Evening star., 1941-05-18
u. S. Army Now at Full Strength

q
against gas and air attacks. They learn
military hygiene, military regulations,
first aid, physical training and the op-
Grafton of vehicles in convoy.
Their aptitudes and qualifications are
noted, and some of the men are chosen
for training as military specialists. These
men are given courses of two to four
months in technical subjects, such as
the various branches of mechanical work.
Some are sent to civilian trade and voca-
tional schools.
To Train $4,000 Year.
Thousands of men in the Army will
work at the same occupations they fol-
lowed in civilian life, especially me-
chanics. Some trainees will spend their
year mending Shoes operating laundries,
cooking, handling carrier pigeons, work.
ing on railroads.
The replacement centers are equipped
to train $4,000 men year, and these
maintained by the Air Corps will give
primary training to aviation mechanics
feature of the Army mobilization since
the World War.
But up to now the Army has schooled
recruits in the same units in which the
seasoned men were in training. Each unit
has had its own reception center where
the primary course was given. During
the World War, most of the 80 camps and
cantonments had depot brigades for re-
placement training.
Pressed for time and with no prepara-
ton for extensive replacement training
the Army seems to have done about as
we'll as it could have in 1917 and 1918,
but the replacement training proved
extremely inadequate. The system did
not supply requirements in sufficient
numbers or with proper training.
The European countries which have
universal training have had replacement
systems for years which are similar to
the one now used in this country, de-
signed to provide facilities for continue
ally renewing the Army with men who
have had basic training. The result is
that in wartime they have been able to
replenish their manpower on a large
scale without breaking up established
units.
Reserve Officers Train Troops.
Keeping a unit intact is regarded by
military strategists as highly important,
both for morale and for efficiency. When
men have been trained together have
learned to work in a team and have
developed a pride and interest in their
outfit. much is lost by breaking up the
unit and scattering its men. The divi-
sions which fought best in the World
War were those which maintained their
identity throughout the conflict.
The training at the replacement
centers is being carried on largely by
Reserve officers. Nearly all the company
commanders and other company officers
are from the Offcers' Reserve Corps.
The training of officers is no serious
problem in the present mobilization pro-
gram. A striking contrast to the situa-
ton in the World War, when only 5000
Reserve officers were available for service.
Tens of thousands of men without mill
tary experience had to be taught within
few months to command the forces
which were sent overseas to do battle
against the armies Of the central powers,
led by men who had been in training
for years.
About $4,000 Reserve officers now are
on active duty, and another IS 900 are
to be called up within month or two.
There are approximately 105,000 Reserve
1oL oaI
officers of the Regular Army and Ma
tional Guard, will go a long way toward
providing officers for an army of 2,500000
men or more
More than half the officers now on
duty with the Regular Army are Re
serve officers. They are serving in every
capacity, from the War Department
general staff down to scattered troop
units.
Thousands of Applications.
The Army has been building up this
reserve Of trained officers since the pas
sage of the National Defense Act of
1920. Most of the officers are graduates
of the Reserve Officers Training Corps,
which has units at hundreds of uni
versities, colleges and military schools.
Most of the others are graduates of the
Citizens Military Training Camps. This
summer 5000 more r. o. r. c. graduates
will be given commissions
Thousands of applications for Reserve
commissions have been received by the
War Department recently. but only
few have been granted, because the de-
partment felt it did not need the men.
Those commissioned have had special
technical or educational qualifications.