Page:Frank David Ely -Why defend the nation? Sound Americanism... (1924).pdf/49

Rh We trained and commissioned about 200,000 officers in the World War. Twelve thousand are in the Regular Army. Some thousands are in the National Guard of the forty-eight States. Some seventy thousand have enrolled and accepted commissions in the Organized Reserves. The remaining hundred thousand includes those who died or were killed or incapacitated, and men who are now in civil life, without military affiliation.

The officers for the Reserve are obtained by examining and recommissioning officers of the World War who apply; and by the examination and appointment of applicants from among the enlisted men of that war and of men from civil life who meet the requirements. A source for obtaining trained officers lies in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, the name collectively given to the students of educational institutions who acquire military training during their courses, under Regular Army officers regularly detailed as instructors. Another source lies in the graduates of the courses of training prescribed for civilians who take the required courses in the Civilian Military Training Camps, of which there is one established for a month each summer in each of the nine corps areas into which the whole of the United States is divided.

While the organization of the Reserves is actual and real so far as completed, it is contemplated to enroll and assign to units of this force only the full complement of officers and a percentage of the more essential non-commissioned officers. To fill up the ranks seems unnecessary, for the officers and the noncommissioned officers require the most training and are therefore more difficult to secure on the outbreak of war. With officers ready assigned and more or less completely trained, these can be immediately ordered to a designated mobilization camp and can there receive, equip, and train the men enlisted or drafted to complete the full complement of their units.

The force called for on paper for both lines is six field armies, the majority of which will be of the organized reserves. All of the divisions, brigades, regiments, battalions, companies, etc.; staff organizations; supply and transport, etc., are provided for, including the Corps and Army troops and G. H. Q. Reserves. Officers are everywhere assigned to appropri-