Greenbelt cooperator., 1942-05-01
Militaru Discipline

Editors note In to questions and COM
mens by residents who about to become draees the
editor requested weknown local officer in military
ice to describe military Discplne The following is his
reply-good enough, think, for an edtorial)
When the civilian joins the armed forces he enters into
distinctly different mode of existence. He finds himself
bese with variety of emotions their nature and intensity
depending on his education and previous experience his
personal habits and former acquainanceship his ability
to mingle well with people of many walks of lfe and
hnay the attitude he has assumed the vocational change
took place
The recruits mind is, the outset military void ringed
with question marks. If he is receptive willing
operate and desous of getting the good he can
of the venture while simultaneously giving his best
void will absorb much interesting and valuable lore
He will in time become good soldier and swell guy to
have around for a beer, badminton or a battle.
AS recruit, however, he wonders many wonderngs
some of which are "Do salute warrant ocers?" "How
in the of Ickes get the cosmoline of this
id rife?" What is left oblique?" and "When is
chow call?" He also feels qualms about this mil
tary discipline his Dad had been saying would do him
lot of good
Private Doe gets most of his basic questions roned
out learns how and whom to salute how and why take
extra good of his rife and finds out about left obque
and lot of other drill movements he dreamed about
In the of learning about the Army and his par
tcular to it and functions within it, he constantly
exposed to- and operating under the rules of military dis
cipine but doesn't realize any compuncons about it
give it much thought He too busy to be bad
to speak, and obviously any who behaves himself prop
erly is not the recipient of discipline.
After a few weeks in training Private Doe goes home
leave and is mercilously pumped by all relatives and
the popuace in general as to his liking for Army chow
his ability to hit the side of the hill with his weepon
and his reaction to military discipline. Most of his in
isitor to take great gee in graspng at the term
military discipline and waving it the unfortunate
soldiers pate like the legendary blade of Damoces. In
the midst of the ra Private Doe suddenly realizes that
this discipline business of the things he had been
worrying about too, and here he is without complaint
register that He resolves to look into the matter
upon return to duty.
The fact of the matter is that military discipline is
something NOT to be worried about in the least It is
logical inherent ingredient worked into all the training
mite popular civilian notions to the contrary 1t is
bugaboo which to bother the civilian than it
does the soldier who lives by it.
When pry into the situation find out that military
discipline merely the everyday garden variety of per-
sonal conduct rules bearing special label to indicate its
connection with the military service.
By of comparison, suppose you have three young
sers of the Oyear-old age group. The oldest boy
highway and you exhort him to walk facing traffic stay
Private Doakes dammit don't stay out of that
clink" You have applied your particular version of
discipline.
Private Simple up after minus his bay
and kit and the appropriate alibs He is dis
cipned, too but his payoff termed military discipline
because he supposed to be military military
organization.
The youngest of your offspring keeps running toward