Evening star., 1945-12-06
Letters to The Star
ADVANTAGES of Years Training
to Individual Boys Discussed


To the Editor of The Star:
In this letter I would like to put for
ward my views and opinions regarding
universal military training for youths
Of 18.
Many factors have been brought into
the discussions of universal military
training, some for and some against the
recommended programs. This letter is
not to pick apart the various and sun
dry arguments, by any means, but
rather to express my views on the sub
ject. And let it be said here and now
that am in favor of the training 100
per cent. Why? Here's why:
Many boys, when they are is,
are not sure of what course they wish
to pursue in life. of what profession or
trade they wish to take up for a life
time work. A year spent in military
or naval service, in the great majority
of cases, will get the young mems feet
planted on the ground, get their minds
settled down to serious thinking. Then
will be the time to decide on what type
OF work to be taken up, for they will
have more intimate understanding of
life in general. of how to get along with
people. how to regiment themselves in
their jobs so that the jobs will be done
well. BY regimentation I do not mean
in the strict military sense, but in the
sense that they will have learned to
stick to one thing until it is finished.
and to do it well. This type of regi-
mentation will be OF the greatest help
to young man who plans to enter COL
lege in that he will have learned to
apply himself to the task and see it
through to the finish. He will have
mastered one of the toughest assign
ments he will receive in college-that
OF concentration applied to studying.
Many boys Of eighteen do not plan
to enter college. If they plan to take
up trade or profession for which ad-
vanced formal education Is not prime
requisite, the advantages derived from
years military training also will be
OF great benefit. They will be able to
use the same advantages that the pro-
Spective college student will enjoy.
They can use the advantage of having
themselves well squared away in the
world, OF having had contact with many
types Of people, Of having learned to
get along with many types OF people.
They will have received the greatest
beneft to be derived from q college
edueation-the benefit OF having learned
to cooperate with their fellow workers.
with the people they contact in every
day life. In military or naval service
they will have their choice of many
varieties of trades at which they can
work and become proficient and to
which they may apply themselves when
they take their places in the world of
business upon completion Of the years
service.
All Of the youths will derive one great
benefit, regardless of their plans for the
future-the benefit of healthy bodies
and the knowledge of how to keep those
bodies healthy. The values of GOOD
health, whether in an ONCE, at a ma
chine, or in the field, are immeasurable.
A healthy nation is wise nation, and
wise nation is healthy nation.
These are the individual benefits to
be derived from universal military train
ing. The values to the nation as a whole
are Just 81 great and just as manifold. In
times of national emergency the country
will have on call thousands upon
thousands Of men already trained in
the duties of soldiers, trained and ca
pable Of meeting that emergency i'm
mediately. This would avert any such
period of unpreparedness as this coun-
try found itself in upon the opening Of
hostilities in World War II. 1t would
60 long way toward averting any re-
currence Of such tragedy As Pearl
Harbor. for country with a large
standing army and active navy, coupled
with great and well trained reserve
military, will not hnd itself open to any
surprise attack by possible future
enemy. w. W. STILSON.