The Coconino sun., 1920-07-02
NATIONAL GUARDSMEN ELIGIBLE TO WEST POINT

The following is quoted from let ter from the war department to Ad- jutant General w. s. Ingalls,:
 1-The regulations for the selection of enlisted men of the national guard for appointment to the United States military academy provide that the can didates will be apportioned among the states, territories and the District of | Columbia according to the enlisted strength, and in the cases of candlr dates from the states and'territories, will be selected by the respective gov ernors thereof from successful compet- itors in q preliminary examination of scope and nature similar'to the reg ular army examination for entrance to the military academy, to be instituted and conducted by those officials, and to be held between December 1 and De- cember 1h of each year.
 2.-This matter is being brought to your attention at this time so that you may be able, thus early to place before the young men of your state the splen- did opportunity offered them. Infor- nation as to the vacancies for the ad- mission in 1921 of candidates from the national guards will not be available until about the middle of July, next, but the number will be large enough to make the competition welt worth serious consideration of any ambitious young man who desires military ca reer. There has never been a time since the passage of the law anthoriz- ing appointments from the national guard when all the vacancies have been filled, and every candidate from that source who has qualified and who desired entrance to the academy has been admitted. Although the depart ment cannot guarantee that this will be the case in the future, it is not be- | lieved probable that all the vacancies will be filled next year, SO that any national guard candidate who qualities may feel practically assured of admis- sion. Definite information as to the number of candidates to be selected by you, with the necessary nomination blanks, will be sent to you as soon as the number of vacancies shall have been ascertained. Please do not for ward any nomination until specifically requested by this office so to do.
 3-To be eligible for appointment from the national guard an applicant must be an enlisted man of recog-
 nized unit. The previous service of a
 man enlisted in the national guard
 may be taken into consideration in de
 termining his eligibility for appoint
 ment to the military academy, includ- ing any susequent service with the army of the United States regardless
 of the branch to which he may have
 been assigned, but as stated above, he
 must at the time designated be an en-
 listed man of national guard organ.
 ization recognized by the federal gov
 ernment. Similarly, service with a na.
 tional 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 o1
 recognition of the organization, being
 the governing date. In order that the men may be afforded ample time ant } opportunity for preparation, not only
 for the regular entrance in March 1921, but for the preliminary examin ation next December as well, it is sug l gested that this matter be advertised l widely. Inasmuch as the date of ad , mission in 1921 will be July 1, re cruit who enlisted prior to July 1 1920, may acquire the necessary ser vice for admission next year. It is be lieved that if this is brought to the at . tention of the graduating classes O. the high schools of your state it may result in obtaining a number of very
 desirable recruits for the nationa guard.