Evening star., 1942-08-29
Wardens Taking
Shorter Course
To Be Certified
Douglass Relents,
But Will Institute
New Curriculum

DR.. Paul Douglass. local OCD di-
rector of training, yesterday gavs
his official blessing to the courses
wardens are now taking and prom
ised immediate certification OF
thousands OF trained and expert
enced air raid wardens."
His approval, without which the
wardens could not be certified and
therefore could not use Federal pro-
tective equipment, follows BY less
than a week his charges that there
was no such thing as an abbreviated
course" for wardens. He referred
to the course the wardens are now
taking which he said never had
been approved by him.
DR.. Douglass announcement yes
terday. which followed conference
of defense officials this week, was
intended to blanket in all those who
had taken warden training so that
they would not have to begin all
over again. it was explained.
Previous Training to Count.
This statement" the announce
ment stated, clears up the erroneous
conclusion that previous training
will be discounted in certifying
members of the protective services"
The announcement reviewed the
training that has already been given
and went on to say that as the
services grew 1T became evident
that centralized and definite cur
riculum should be inaugurated. This
decision came at time when many
Of the volunteers had already put
In hours OF study. The inference
OF many people was that there was
to be a new course of study and
that the time already put in had
been wasted" a..
Following the announcement,
however. an OCD spokesman said
today that a new course Is being
formulated by DR.. Douglass which
will constitute centrally con-
trolled curriculum" It was not
wnown when this course would be
/ ready.
Meanwhile, forms for certifica-
ton will go out to Chief Air Raid
Warden William j. Mileham and
heads of the various protective
squads. Mr.. Mileham said II the
forms arrived in time he would
distribute them at the next meeting
of deputy wardens Tuesday night.
Tests Not Required Now.
Offlcials said those who had ale
ready completed the required num-
ber of hours would not be required
to take the examination devised by
the warden service. Those who take
the course which DR.. Douglass is
now working on, it was said, will
| have to take an examination.
No mention is made of this new
| course in the announcement, which
said that thousands of volunteers
were taught from the OCD hand
books, that what they have learned
is good" and that ''it is valid In
struction as to procedure during air
raids"
The announcement provides that
all persons who have satisfactorily
completed l0-hour course in first
aid, q standard course in, bomb, gas
and flre defense and are actively
enrolled in the warden service may
make application for certification.
All that will be required of q per.
son applying for certification or
further training is a verification
from his immediate superior and he
Will be given credit for what hours
OF training he has put in.
Minimum Requirements.
Mlnlmum requirements for certi-
f1cation under Federal OCD regula-
tlons are the f1rst-aid course, three
hours OF fire defense, five hours of
gas, five hours of general informa.
ton and two hours of drill.
In conjunction with the newly
set-up training program" the an
nouncement continues, z. Alvin
Biggs has been appointed by Defense
Co-ordinator John Russell Young as
director of the wardens' training
school.
DR.. Douglass summed up these
five aims of the centrally controlled
and uniform training schedule which
Is yet to be announced:
/. To have the most expeditions
certiflcation of air-raid wardens who
are now active.
2. To have assurance that mini.
mum standards have been met.
3. To give due credit to work al.
ready completed.
4. To give adequate recognition for
services already performed.
5. To give adequate consideration
to the volunteer character of the
corps.