Under whose careful supervision so many have received their Military Training in order that they may show the world in battle the true spirit of American manhood....

To have prepared this book within the time allotted to it, without the assistance of Candidates Alcott Farrar Elwell and Lyle Milton Prouse would have been impossible, and grateful recognition is made of their services. Not only much of the manual labor, but the preparation of entire chapters, has been in their hands. Candidates Charles Huntington Jacobs and Michael Francis Mcaleer have rendered very valuable assistance and we wish to thank the following candidates for the loan of materials used

The officer of to-day has big problems to face at short notice. His training has necessarily been so intensive that he cannot absorb a large amount of it. He has little time to make out schedules or even to look over the hasty notes he may have made during his training period, yet he finds himself facing problems which force him to immediate action. This book so condenses and systematizes general military instruction and the work done at Plattsburg so that it may be easily utilized in training o

Schedule Of Instruction, Reserve Officers' Training Camp Plattsburg, N.Y., August 27 to September 1, 1917 Schedule Of Instruction, Reserve Officers' Training Camp Plattsburg, N.Y., September 3 to September 8, 1917 Schedule Of Instruction, Plattsburg Training Camp Plattsburg, N.Y., September 3 to September 8, 1917 —( Concluded ) [A] As prescribed by Senior Grenade Instructor. Schedule Of Instruction, Plattsburg Training Camp Plattsburg, N.Y., September 10 to September 15, 1917 Schedule Of Instruc

The greatest lesson of the present war is that the keynote of success is discipline. In trenches the direct control of the men is even less than in extended order in open warfare, and only thoroughly disciplined troops with a trusted leader can hope to succeed. The successful officer will show anger or irritation only in rare cases, and then by design: he will know his men individually and be as considerate of them as possible, ready to do himself what he asks to have done; just in administering

Only the carefully trained and conditioned man can make victory possible. For this reason the first and most important concern of a nation at war is the physical training of its soldiers. The setting-up exercises are the basis for all other activities and their disciplinary value is almost as great as their physical value. Physical Training .—Each period should include exercises for all parts of the body. Following the setting-up exercises the following should be given in the order named: marchi

Small Arms Firing. Under this heading we have many phases of the training and exercises given to our armed forces. It has been found best to use simple every day methods to get the best results. There are two principal factors—the rifle and the pistol. The former only will be taken up now. The scheme is to make the soldier a good shot singly and collectively, in time of peace and in time of war. The course of instruction at this camp was arranged as follows: (a) Every man should be taught the na

Map sketching is an important factor in trench warfare to-day as it is in a war of movement. A fairly accurate map will indicate more than many words and in much less time. Time is the great factor in war. Instruction must also be rapid. Here are ten lessons which would occupy a week if taken morning and afternoon. The aim of the instruction as in company rifle shooting is to train many men to do a satisfactory job, not to make a few finished topographers. Neatness, accuracy and initiative are c

(Extracted from M.C.M. and Guide to the Articles of War—Waumbaugh's Lectures.) Military Law is the body of rules that governs members of the army. Military Law is based upon the Articles of War approved by Congress, August 27, 1916, effective March 1, 1917. This body of rules defines: The present Articles of War are revisions of those from the Revolution. Article 1. Definitions: Article 2. Persons Subject To Military Law : Articles 3-18. Courts Martial Classified : Appointed by Over all persons

1. Obedience required in the military service—strict and prompt. 2. Authority Exercised with firmness, kindness and justice—prompt and lawful punishment. 3. Abusive Language or conduct by superiors forbidden. 4. Respect To Superiors will be extended upon all occasions, whether on duty or not. 5. Remarks By Officers or soldiers upon others in the military service, whether praise or censure, public or private, written or spoken, is prohibited. Any effort to affect legislation for a personal favor

"Special attention should be paid to the fitting of shoes and the care of the feet." (i.d.r., 627.) Short marches from 2 to 4 miles should be made daily and at a uniform rate until the troops become hardened. Particular attention must always be paid to the rate of march—it is imperative for the leading element to keep a uniform rate per hour. Be careful and see to it that your troops march on the right-hand side of the road, and during halts, no one, not even officers, must be permitted on the l

In Camp .—You will usually have plenty of food but continual inspecting is necessary to have it properly cared for, prepared and served. The kitchen must be kept clean: company commanders inspect daily and insist on the following: 1. Have cooks and enlisted men come to attention at the command of the first man who sees you approach. 2. Have all refrigerators opened, and put your head in far enough to detect any bad odors. 3. Check the bill of fare and see that food not consumed one day is utiliz

This is a purely arbitrary grouping of topics for the purpose of saving space. Either of the topics mentioned could be treated at length; detailed information will be found in any of the reference books mentioned in the bibliography. Personal Hygiene means "the preservation of health by attention to the care of the body;" it is determined by the formation of correct habits. Cleanliness of person, clothing and bedding should become a habit of life with the soldier; but some men will always requir

This chapter proposes to cover a large amount of ground in a small compass; hence treatment must be brief. A more liberal treatment will be found at different sources; here a few suggestions and hints will be given. Semaphore .—Time spent, 61 hours: 6 sessions ½ hours, 1 session 1 hour, 1 conference 2 hours. It is easy to say "just learn the semaphore," but to learn it quickly and well is another matter. A few suggestions as to the methods followed by others will usually prove helpful. Learn the

Guards are divided roughly into four classes: Here we are concerned chiefly with interior guards. We shall make up a brief summary of what an officer must know and what he ought to teach his non-coms. and men. Also we shall touch upon the subject of guard duty as it has been changed by trench warfare. An officer ought to have a good grasp of the following subjects relative to guard duty: An officer ought to-teach to his non-coms. as much of the above as is consistent with time and other demands;

Company administration is a very broad subject and can be really learned only by experience. However, this chapter will attempt to point out a few suggestions and practices that may prove of some assistance, particularly to the new officer. We shall treat briefly of the first organization of the company; then we shall try to reproduce in some slight measure the actual work of a day in camp (more particularly of a training camp such as Plattsburg); then finally we shall treat of the orderly room

(Time—2 hours each day in afternoon.) 1. Know your subject and be thoroughly prepared. 2. Have an outline to refer to, showing main points you wish to cover. 3. Do not allow a man to give an entire chapter in reply to a question. Make your questions short and specific—and require answers to be the same. 4. Get every man on his feet at least once every day. 5. Have a laugh every little while—keep the men awake. 6. Vary your system of calling on men so that no one will know when he is likely to be

General Principles. 1. Defense may be made in depth by all organizations, down to and including the platoon, or it may be made laterally. 2. The smallest active segment, be it only three men, must have a chief and a second in command, who is responsible for the proper upkeep and defense of the segment. All occupants of active segments must know all instructions which should be simple. 3. Any troops in charge of a portion of trench must never abandon it, no matter what happens, even if surrounded

ToC The present army of the United States had its inception at Plattsburg in 1915. The first regiment of the Business Mens' Training Camp will go down in history as the first chapter of preparedness. The training camps of 1916, not only at Plattsburg, but at various other places throughout the United States, constituted the second chapter. We are just finishing chapter three in the officers' training camps of 1917. This book brings together the essential points of the instruction given at the se

ToC Chapter II. I.D.R. Balck "Tactics" Vol. 1. Infantry. Howell "Lectures on the Swiss Army." Bjornstadt "Lectures on the German Army." "Drill and Field Training" (English)—Imperial Army Series. "Instructions on the Offensive Conduct of Small Units." War Department, May, 1917. "Notes on the methods of attack and defense to meet the Conditions of Modern Warfare." Army War College, April, 1917. Privates Manual. (Moss.) "Instructions for assembling the Infantry Pack," Ordnance Department. Pamphlet