Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-11
Military Training Plan
Outlined by Generals
Before House Group
Nv the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The Army detailed to Congress to-
day how it would handle universal
military training II President Tru-
mans request for such a law is
granted.
Four generals explained the
heres how" to the House Military
Affairs Committee.
They were Maj. Gems George j.
Richards, War Department budget
officer; Ray r. Porter, director of
the Special Planning Division; Will
lard s. Paul, assistant chief of staff
for personnel. and /. H. Edwards,
assistant chief of staff for training.
The Army earlier had presented,
through Gen. Dwight d. Eisenhower
and others. its arguments for one
year of continuous training for all
able-bodied youths In peacetime.
The universal training program,
today's witnesses said, would operate
thus:
Who would be trained? Young
men in the age group 10 through 20:
The training normally would begin
when youth is ID, unless he hadn't
finished high school, in which case
he could wait until he graduated;
youth who had finished high
school at the age of II could start
training then, with his parents
consent.
$50, 900 Trainees Annually.
How many would be trained?
After allowing for reflections for
physical and other disabilities, the
Army would train 100000 and the
Navy about 100000 annually, leav-
ing between 10000 and 100000 who
would be rejected each year.
How would they be selected? BY
local civilian agencies similar to
local draft boards; each youth would
register by mail when he becomes
18; his local board would tell him
when his training would start. and
there would be several different en-
try dates annually, with the individ-
ual's convenience to be considered
as much as possible Appeals from
local board rulings would be han
died by special civilian appeal
boards.
When would youths first actual
contact with the military occur? At
a receiving station to which he would
be ordered by his local board to re-
port. There he would be given a spe-
cial oath and examinations and Of
fered a choice Of services. He would
be assigned to the service requested,
if possible. The physic standards
for acceptance would be lower than
those which prevailed during the
war,
What kind Of training would a
youth receive? An initial recruit
training period Of about eight week
to teach him the fundamentals OF
life asSa soldier, followed by a Pc
riod Of technical training, the length
Of which would vary, depending on
the assignment; then would be unit
training, and finally combined
training to teach the recruits how to
act as an integral part of an army
The combined training, under COM
bat conditions. would last about
eight weeks.
Would Employ National Guard.
Who would do the training? A
selected training organization COM
posed of National Guard officers
| D ocarva o%R,ars . ~ apHrS - ,v,ar, ~,
temporary active duty.
Would the one year be devoted
entirely to military training? Gen
orally, yes, but there would be holi-
day furloughs and short vacation
periods. There would be educational
and recreational facilities, but the
emphasis would be on training men
I to go to war in q hurry if necessary
Would the trainees be paid? Yes
at the rate of about $50 a month
army regulars get $50 monthly but
are subject to military duty, while
a universal trainee could be assigned
to actual Army duty only by special
act of Congress-. The trainees also
would have dependency benefits anc
would receive Army clothes, equip
ment and rations and a distinctive
insignia. The cost of the universe
training program is estimated al
81, 720 ,000, 600 annually. Provision
would be made for disability com.
pensation and disqualification.
What would happen to a youth
when his year Of training ended:
He would 60 into . reserve for si1