Evening star., 1923-09-02
THE CIVILIAN ARMY
BY LIEUT.. STEPHEN F. TILLMAN.
Organized Reserves-National Guard


has for some time been engaged in
the task of completing the records Of
| officers of the Reserve Corps with re-
| spect to missing data on their record
cards. Up to date more than 1000
| requests for information have gone
| out and of these less than 5000 have
been returned. Reserve officers who
| receive these requests should answer
them promptly. The chief of infan-
| try is desirous of completing this work
| before the correspondence courses be-
gin in the corps areas. and 1t is highly
important that the information called
for be forthcoming. It is to the in
terest of every reserve officer that
his records be complete in every de-
tail.
Maj. Gen. J. F. O'Ryan of the OFF,
GERS Reserve Corps to active duty for
training. Gen. Organ is president
of the Reserve Officers Association.
officers Reserve Corps. has been or
dered to active duty with the War De-
partment general STAFF.
A number of reserve officers COM
pleted last week two weeks of in
tenSive training at Langley Field.
Maj. w. Sherman. air service. in
charge of the training of this class
of air service reserve officers, pre-
pared a curriculum covering flying
both dual and solo on training types
of planes and flying on service types
for those who were qualified. In
cluded in the course was also a series
of daily lectures on the tactical EN-
ployment of aviation and practical
work in the aero repair and machine
shop.
Officers who attend next years
course at the infantry school are to
be the best dressed in the Army.
Word has gone out to effect this from
the headquarters at Fort Benning.
Among the items mentioned in the
letter of instructions addressed to
officers will be found: Each officer
must by October / provide himself
| with one of the new style 'Pershing
| caps. The grommet will be worn
with it. The possession of at least
two serviceable hats will be compul-
sorry. The issue variety is taboo
The leather strap will be worn with
the hat Except on cotton. olive drab
and white, hooks will be provided on
the blouse for supporting the Sam
Browne belt. WOODEN olive drab coats
are to have the collar ornaments
sewed on permanently: pin clasps are
not to be used. Officers Sam Browne
belts. footwear and leggins will
match as nearly as possible. All
leather and metal articles (brasses)
of the uniform are to be polished
daily. The wearing of well fitting So
called ice cream breeches is en-
couraged. The same is true with re-
spect to weli-fitted custom made
sembly place OF the infantry and IL
is there that 1t is intended officers
snail get into the habit of being we'll
fdreSsed."
Col Alvin W Voris of the Signal
Corps has reported for duty in the
office OF the chief signal officer. to
take up the duties of chief OF the per-
the place of Maj. Stephen NJ. Walms-
ley, Signal Corps, who has been de-
tailed to attend course of instruc-
ton in Paris. France.
The War Department desires To OBJ
! tain a design of button. badge or
! cuitab device for wear with civilian
clothing to be symbol of attain
ment Of three distinct grades of
progress in training undergone in the
military forces. namely: private. non
commissioned and commissioned OFF,
Ger. The specifications for grades will
be published later. Buttons may be
different for each grade or all OF the
same design and distinguished by
being bronze. silver or gold. The but
tons should be significant of one or
more or all of the following:
volunteer man who has done
his bit: supporter of the government:
national service: person who would
give his life for his country: an honor
able citizen: an ideal citizen; superior
p:lysique ard health: sacrifice. loyalty:
man inspired by American ideals: ma
tional responsibility: love of country;
! leadership: team work: skill in arms:
ability to act I'm crisis; effective serv-
ice. inspiration of unselfishness: love of
fellow men; civic responsibility and
! civic virtue.
of symbol allegorical or direct. The
design should be of civic rather than
a militaristic significance. These but
tons together with button already
given for attendance at citizens mill
tary tarin!ng camps will be the symbol
of national corps of men who have
done their bit by undergoing military
Itraining. The name for such ma
tional corps. association or society is
yet to be determined. These buttons.
once established. may be qualified for
through citizens military training
camps. the National Guard. the or
. .ganized reserves. the Reserve Officers
Training Corps or the Regular Army
or qualifications may be. established
through past attainment of the quail
ficationS through former service in the
above organizations or in the world
war. The War Department desires to
in such matters. Suitable reimburse
ment will be made for the design
adopted. A name for the national
corps is also to be determined. This
will be particularly sought this sum-
n.er from members of the summer
training camps.
Offices of the Reserve Officers AS
sociation have been opened at 1885
PENNSYLVANIA avenue northwest. with
Maj. Randolph f. B. McKenny of the
Infantry Officers Reserve Corps, secre-
tary of the association in charge. The
offices are directly across the street
from the War Department.
The War Department has informed
the militia bureau that favorable ac-
tion cannot be taken on the recon-
mendation Of the chief of that bureau
that Regular Army officers serving as
Instructors on duty with the National
Guard should. for the purpose of
change Of station. be under the con-
troll of corps area commanders. 1t Is
stated that the restrictions of para
graph 4S, Army Regula tions OF 1913,
upon the powers OF corps area COM
. manders were reluctan.iy auop.9u
after consideration Of approximately
two years" This means that. in
spite of the representations made by
. the militia bureau. an ofhcer on this
duty, assigned by the War Depart
ment orders. cannot achieve a change
! of station except by authority of the
war Department. The change Of sta
ton may be within the corps area
and may be required by the condi.-
tions prevailing in the National
Guard organization to which Regu-
| lar Army officer has been detailed.
The transaction must be conducted
through the militia bureau and with
| the War Department.
This is considered a departure from
the policy of decentralization. 1t Is
understood that, in October Of 1922,
the militia bureau pointed out the
fact that Regular Army officers on