Evening star., 1947-06-02

| V14V 4CPOAu VA eA4C &&Co4lOAUS y
as other commission members
! Rev. DR.. Edmund A. Walsh, vic
4 Massachusetts, Institute of Tee
the President; Anna M. Rosenb
1 cago lawyer and former civilian
i tian Herald. Three members o
to the argument most frequently
put forward against the adoption
of a universal training program;
namely, that the development of the
atomic bomb and other instruments
of mass destruction has eliminated
the need for mass military forces in
wartime. We reject this conclusion
because our analysis of the possible
types and conditions of future war
fare convinces us that increased,
rather than decreased, numbers of
trained troops would be quickly re-
quired for home defense, for effec-
tive counterattack, and for complete
victory. ...
Specifically, we believe that a
universal training program would
provide the following benefits:
/. 1t would shorten the time in
which our effective fighting force
could be mobilized in case of war
2. It would give our young men
the essentials of military training
that would be the basic prerequisites
for technical, specialized, or unit
training in an emergency; and
training saves lives.
3. 1t would make possible an
effective National Guard and Or
ganized Army, Navy, Air, and Ma
rine Reserves capable of rapid alb
sorption into the professional mill
tary establishment in time of war.
4. 1t would improve the efficiency,
quality and alertness of the regular
forces in peacetime.
5. 1t would help produce qualified
reserve officers in numbers that
would assist in meeting the officer
requirements Of the regular services
and the civilian components and to
staff the forces needed after M-day
in any future crisis.
6. 1t would present additional
opportunities for intoxicating spir-
itual and moral ideals in support of
the American democracy.
7. It would establish q pool of
young, physically fit and trained
reserves who could be mobilized if
a future crisis arose.
8. 1t would provide large trained
group in every community capable
of withstandfng and dealing with
the problems of civilian defense and
mass disaster resulting from severe
bombing attacks.
9. 1t would provide mechanism
that could be converted Immediate
iy into a wartime selective service
system, and it would make possible
a continuous inventory of military
skills, aptitudes and leadership
qualities that could be used advan-
tageously in making military as
signn1ents should war come.
Would Help Channel Youth.
10. 1t would help to channel quail
fed young men into programs of
scientific and vocational training in
fields important to national de-
fense.
II. 1t would bring together young
Americans from all parts of the
Nation to share a common expert
enee and to fulfill a common obliga-
ton to their country, thus con-
tributing TO national unity, the
foundation of our security.
IL. 1t would give greater military
strength at less cost than would be
provided by exclusive reliance on a
large standing military force, since
it would be impossible to obtain
enough volunteers for the profess
sional force required for adequate
defense and since the cost would
overburden the national economy
even If such a force could be raised.
In submitting a training program
intended to achieve these military
benefits, we have been mindful of
the need of integrating into the pro-
gram, without sacrificing its essen
tial military objectives, the maximum
advantages to health, education,
character development and training
for citizenship. We recognize that
there are definite limits to the nom
military benefits that can be OBJ
tanned, and we do not present these
as IL any way justification for
the adoption of program that must
be considered solely on the basis of
its contribution to world peace and
national security.
The program herein recommended
reduces insofar as possible the dis
ruption of normal community and
family life, which inevitably attends
the calling of young men from their
homes in the national interest. We
have endeavored to take realistic
account of the losses the youth and
society would suffer both economi-
cally and educationalIy if the train
ing period were too long, and of the
danger that it might be worthless
for military purposes if it were too
short.
On the basis of all these consider
ations, we recommend that it be
made the obligation of every young
man upon reaching the age of Is,
or upon completing or leaving high
school, whichever is later. to undergo
a period of training that would fit
him for service to the Nation in any
future emergency. This period should
generally be divided into two parts.
The first would be six months of
basic training in camps or aboard
ship. The second would include a
number of alternative programs or
options. one of which would have
to be chosen on completion of the
basic training.
General Aim Given.
The general aim of these options
would be ID to organize men into
units, such as those of the National
Guard or the reserve components,
in which they could keep their basic
/ training up-to-date, move on to ,ad-
vanced and group training, and be
available for effective use in time
OF war, and (2) to give advanced
education or training to those who
are qualified for and desire to take
such training, including training
that would provide a steady stream