Evening star., 1925-06-28
800 STUDYING WAR
{ AT CAMP MEADE
Student Training Under
Rigid Discipline of
the Army.

privateS In the rear rank all, some
thing more than 500 students from
universities and colleges throughout
the East are encampetE here, putting
into practice all of the strenuous
theories on the science and tactics
of modern warfare they have been
learning in lecture rooms and armorieS
during the last three years.
1t is the annual encampment of the
Reserve Officers Training Corps, with
a second lieutenantS commission in
that reserve, or possibly a perma-
nent berth in the Regular Army as
the promised reward for successful
completion of the prescribed course,
of which this test is really the final
examination to determine the candi-
dates fitness to acquit themselves as
officers under field conditions.
Trivialing Not COuntenanced.
And let no person think it is a
cheap vacation" Like all depart
nents of Americas armed service,
sports and good, health producing, out
of-doors activities represent sub
stantial share of the program at the
Reserve Officers Training Corps en-
campment. but il is serious,
businesS-like organization, conducted
strictly according to Army discipline.
and any frivilous minded rookie who
comes here with such ideas soon
abandons them.
The lads who people this khaki
hued city of tents are just about the
same type that sprang to arms back in
1917, learned the science of soldering
in an incredibly short time and then
stopped the on-rushinS German lead
ers dead in their tracks. They are the
clear-eyed chaps who will help train
and lead a similar Army in the name
or democracy and freedom if the need
ever arises again-the doughboyS Jack
tars and devil dogs of the future.
In addition to the student officers
the officers of the 320th Infantry Re
serve Regiment, mythically stationed
In Washington. and of the 3l7th In
fantry. mythicaly stationed in Nir-
sinia, are taking their annual training
at Camp Meade at the same time
There can be no scoffing at those Off
GERS as tin soldiers because a ma
1oritN OF them saw active service in
France during the World War Col.
Glendie B. Young of Washington, for
instance. commanded a regiment that
took its turn regularly in the front
line and distinguished itself for it's
efficiency in action
Col. Young is the ranking reserve
offlcer at Camp Meade and as a com
pliment to his long activity in military
AFFAIRS he was given command of al!
the regular troops here, of which
there are close to 1000, when they
were paraded for review on Friday.
Among the troops in the line were
the 18th Infantry of regulars. from
Fort Washington. the 9Th Field Artil-
lery, and most of the 3rd Cavalry.
from Fort Myer
Expert Teachers.
The Army has provided a real
school here for the civilian officers
that are and are to be. Their instruc.
tors include the regulars of the above
regular outfits besides the Sth Tank
Company. 18th Brigade Headquarters
1st Ammunition Train. 18th Ordnance
Maintenance Company. the 1st and 4th
Motor Repair Squadron and the Serv-
Ice Company OF the 18th Signal Corps,
all of whom will remain at Camp
Meade through the Summer.
From colonelS down to seventh-rate e
privates. all become teachers the min
ute they enter the camp. The proc
ess Is simple. They temporarily step
out of their places and the rockies
walk in. Then, under the close guild
ance of the Regulars. the students
perform the same tasks the regulars
are accustomed to accomplish For
the time being the students are the
soldiers, and they must obey exactly
the same routine.
The election of the branch the can
didates wish to specialize in is left
to them and their training is adapted
accordingly. For instance, those who
select the Cavalry become regular
troopers during their stay in camp;
others may prefer the Artillery and
they work with the big guns on the
range, using real ammunition and
getting actual instruction in the man.
agement of the field pieces. The
Tank Corps, Infantry and other
ranches have their quotas, too.
The result is a group of well-round-
ed out soldiers by the time the course
ends. To win commission in the Re-
serve Corps, the candidate must first