Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-28
last OF a SerieS.)
BY WALTER McCALLUM,
Star staff CORRESPONDENT


CAMP DAVIS, N. c.. Feb. 81
Notwithstanding all the intricate
equations and mathematical formu-
lac which form part of the work of
commanding officers in anti-aircraft
work of the Army Ground Forces
The hopeful candidate for Ofncers'
School need be no mental prodigy
where math is concerned. He does
not have to be a combination of Ar
chimedes and Einstein rolled into
one. He may be just an ordinary
gent with the usual high school
math, including a working knowl-
edge of elemental algebra, plane trig-
onometry and logarithms. as If that
isn't enough to make you shudder,
or do you recall the severefaced
woman who made YOU sweat over
those things away back when?
Then If the youngster has this
knowledge, can pass all the hurdles
in a 12-Week course at Camp Da-
Wis, shows aptitude for gunnery, is
a good soldier and knows the funda-
mentals Of his trade, he emerges
from the Officer Candidate School
with two little gold bars on his
shoulders. He has earned them, too,
for there isn't a tougher OCS in the
land than the school here behind
the sand dunes bordering the pound
ing Atlantic.
Trained for Combat.
eve are q training command"
said Brig. Gen G. de L. Caring on,
inspector of training for the Anti
Aircraft Command. When men
and officers are trained we turn
them over to defense commands and
theaters of operation for combat
employment"
Now serving on scores of fronts
in this war are many more than TO-
900 officers VINO earned commissions
at the OCS here. The school grad
yates about 10000 officers year
Anti alrcraft is one of the swiftly
growing units Of the Army. The
need for trained men and officers
is great. But the men at the top
emphasize that even though artil-
lery work in itself involves abstruse
mathematical calculations, the off,
Ger candidates need not be literal
math brains" The slack is taken
up by the many devices which direct
the fire of the guns. subordinating
part of the human equation.
They come here from all over the
world, hardened veterans of Army
life, fresh-faced youngsters newly
indoctrinated with the feel of a
Garand rifle in basic training; Ma
tional Guard men who have had
years of work. some with strings of
college degrees They find them
selves in for strict discipline, for the
anti-sircraft OCS is no sissy outfit.
The fellow who pops up with tie
askew, shoes unshined, or rife I'M
creased. may not make it,
Two Major Objeotives.
Two detectives are emphasized:
% Development of leadership quail
tiles this is constantly sought In
all candidate schools, and is price
less. 90 Development of know
ledge of and ability to use anti
aircraft weapons and materiel In
structors look for traits of RESPONSE
bility, ability to impress others with
a feeling that the candidate has
Self-Contldence. constant main
tenance of military bearing and in
dividual trim and clean appearance.
initiative, perseverance and forth
tude
The BOYS are in for tough -
week period when they enter the
school, But war itself is tough, and
10 win they must be harder than the
enemy. Here are some of the sub
lects they must master: Mathe-
MATES, including algebra and trig; ;
nomenclature of the artillery used,
understanding of the small arms
and Of all anti-airCraft weapons,
adequate knowledge of chemical
warfare and defense measures. in
tantry drill including correct tim
ing and commands; balistics fun-
damentaD, tactics. battery and mess
administration. map reading and
many other assorted subjects.
I've spent more than 20 bucks