The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-02-06
"ATTENTION"

That word calls to mind the straight
lines of khaki clad men, bodies and
minds perfectly trained, under per-
feet control. 1t is not merely phys
ical training, and these are no more
machines of war. Uncle Sans SOL
djers are as different from the brutes
of war who moved at the behest of
the kaiser, as day is from night. You
have only to look into the individual
faces at attention to see that. They
are thinking, resourceful men and
have put aside none of the highest
attributes of manhood in donning the
uniform. They have been trained to
think quickly and accurately as we'll
as to act quickly and accurately.
Whatever the next order. whatever
the emergency they are ready.
Attention.: Is this training of no
value in civil life? Ask any employer,
who has worried along with slouchy,
inattentive, incompetent help. Ask
the ex-service man, who has carried
into civil life, into his business, or to
his farm. the same faculties of atten-
tion and concentration on the busi-
ness in hand that he had developed in
the army Concentration on the bus
mess in hand is one of the things
needed in the world today. There is
entirely too much shifting, shuffling,
dallying and arguing in the ranks of
both capital and labor. The first duty
of a soldier is to obey, and he learns
it perfectly. Then, and then only, is
he able to give orders and exact
obedience.
The army is no place for idlers.
Before the recent war, there were
many i'll informed who rallied at the
regular army and maintained that it
was a useless. parasitic institution;
that it withdrew men from productive
work, and maintained them in idle
ness at the expense of the public well
fare. We have learned that an army
is necessary and we on the outside,
are now learning that even in times
of peace, it is not parasitic lnstitu-
tion, but an essential factor in our
nation's life, development and pros
perity.
The last grounds for criticism
against the army have been removed
by the establishment of various
schools for enlisted men. In these
schools, the foreign born may learn
the English language; the boy who
has had little opportunity for school
ing, may make good his defects; and
those who are anxious to learn may
obtain a thorough course in any of
number of different lines of industrial
ana technical training. There are
courses offered in electricity, me-
chanics and engineering. There are
courses in photography, lithograph-
ing and radio work. There are courses
in gas engine construction and repair.
| In fact, the courses cover such a wide
| field that they can be duplicated by
! few of our schools of technology. They
are practical as we'll as theoretical,
ard when the period of enlistment is
over, the service man is ready to fill a
useful place in civil life and to COM
mand a good salary. All the time a
man is learning and fitting himself
for future work, he is paid a salary,
and receives quarters, food, clothing
and medical attention free. The
United States is now offering free
scholarship in the army to young men
O. eighteen and over.
Three years of military training,
with the added vocational and tech
nical courses. gives the average
young man every bit as good start
in life as three years of college. Too
many come out of college entirely un-
| prepared for life. They have studied
just enough to pass the examinations;
they have acquired vast assortment
OF facts and theories, imperfectly as
simulated, and of no particular value
to themselves or anybody else. When
| they come to offer themselves for a
position, they find their equipment
has a rather low market value. Dur
ing their college courses, whatever
! they have accomplished, they have
not Jas rule, acquired such physical
and mental training as to enable them
to think clearly and quickly. and act
efficiently and promptly. This partic-
ular training the army gives.
We must have an army, and no sys-
tenn of compulsory military service