Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-24

Through the courtesy Of Mai. Gen. Anton
Stephan, com randing officer Of the 18th d.
vision of the National Guard the cadets have
acquired the use Of Camp Simms for period
Of three weeks each year.
The encampment is open to cadets with the
minimum Of one semesters experience and to
all members of the bands The enrolment Is
approximately ITS to 200 cadets annually. The
camp program includes close order and ex-
tended order drill, manual Of saber, voice
training IN giving commands, camp sanitation
and personal hygiene, tactical walks and
study Of the terrain as applicable to the war
game competition.
Practical and theoretical instruction Is given
daily from 1880 am. to IL am. Thsre Is no
drill In the afternoon other than the retreat
formation. followed by the ceremony Of guard
mounting, at which ceremony the guard for
the night is posted. including cadet officer
of the day and guard.
Some tine during the encampment period
two night problems are featured. One half Of
the camp Is divided into attacking forces, and
the other half into defenders Of the camp.
The problem begins at 9 pm, when rocket
is set OF. 1t lasts until tactical dispositions Of
either the attackers or defenders have gained
the decision. The winner of the problem is
designated by the setting Off Of rockets. A red
rocket designates the attacking forces as win
ners, while blue ROGET designates the defend
ers as winners.
The insignia of rank used by the corps Is
the same as that now In use by the Reserve
Ohicers' Training Corps. The shoulder straps
denotes the officers rank and command.
Silver disks are used to designate the ranks
from second lieutenant to captain-one disc
for second lieutenant, two for first lieutenant,
and three for captain. The ranks from major
to colonel are designated by acknowledged
lozenges and are allotted follows One
lozenge for the rank Of major, two for Meu-
tenant colonel and three for colonel.
The chevrons used by the non-conmissioned
officers are the same as those used In the
United States Army. Length of service in the
corps is designated by narrow braids on each
sleeve Of the uniform, each braid representing
one years service.
Other insignia Of merit worn on the sleeve
are gold, silver and bronze stars, denOting
first, second and third place in the battalion
competitive drill. God. silver. and bronze
diamonds designate first three places In the
regimental drill. Members of the winning
band wear red star on the left sleeve. Mem
bers Of the winning company wear o red dia-
mond on the right shoulder touching the
sleeve. Members CT the winning war game
team wear gold star with four gold bars.
Many changes have occurred In the de-
velopment Of the cadet uniform during the
past 30 years. Records state that In 1901 the
uniform consisted Of cap Of the style worn
by the Army during the Civil War. blue coat
with q high military collar and two insignia
OF rank 1OK INC OAuCeES. In the coat were
black braids running across the front Of the
collar. The trousers were Of lighter blue.
In 1906 the cap was changed to one reSem-
bling the style worn By the Army during the
Spanish-American War. while the officers caps
had q geld braid and the cadet insignia. At
the same time the braids extending across the
front Of the coats were abandoned and re-
placed by the insignia.
This Uniform vas Ncan until 1914, and dur
ing the next SIX years the cap was changed to
its present style. In 1922 the "Sam Brown"
belt and the "cross guns" insignia on the COLI
lar were brought into USE In 1926 the high,
stff military collar was changed to the more
comfortable collar now worn by the men, with
the collar insignia being worn on the lapeIs.
The Washington High School Cadet Corps.
with an enrolment Of approximately 1900
cadets, Is divided into four regiments four
bands and one separate battalion.