Evening star., 1949-09-04
ArnnyTrying.
To Become.
World-Wise.
Steps Up Its Program
of Information and
Education
By Robert K. Welsh

ward on many fronts in all
branches of the armed services
since issuance of a "unif1cation"
memorandum on the subject last
March by the Secretary of De-
fense.
Army authorities report good
strides since January and relative
-ly few complaints. They an
nounced today that they plan an
all-out reaction survey" during
the next few weeks to study re-
suits to date and remedy possible
shortcomings.
The troop information program,
officers information program,
Army education program and the
troop attitude research. program
are the main components. The
first two are for the most part
compulsory.
ITO be effective it has to be
compulsory, Col. M. K. Hender-
son, an I. g. E. official at the Pen
tagon, said. I'VE work on the
principle that if we don't arrange
these meetings and require at
tendance, only comparatively
few men would get the informa-
ton themselves and keep at it..
OF course, men sometimes tire of
lectures and study sessions. That
even happens at West Point. But
the thing pays off. Besides. in this
instance, we are trying to get
away from cut-and-dried lectures
and encourage discussion groups,
forums and so forth
Methods Broadened
Col. S. Y. McGiffert, chief of
the branch; Col. Henderson and
their I. g. E. associates in the
office of the Chief of Staff say
there is nothing essentially new
about the Army's information
aims, particularly for officers on
active duty. But there has been
q new emphasis and broadened
methods.
Long g-standing Department Of
the Army policy" officials state,
requires that every officer have
an adequate background in ma
tional and international affairs
and an understanding of che ap-
piled principles Of conduct and
leadership which are an integral
part of his position and respon-
sibility in the military profession. !"
Commanders of camps and
other Establishments have imme-
diate authority and responsibility
in charting the specific courses.
In the case of the officers infor-
nation program, they get guild
ance from a monthly magazine,
Officers Call, edited by Col. Hen
derson and distributed since jan
uary to officers on active duty.
Special Glasses
Subsequent issues of the 16-page
slick-paper publication have dealt
with such recommended dis
cussion topics as world strategic
problems and budgetary pro-
cedures of the Army, review OF
Winston Churchill's 1.-THE Gather
ing Storm" patterns for planning
a career in the Army. specializa-
ton for officers. guides to officer
conduct, including the question,
MAY Officers Take Part in Poll
tics?" and formulation of United
States foreign policy.
Besides taking part IN such
discussion periods once a week,
officers at the various installations
also must attend the one-hour-
a-week troop information period
required of all military personnel.
The troop information program
is designed. to acquaint enlisted
men as we'll as. officers OF all the
services with certain matters OF
significance in connection with
their service duties and to afford
appropriate sources of general in
formation in order that they may
evaluate and understand their re-
sponsibilities as members of the
armed forces and as citizens"
For the guidance Of command
ers and discussion leaders, the
office of the Secretary of Defense
circulates a 12-page booklet every
week. Some of the topics covered
in recent months are: The Amer
ican Way of Life, Scandinavia,
Bulwark of Democracy. Security
for the North Atlantic and Amer
lean Democracy and the In
dividual.
The Army also puts out a SINH
lar booklet of basic training
talks" to aid the recruit in fitting
himself into the military environ
ment.
Some Criticism
Still another Army information
publication "a newsletter - goes
periodically to all officers, includ-
ing those in the Reserve. This
is a digest of news. orders and
similar data from the military
establishment.
IT gather" wrote a company
commander who approves OF the
general purpose. that # Wash
tngton sees the program only as
q vehicle for improving our grasp
on national and international af-
fairs. not many officers will eager
" 60 along. If the discussions,
at least some of them, are devoted
to specific problems common to
our profession, a majority OF us
will give the time and effort re-
Quired."
Some Reserve officers on sum-
mer training have raised ques-
ton whether discussions on such
subjects as intricate international
finance are over the head Of most
listeners, officers as well as enlist.
ed men. Others question the ad-
visibility Of such general informa.
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