The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1941-01-30
Trdiinee Can
Make Year
Worth Much


Army Training Can BE
Used in Career.
OPPORTUNITIES TO
ENHANCE EDUCATION
"A year out Of my life" a COM
mon expression from those young
men selected for military training
will change to, The most valuah1e
Iyear Of my hfa," il the predict3na
d haho's director Of selective serv~
ice, Brig. General N. G. Mcconnell
This prediction is based on sH~
vey Of the army training wi1fgA
awaits some 10000, 900 young Ame1~
icanx.
|. Reviewing some Of the benefits
Of 4 year under the selective tr1in~
ing and service act, General Mncnm~
mel said:
while it may be true a young
man is giving something to the
army, it must not be overlooko9
that in return the selective services
law is really feeding, clothing.
housing and paying him TO spend =
year in the worlds largest trAde
school
I'VE must remind ourselves that
modern army is a cross secti04
OF our specialized, mechanical civ
iIzation and that 1t rates occup1-
tional skills even higher than they
rate in civilian life. A modern
army requires many specialized
skills besides sharpshooters and
artillerymen 1t indicates that the
army learned a lesson in 1918, and
that this time it is finding out ex-
actly what every man can do, and
what he would like to do-and
where he can be found when
needed"
To determine an inductee's intel
ligence, aptitude and interests, 3ev-
eral tests have been devised which
! make possible an accurate clAxSt0-
cation and speedy adaptation -
army requirements ut nanpo1EuE-
At the reception depot, each In
ductee fills out a yellow registr1-
tlOAl Nd4A Wl1ASAA 83A8t AlOk 011Ay xO3
several occupational ratings and
preferences, but also digs into the
matter Of hobbies. In addition to
an aptitude test and trade or skill
tests, each draftee will be inter-
viewed by skilled personnel man
whose job it is to size up the in
dividual's temperament and abili-
ties.
AS soon as the Questionnaires OF
Glass IA draftees are filed, Off
GERS will start combing them for
skilled or semi-skilled specialists
in no less than 265 different trades
Besides clerks, the largest demand
will be for cooks, automobile me-
chanics, medical technicians, gem
eral mechanics, coopersmjths, tele-
phone and telegraph linemen, etc.
Regarding the lad who was a
short-order cook in roadside
diner, it will be the objective of the
army to give such a man addition
al training, either at the post mess
or perhaps in one of the II cooks
and bakers schools in various parts
of the army. Make a note now
that when that fellow finishes his
schooling he will be finished chef,
not just hamburger singer. This
| development is typical OF what the
, army expects to accomplish along
all lines OF training.
Another type of training is that
, given in part-time schools where
! the recruit carries on many of hie
regular duties but is released from
other tasks for a few hours each
, day for special training. Such
: part time classes are found in al
most every army post, navy yard
and aboard warships.
The debacle of 1918 when the
country was flooded after the arm.
, istice with millions Of young mer
with no jobs and no real prepare
lttion for civilian life will not hap
pen again. Because of the mech
anization and specialization of tht
: fighting forces, preparation for re
!, turn to civilian life now begin:
: when the men enter the service
not when they are ready to leave
$ Men will leave the army in tiptoT
physical shape, accustomed to reg
ular hours and regular living ane
7 with the stamina to do full day:
Z work at peak efficiency. In add
Q ton to having learned how to ivs
G and work with other men of al
! classes and temperaments, they viii
E also possess sound work habits ami
q technical skill.
J. Among other valuable things, TIL
a young man who has spent yea
in training with the army will hav
one terse answer to the thorn,
question OF the prospective employ
er that has proved so disturbing
: What practical experience hav
! you had?" The answer will b
PLENTY"
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