The Nome nugget., 1947-05-19
Monday, May 19, 1947
Congress And The ''Umtees"

THE BEST DAYS work any Congressional Armed Services subcommittee could do for itself right now would be to take junket to Fort Knox and see the Army Ground Forces "Umtee' Universal Military Training Experimental Unit, in operation Here 664 teen-age recruits from A states have completed the first two months of six-nonths course to find out how universal military service be adapted to U. B. ideas of democracy.
 President Truman'S ten-nan commission to study universal service, headed by President Karl T. Comp ton of Massachusetts Institute of Technology is coming down for oneday look That's not long enough This commission of prominent educators churchmen, and civic leaders is due to make recommendations next month on how this thing should be It has held few hearings in Washington
 But that's operating in vacuum. The only way to find out how universal military training is going to work is to down and see it working.
 Other interested parties have been here, all right in droves. Parents, teachers, club women, church groups, four and fivestar generals from China Brazil and such places Secretary of War Robert Patterson himself made inspection and came away more than satisfied with what he He wants UNIT law pass ed by this Congress before it goes home.
 This is without doubt the biggest experiment in mass compulsory education attempted Says unit mandng officer Brig Gen John M. Devne, 51-year-old commander of the Eighth Armored Division, West Pointer and a former instructor at the Academy and Yale University: 'Tll match the behavior of these youngsters against that of any group of college fresh men in the country.
 General Devine claims the Umtees use less profanity Their officers and are forbidden to use it.
 
 change Louisville bartenders cooperating by fusng to Umtees pass The good conduct patrol in Louisville has been abandoned as unnecessary. The men are in better physical condition They get regular meals and all they want to eat They get only 40 hours drill week, with Wednesday and Saturday afternoons off, Sports and recreation made part of on and offduty programs just to keep the boys minds off diversions that usually get them into trouble They are even taught basic etiquette like how properly ask girl for dance and how to cut in in improved West Point style They not taught bayonet or dirty" fighting as in wartime But boxing is compulsory.
 There has been general belief that the Army can only make buns out of boys" says General Devine.
 This has been the greatest of opposition to uni versal military training We think we have shown this is no longer a-valid objection"
 To achieve these results General Devine had to throw away most of the old book of rules on Army training and discipline and start from scratch
 To begin the chaplains hold personal interview with each ranee, to talk the place of moral and religion in his life About 50 have been baptized Churchgoing isn't compulsory but those who don't go get onehour lecture Only took the lecture-once Chapains and medical officers then combine to teach the facts of life and venerea disease Confluence is stressed rather than prophyaxs So ar there has been only one " D. Chaplans also into the picture