Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-22
District National Guard

Preparations for the training of tn
12lst Regiment Of Engineers to max
ready for the annual encampmen
| pC riod during the coming Summer hav'
been made by the I21St Regiment o
Engineers, National Guard Of the Dis
| trict Of Columbia, with the compilation
and publication OF the training pro
gram from April II to August is, under
the direction of Col. John w. Oehmann
commanding the regiment.
| The training objective, according x
| the paper, is in general the mainte
nance OF every unit in condition t.
! function effectively at existing strength
and without further training. when EN-
ployed in miner emergencies by the Fed
eral Government. together with the pro.
vision OF sufficiently trained force
: capable of rapid expansion to wal
strength, which with the mininNlm de-
lay, can be employed in time Of wal
as an effective component Of the Army
Of the United States.
The objective, in particular. is out
lined as follows: The attaining Of an
honest fundamental proficiency in al
tactical, o. training appropriate to the
individual or unit. This proficiency
the program outlined says. is best at
tanned by an alert insistence of exact
ness in subject fundamentals in line
with the authoritative knowledge OF
training regulations and other approved
directive texts. and by this knowledge
being made the property Of the individ-
ual or unit through study and practice
in the exact execution Of all drills.
In the company instruction, to be
carried out by lectures and indoor DEM
onstrations, the officers are directed to
emphasize the specific duties of platoon
commanders and subordinates in trench
traces and proflles. Non-engineering
subjects are provided for
Taking up the matter Of muSketry
the program says that irasmuch as the
1881 field training will include squad
and perhaps section competition in
muSketry firing. it is imperative that
the company officers and non-commis-
stoned officers thoroughly acquaint
themselves with the contents of regula-
tions bearing thereon. 1t is also i'm
perative. it is said, that before camp
time each enlisted man fire the qualif1-
cation course and know the zero Of his
rifle for the 200-yard range. A portion
Of at least 10 drill periods will be sched-
uled for musketry firing.
The program warns that If unneces-
sary accidents are to be prevented dur
ing the actual firing Of muSketry prob
lens at camp, it must be apparent TO
all that adequate instruction Is required
in the lecture room, in the indoor rife
gallery, and on the outdoor range. 1t
is added that lack OF time will probably
limit this to actual qualification with
the rifle the individual will take to
camp.
Pack rolling and shelter tent drill will
be scheduled during August, Just prior
10 the departure for camp.
1t was announced that the outdoor
target season probably VIII he desig-
mated as April to October 81. In view
of this, the officers ere informed. indi-
vidual card records and chart must he
kept in each company headquarters to
show the progress of each man in pre-
liminary indoor instruction, indoor range
practice, preliminary outdoor exercises,
outdoor practice firing and outdoor
record firing.
The following range firing schedule
has been mapped out to coordinate the
training Of all units in the command:
April Z, Company D; April IA Com
pany E: April 81, Company ?; April %,
Headquarters and Service Company:
May II, Company A; May 10. Company
B; May 20, Company C; June 2, Com
pany d; June ., Company E; June IS.
Company r; June %, Headquarters and
Service; July Z. Company A; July IA,
Company B: July 81. Company C.; July
%. Company D; August 4, Company E;
August IL. Company F.
The regimental adjutant has been in
Structsd to prepare schedule for the
band; the medical department detach-
ment its own training schedule, and the
Headquarters and Service Company its
schedule. The lettered companies also
hat l.r-v 0rdr 4n lnG
schedules to carry out the general train
ing program. These schedules are to he
arranged so as to permit training in
Spections and training tests by the bat
talon commanders. These vii! be held
on the first Tuesday of each month for
Companies A and D: second Tuesday
for Companies and F, and third Tues
day for Companies c and F.
The recruit school will be maintained.
To this school each drill night will be
sent newly enlisted men as well as men
who are believed by their commanding
officers to be insufEciently trained in
the fundamentals of soldering to keep
up with the full command at drill.
Of1cers schools in addition to the
regular monthly conferences will be
held on drill nights. On April IA and
81 there will be saber drills conducted
by First Lieut.. John c. Wade.
Non-comnissioned officers schools are
provided for or alternate Tuesday eve
nings from 10 to IL o'clock.
Regimental specialists schools also
are provided for. TO be held on the
last Tuesday of each month. A SEIZED
ule OF subjects has been outlined and
the following have been designated as
instructors: First Lieut.. Hugh Ever
EFT, jr.: Pvt. George English, Company
Z: Corpl. r. A. Osbourn, Headquarters
and Service Company; Sergt. Bugler H.
j. Hart, Headquarters and Service
Company; Sergt. Larner T. Rhea, Com
pany C.; Technical Sergt. Frank B
Kaye, Headquarters and Service Com
pany: Sergt. Cassidy, Fort Myer, Va;
Technical Sergt Charles Dunn, Head
quarters and Service Company: Sergt
Edward D. Andrus, Company E.
In order to insure the maximum ef-
fectiyeness Of the schools, battalion
commanders will give special consid-
Grafton TO the type of men selected by
company commanders for instruction
the program states, and the command
ing officers also have been instructed
to habitually designate the same stu
dents until such time as the latter are
relieved by the plans and training Of
ficefg