Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-07
Military Training.

The adminiStra tive committee or the
Federal Council Of churches has an
nounced the adoption OF series "f
recommendations regarding military
training in the educa tional institutions
Of This country which is likely Ia he
n;SinterI,re:e as in direct opposition
to all efforts Ia establish military drill
IN schools and colleges "a means of
pre- marathon fnr possible national de
Tense. The objection of the admins
rative COMMITTEES Is to making mil.
itary training required subject-in
other words. p compulsory training.
In expla M ton of these recommended
tious an official &C the council Says
that the protest is aeainst highly
technical and systematic training. in
ending combat drill" which is not re-
"a rded as appropriate for adolesrent
hoys.
r"inc'lent with the announcement
Of he councils action the War De
partment has issued q statement show
ing the degree Ia which military train
inc is sought by the colleges. uni
versities and high schools. There are
on file AT presnnt applications from
nineteen az the hiShn,' institutions fur
the establishment ~ senior units OF
the Reserve Officers Training Corps
and thirty-six applications from high
schools that desire Ia establish junior
units. owing to lack OF funds these
fiftN-five applications cannot he ap-
proved. In addition there are inquiries
from seventeen institutions from
which formal applications have not
been made because Of the poor pros
poet n; approval
These figures show that there is a
widespread dema nd amnnc the educa-
tors Of his country for the institution
IF military training simple deduc-
tion from the fact that the dema nd
for inclusion in the Reserve Officers
Tra nins Corps system exceeds the
facilities under the present appropria-
tions.
The purpose Of the Reserve Officers
Training Corps system is not to ma Ike
professional soldiers. bat potential sol
diers. u is not to NAL Ike the schoolboys
Of This country ambitious for military
opportunity, but to prepare them for
service in case Of national need Incl.
dentally the military training which
they receive IL decidedly beneficial to
them. 1t helps them physically: 1t
aids them in their mental develop
ment. 1t ia conducive to discipline. 1t
arouses sense Of civic responsibility.
There is no wish for compulsory
military training in this country. II
may he that the protest of the Fed
eral Council of Churches against com
Ia drill il well worthy Of corrective
attention. 1t is NOT necessary nor il
II desirable that the military training
In the universities and colleges and
high schools go to the point of highly
technical instruction. Nor is il desir.
able that tho military training should
be comp iisory. But opportunity
should he given to every youth to drill
and to become part of the reserve
force upon which the United states
must rely for defense in emergency.
The experience nf the Great War shows
that if this country does not instill in
the Younger members OF the nations,
community sense OF respon sibilitv
for the safety OF the State and Law the
foundation for potential military serv-
ice in case OF need by giving the
younger generation opportunities for
drill and rudment ary military train.
ing. it will always he weak and un.
ready FOR defense and will pay hea vily !
in consequence