The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-11-27
THE AIR CORPS


| I'VE AIN SOHfS
To the Editor:
The Gulf Coast Air Corps Train.
ing Center is sending you a news
release concerning my enlistment
In the Army Air Corps. Feeling
that many Of the readers Of the
Ypsilanti Daily Press would DO In
terested in something more person
al than this official news release, I
am experimenting that report with
few OF my own observations and
reactions relative to the life Of an
Aviation Cadet as see II.
First Of all. every Cadet is be-
ing trained with the view to ul-
timately making him an officer.
Since an officer must have such
personality and judgment as will
command the respect OF his sub
ordinates. the Air Corps has estab-
lished certain customs, peculiar
to the Air Corps, which are de-
signed to develop such traits In
each cadet.
The Aviation Cadets are well
fed. Milk Is served at every meal,
and ice cream is served as des-
sert for dinner and supper al
ways. The cadets eat from white
table cloths with china and silver
ware. They are proud OF the title
Aviation Cadet, and consider
themselves among the most fav.
ored sons OF Uncle Sam; and
truly they are, for Uncle Sam
spends on the average $4,000 to
process each Cadet-deyeloping his
abilities until he ranks with the
most efficient pilots In the world.
The Aviation Cadets are treated
we'll. but they are given to under
stand at the outset that there is
no monkey business" in the Air
Corps. For instance, at meals, the
strictest table manners are OBJ
served. Every Cadet must sit err
ect and look forward or at his own
business of eating. He may not
rest his arms or elbows upon the
table, nor may he have more than
one hand above the table while
eating; except when passing a
dish, taking a serving. or spreading
his bread. At frequent intervals
an officer or two may walk among
the tables to see that the Cadets
conduct themselves as gentlemen.
II a Cadet is found with his ell
bows on the table. for instance,
or forgetting himself in any way.
as a punitive measure the officer
may order the cadet to fall into
brace. which is the most I'M
comfortable position you can
imagine-especially II held for
any length of time. The Cadet
must sit perfectly straight with
his head up, and chin pulled In
until several wrinkles show be-
meath 1t. He must have his eyes
on point straight ahead, and
have his arms extended as stiffly
as possible toward the floor. His
shoulders must be rolled back I'M
til the shoulder blades meet on
the center Of his back. The Cadet
must hold that position until he
Is ordered to fall out.
II at any time of the day Cadet
Ia observed by an officer or upper
class Cadet to be doing anything
particularly out Of line with estab-
lished customs or set discipline, he
may be stopped Immediately
thrown into a "brace".-and given
severe lecture. II the offense Is
great enough, the Cadet may have
to do some sort Of punishment.
Upper class Cadets. identified by
their smart blue uniforms, take
particular delight in finding faults
In the dress or conduct of the new
Cadets. II, for instance, a "Dodo"
Ia new Cadet) is found to be
walking or marching with a few
buttons Of his uniform not fasten-
ed he NAV anon find him aAtf stand