Evening star., 1947-03-07

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FORT KNOX, Ky.-The "Umptees," a
battalion of 664 teen-age soldiers today
are out to prove that universal military
training won't necessarily make Army
buns out OF American boys.
The Umptees are members of the new
universal military training experimental
unit and derive their nickname from it.
This is the new Army.
Imagine! In this Army cuSsing is
taboo. Crap games and other gambling
are strictly forbidden. Drinking is out.
Top sergeants are firm-but not hard
boiled.
Instead, the shiny-faced Umptees are
going through regular basic training in
a collegiate atmosphere.
Barracks are painted in cheerful coll
ors. Some windows even have curtains.
The post exchange does a big busi-
ness in candy bars, but sells no beer.
Classical music is served up daily in
big, carpeted room devoted to music
alone.
There are high school and college
classes and social events galore to fll
off duty hours.
Discipline is maintained by a court
made up of Umptees themselves
The chaplain is just about the most
important man in camp.
Despite all this, Brig. Gen. John M.
Devine, chief guardian of the Umptees,
insists that the program "is not revo-
lutionizing Army training"
From Regular Volunteers.
Were just adapting training to the
needs of 18-year-old boys" he says.
Seven weeks ago. the Umptees were
selected from the roster of Army volun-
teers. To qualify, they had to be under
20 and without previous Army expert
ence. Coming from 46 States, they
make up cross-section Of the Nations
youth.
They have been formed into q bat
TALON OF four companies with Is pla-
toons of 40 men. So far, their training
program has been worked out to cover a
six-month period. Currently, they're
taking regular basic training.
All training, according to Gen. Deyine.
consists of three phases" mental phy-
sical end moral. And we're not going
to make any bones about moral train-
ing"
For the first four Sundays of their
training, the Umptees were required
either to go to church or attend a lee
ture on citizenship" The first week
all but one Umptee went to church. He
went the next week.
The officers insist that we're not try
ing to convert anybody" It's Just that
the chaplain is being given chance to
do his job.
Discipline is kept among the Umptees
by new system of demerits. In the
old days. q soldier who failed to shine
his shoes or missed saluting an officer
was in for a first-class bawling out.
Ulnptee gets demerit. He must do an
extra hour of duty for every demerit
over 20 that he gets in single month.
Five demerits in week keeps an Umptee
from getting weekend pass.
Have Own Court.
More serious violations of military
rule are handled by court of eight
Umptees. including one appointed as a
trial judge advocate. If the court finds
soldier guilty it recommends punish
ment to the company commander. Un-
Ger special Umptee code, he must deal
out the punishment.
Special attention is paid to the Unn.
tee in his off-duty hours.
An entire barracks building Is de-
voted to the information and education
SEXTON. There the Umptee can take high
school or college courses through the
United States Armed Forces Institute.
some l20 OF the 664 Umptees are work.
Ing Tor high school diplomas. -.
TO keep idle hands busy, another
building has been made into a hobby
shop. Umptees are learning such things
as leathercraft, photography and GEM
cutting.