Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1947-09-05
National Guard
Is Major Force
In Security Team,
WNU Features.

2NO ASAsNsSSs
WASHINGTON.-As the sec
ond summer of peace settles on
the United States, an army of
more than 5000 men has been
moving into camps for training
which will qualify them as
guardians of that peace in the
| years to come. They are men of
!, the new postwar National
Guard.
For the first time since 1910,
when the initial National Guard
troops were called into federal serv-
Ice during World War II to protect
the security of the country and the
integrity of the American way of
life, National Guard units are un-
dergoing regular field training this
summer. Encampments opened in
the latter part of July and will con-
tinue until early September.
= Individual and specialist training,
including small arms familiariza-
ton firing, is being emphasized dur
Ing the field training this summer
for the $4,000 men attending the
regular 15-day encampments and
the $4,000 men taking the shorter,
school-type training.
This is the first phase Of the
training program the army
ground forces has patterned to
the growth of the new National
Guard, which is planned as an
M-Day Mobilization Day. force
OF 682 1000 men, ira ined,
equipped and Immediately avail
able for service in the event of
any aggression by an enemy
nation.
Maj. Gen. Butler B. Miltonberger
Of North Platte, Nebr., retiring
chief of the National Guard bureau,
can look back to a growth that
doubled the progress of reorganiza-
ton following World War I. Com
pletely demobilized upon separation
from federal service at the end of
World War II, the new National
Guard has grown to a strength of
more than 100000 in the first year
Of its reorganization. Federal rec
ognition has been granted more
than As per cent of the ground and
air units planned for the ultimate
M-Day force, and their personnel is
drawing federal pay for regular,
weekly training.
Triple Strength.
To Maj. Gen. Kenneth F. Cramer
Of Wethersfeld, Conn.,, falls the
task of supervising the continued
growth of the National Guard to
strength almost three times that
authorized before World War II.
Assistant Commander of the oath in
fantry division in the Pacific during
World War II, General Cramer has
been appointed new chief of the Ma
tional Guard bureau by President
Truman fo- a term of four years.
A veteran of both world wars who
has won the Silver Star with three
Oak Leaf Clusters and an officer in
the Connecticut National Guard
since 1881, General Cramer typifies
the leadership in the new National
Guard. The same high standards
required of the enlisted men and
officers in the peacetime regular
army are met by the enlisted men
and officers of the National Guard.
In addition, all officers above the
grade of second lieutenant must
have had federal service during
World War II. This requirement is
designed to insure the professional
fitness of the men who will have in
creased responsibilities in COM
manding tactical force, in con-
trast to the prewar guard, which
was reserve force requiring addi-
tional personnel and training before
It was ready for service.
The prewar National Guard
sent Is infantry divisions into
action in every theater of oper-
alton. At Bataan, Bougainville,
Morotai and Leyte; in Tunisia,
Salerno, Anzio and Normandy
some 100000 men Of the Ma
tional Guard served with the
distinction that has charac-
terized their service in every
conflict into which the United
States has been forced.