where ample preparation
can be made for safeguarding the
health of the men, the gain win be
magnified. With health and training
there will be in the coming genera
tions race OF young men qualified
not only to fight for the nation, if
national agreements do not ender
wars archaic. but to think for the ma
tion in ways that will go farther than
agreements to prevent wars.
The Senate military committee has
reported the Army appropriation bill
with but few amendments. With one
exception the amendments do not ss-
riously affect the National Guard, but
that exception may fall heavily; for is
strikes out the appropriation OF
sl.ss2 0o0 for the purchase of horses
for mounted units. Another amend
ment strikes out from the bill the ap-
preparation Tor ordnance for the hoins
guard organizations, but this only
gave $25, zee for the purpose. Another
will permit state adJutants general to
examine and make transcripts of the
records of the men of their states who
were drafted or who enlisted in the
United States armies.
The bills proposed by Senator Calder
as amendments to the national defenBs
act were.
Provisions by Congress a
for the National Guard. moaiaos.
tions, accepted by the War Depart-
ment, and have been incorporated as
Senate amendments in the Army ap-
bill. They provide that
all persons who have served as enlist
ed men in the United States Army
since April s, 1917, and been honoraeiy
may within six months
from discharge or, If already dis
charged, within six months from the
passage of this bill enlist in the Ma"
tfonal Guard for the period of ens
wear. and at the end of that time may
r.-enIist under ihe terms to be pre-
scribed by the President instead OF
for the present period of seven years
The Calder provisions will amend
section IA of the national defense acs
prescribing the qualifications of ONE
GERS of the guard.
They will not be recognized by the
federal government unless from one
of the following classes: Offieers and
enlisted men of the guard, ofhcers IN
the reserve or in the unassigned lisr
of the guard. active and retired of1-
GERS of the Army, Navy or Marins
Corps, former enlisted men who
served in the Army. Navy or Marine
Corps subsequent to April s. 1917; Of
fcers who have served in the state
forces during the war. graduates OF
the Army and the military academies,
graduates of colleges where military
instruction is given under Regular
Army officers. and for technical and
staff positions such civilians as ma1
be especially qualified for duty there
in They also amend section IS BY
providing that former officers OF tbs
United States Army may be appoints
ed to the same or lower grades in the
guard without examination AZ e theH
professional atness u appetated With
in six months.