Evening star., 1923-04-22
ARMY

An exhaustive study has just been
completed by the Operations and
Training Division of the General
STAFF, which presents for the first
rlme since the world war an opinion
as 10 what sequence of peace-time
duties may be performed by Army
Ulcers to best qualify them for pro-
fessional self-improvement and ad-
Nancement in the service. Pre-
Scribed courses for officers to follow.
n order that the commissioned per-
sonnel as a whole may gradually
hecome better qualified to deal with
The multiplicity of problems involved
IN the accomplishment of the Army's
mission, are laid down as a part of
he study and soon will be issued to
officers In the grades effected for
their information and guidance.
In order that an officer may he
afforded the most favorable oppor-
1unities for professional self-improve-
ment and advancement" the study
says. "and at the same time to insure
that the interests Of the government
may be properly conserved. the fol-
lowing classes OF duty should be ac-
cepted as fundamental:
"(A) Branch duty-for the COM
hatant branches, command duty.
"tB) Duty as student at the spe-
clal service school of his branch
Company officers and advanced
courses). at the command and general
staff school ana the War College. if
eligible therefor. tThC selection Of
an officer for duty as instructor is
not considered to be fundamental, al
though desira BILE. Such duty is de-
pendent upon individual capahilityD
"tCD Greatest possible variety of
remaining duties consistent with the
attainment of profitable results in
each
Paragraph says
That the multiplicity Of the de-
mandS for the services OF regular
officers and the relatively small num-
bcr of tactical units maintained. op-
crate To limit the time which each
otiice" may be permitted to serve on
actual command duty. Under the cir
cumStances. assignment; of the com
nNiSsioned personnel assumes great
Importance and should be made in
pursuance Of an established progra m.
which will not only satisfy the re-
Quire ments of the law and accomplish
IN efficient performance OF the many
duties in question. but which will
also definitely assume the systematic
ana progressive profess iOndl develop
ment OF the officers themselves"
The summary OF the study also
shows:
That diversity of service is dosir-
able not only as q. means of widen
Ing the experience of the individual
officer and contributing to his con-
tentmcnt. but is necessary in order
that the commits stoned personnel as a
whole ma" gradually become qualified
TO solve the great variety of prob
lens which experience has shown that
the army must handle ii il is to ac-
r"nT t>h the mi:Si"r assigned to it
Repeated ass gnment t0 duty OF the
same Character uthtr than that with
an organization Of the approximate o
branch should therefore be the exccp-
ton"
Courses arc outlined for officers in
rhe grades of second lieutenant; first
lieutenant. captain. major. and lieu
tenant colonel. In each grade. the
opinion says. tho courses are designed
to serve as the most advantageous
and profitable one to be pursued bv
an officer throughout his period of
active service"
Arrangements for Secretary Weeks
trip TO Porto Rico. the Canal Zone.
aud to the Pacific Coast have been
practically completed. The Army
transport Grant will sail from New.
York. April -, with the military and
ongre ssionaI members of the party
invited by the War Secretary. some
.ot whom will continue the voyage
from San Francisco, going to Horu-
lulu on the Grant, while others will
take the transport Cambria from San
Francisco for Alaskan aud north Pa
cifo coast point
Fhe Honolulu contingent probably
Will include congressional members of
tho territorials committee The
Alaskan visitors Will comprise those
members OF tho Senate and House
military appropriation Committees
who are Interested in Alaskan affairs
consigned to tho Army for adminis-
tration purposes.
About LOO officers and men also
will sail from New York on the Grant
for Honolulu and the Philippines. The
S1Htieth anti-aircraft batt1Iiun from
Galveston. Texas. about 100 stronG.
and approximately 100 recruits will be
sent to tho islands. The recruits will
be moved to NeW York for passage
from the siN corps areas east of the
Mississippi. and il is planned to in
crease their number when the vessel
reaches San Francisco by the en-
barkation there Of recruits from the
west coast regions.
While no formal announcement has
been made by Gen. Pershing regard
ing his plans for the summer, it is
known that he is contemplating an
extended swing over the country at
the time the training camps are in
progress and will visit as many Of the
renters as possible. About three
months travel for this purpose, 1t is
understood. will be made by Gen.
Pershing.
. In his capacity as chief of staff. the
general has already written a letter
to all members of the Senate and
House. inviting them to visit the
camps during the training period this
summer.
The letter says in part:
Il desire to extend to YOU cordial