The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-10-09
Cadets Learn To
axe n AT West
Point Of The Air

Upon reaching Randolph Field,
Army Aviation Cadets discover for
the first time the true meaning Of
strict military discipline.
Although the Ohio, Kentucky, West
Virginia and Indiana f1edglings come
to the San Antonio, Texas, "West
Point of the Air" via civilian operated
primary pilot schools, their 10 weeks
there were devoted almost exclusive
ly to flying and ground school in
struction. Despite supervision by
Army Air Forces officers, the cadets
received comparatively little military
education. Their first real experience,
then, comes at Randolph Field.
Close order drill, manual of the
rifle, mass calisthenics, military cour-
tesy and rigid discipline are his lot
during processing, under the close
supervision of the upperclassmen.
Violations of rules and regulations
are punished by demerits, which must
be worked off by walking the ramp.
Dressed in complete uniform, with
white gloves and sabre scabbard, the
cadet does his walking tours on the
ramp outside cadet barracks.
Three or four cadets share room
in one of the four cadet barracks at
Randolph Field. Quarters are light,
airy, and completely equipped, but
Spartan in their simplicity Rooms
are inspected daily by regular Of
ficers.
Processing, drill, flying, class hours,
study hours, swimming, tumbling,
calisthenics, in endless procession
leave the new arrival little time for
his own during his first weeks at the
"West Point of the Air" AS he
masters his schedule, however, he
finds time for personal hobbies
(model airplane building, music, or
athletics) and to take advantage of
"open post" from Saturday noon until
Sunday evening. The cadet then is
free to visit San Antonio, join friends
in the cadet club rooms in a down.
town hotel.
Five weeks pass, and the aedgling
reaches the dignity Of an upper
cassman. He's eligible, then, to be-
come a cadet officer, with new op-
portuntes to exercise leadership and
initiative. With these new response
bilities, the weeks fairly fly, until one
day he completes basic training, gets
orders to leave Randolph, report at an
advanced aviation school for final
training.
Time was, all cadets received a
standard course in the advanced
schools. But modern needs for pilots
have brought a return to specialized
advanced training. Depending on his
physical characteristics, psychological
makeup, and flying ability, the cadet
is chosen for either single-motored
or multi-motoredp advanced school.
Randolph's flying instructors make
recommendation toward the close of
each class, as to the destiny Of their
students. The small chap who is rest
less, slightly on the reckless side,
makes the best pursuit pilot; the
larger, more deliberate and steady
chap is chosen for multi-motored
school,
Any single male citizen of Ohio
who desires to attend the "West Point
of the Air." may apply at any Army
Recruiting Office, Aviation Cadet Ex
amining Board or write the Air Office,
Fifth Corps Area Headquarters, Fort
Hayes, Columbus, o.
Applicants must be at least 20
years old, not yet 27, and have at
least high school education. Cadets
get sos monthly, plus uniforms,
equipment and lodging. AS commits
stoned pilots, they will receive $245
monthly.
Demand the Union Label on all