Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1920-02-10
War Department a Trustee, Gen.
March.

This article il written moi only for
the young men themselves but also
Tor the parents ana guardians as
we'll
When Il boy reaches the age OF
eighteen years, the whole world lies
before him. The question arises for
each youth, What can | do nov to
develop my powers, 10 accomplish the
most and attain the best Of which |
am capablc|
This question Is vital and of deep
to the boy himself
The peace time democratic army
is made up largely of young men who
enlist in the army when they are
from eighteen to twenty-one years
OF age. For a young man of charac-
ter who Is ambitious to improve and
develop himself an enlistment per
iod in the army at this stage of life
offers splendid opportunity This
opportunity, while most important
from a material standpoint. is not to
be measured in terms OF dollars and
cents alone.
In the development of character. in
the attainment Of ideals of service.
an enlistment in the United States
army, coming at approximately the
time when many parents can no long
ar afford to send their sons to school,
il is the turning point for good in Il
young mans life.
In enlisting these boys the war de-
partment is responsible to the Dar-
ents and to the country that the per-
iOd, whether for one or three years,
spent IN the army is a period Of firm
but Justly administered discipline, Of
development, and OF improvement
physically, mentally and morally
The point | wish to emphasize es-
pecially is that serious minded and
conscientious mothers and fathers can
entrust their boys to the war de-
partment, with the feeling that it is
keenly interested in developing these
boys to IA clean and useful manhood,
and returning them to their home
communities at the end OF their en-
listment period, honorable and use
full citizens. inspired with ideals of
service, and competent to earn a good
living for themselves because OF their
army training.
The army is closed to youths of
other than good moral character, as
the war department does not intend
that the army shall be used as
school for reforming boys of vicious
tendencies ~
The war department has other plans
than merely getting its work done.
The time has passed when the army
was merely concerned with training
its recruits to become efficient sol.
diers. 1t intends also to give them
training which will be valuable as
set to them on their return to civil
life.
There exists, in the army today real
opportunity for vocational training
along the various trade lines. and also
opportunity for general education.
both elementary and advanced. When
recruit first enlists, every effort is
made to induce him to take advan-
tage Voluntarily Of the trade and ed.
Vocational opportunities.
Inc recruit Is urged 10 attend
classes is such trades as motor me-
chanics, carpentry, blacksmithing.
plumbing, etc, and to improve his ed
ucation by instruction in spelling,
grammar. history, mathematics and
the like
The war department does not de-
sire to exaggerate the really fine op.
portunities that it does offer to every
man who joins the army, by allow
ing it to be understood that all of
soldiers time is to be spent in ed
ucational or trade schools, or that
the recruit who enlists for only one
year can learn everything in one
year time, since part of such time
must be spent in military instruction
and III the performance of military
duties.