Evening star., 1939-04-16
Competitions Being Planned
For D. C.. Guard Rifle Team
Candidates for Comp Perry Matches
To Meet on April II

talon Headquarters, same regiment.
The following promotions have
been announced In Battery @, 26Oth
Coast Artillery: Pvts. Edgar l..
Casey. Melvin r. Eader, Emmett Y.
Grimm and Henry r. Stills to be
corporah. Technical sergt. William
e. Barry has been promoted to first
sergeant In the Headquarters and
Service Company, l2lst Engineers.
Corpl. Harmon G. Welch has been
promoted to technical sergeant In
the same command. Pvts. (First
Class Willard A. Belcher and Hilton
B. McLaren. have been promoted to
corporals in Company A, l21st Engi-
neers.
Some advanced military training
and strategy is to be given the
units Of the local militia to pre-
pare them for prompt service In
the field, according to training in
structions received from head
quarters Of the Sd Corps Area at
Baltimore, Md. The training is to
include the power and use Of weap.
ons and the controlling influence
OF terrain on fire power; the need
OF varied tactical dispositions and
maneuvers In combat, the use of
cover and concealment when In po-
sition and protection again aircraft,
chemicals and motorized units and
night development of combat.
The local headquarters was told
that in spite Of the increased use OF
motor transportation for troop move
ment, foot troops must continue to
march on foot In the combat area
They were admonished not to use
motor transportation in training, un-
der conditions when such use would
not be feasible in war. It was added
that high standard of training In
foot marching, especially at night,
will be maintained. Also the avail
ability Of motor transport must not
be used as an excuse for neglecting
the training Of foot troops in march
ing.
Mobile tactical units Of the militia
will be required to make one march
during the field training period, re.
quiring an overnight bivouac, the
bivouac to be under war conditions.
When local conditions permit during
the two months Of armory training
Immediately preceding the field
training period. dismounted units
are to devote not less than one
weekly drill period to a foot march
in field uniform with light pack, and
two drill periods to marches in field
uniform with full packs.
Ofncers have been instructed to
familiarize themselves with the gen.
eral provisions of the protective mo-
bilization plan and with their mo-
bilization assignments and duties.
Unit commanders also have been in
structed to economic on time on
technical and drill instruction in
order to devote a maximum of time
to the attainment Of the prescribed
objective in tactical and field train
ing-the ability Of the unit to take
the field on a short notice and to
carry out the prescribed missions.
Special emphasis on the parts Of
all ranks should be directed, it was
said, to the following: More instruc-
ton and practice in scouting and pa
trolling; the development Of initia-
tive and self-reliance on the part OF
uon- commissioned officers and junior
officers; more supervision by regi-
mental and battalion commanders OF
the armory and field training Of their
companies; better management to
insure against waste of time and
effort In exercises and drills and
more thorough basic training for the
individual soldier, the squad and the
platoon.
In order to get credit for drills,
and therefore pay. 1t has been di-
rected that credit for attendance at
drill will be given only to those pres
ent in the prescribed uniform during
the entire drill period.
The command post exercise is to
be used both during the armory and
field training periods. In the former,
the mechanics of the functions OF
various headquarters and commune
cations is to be stressed. This is to
include the training of specialists
and key enlisted men as well as
proper functioning of all staff on
GERS Of the units participating. While
Regular Army instructor personnel
Is to be available to assist in this
wartime training. 1t is specified that
the actual preparation Of the exer-
ciSeS Is to be by National Guard
commanders and STATS.