Page:Military organization of the United States (IA militaryorganiza00comm).pdf/3



This pamphlet is prepared by The Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, for the purpose of presenting in convenient form the announced policies and basic principles of military organization. It gives a brief outline of the general orgnization of the land forces of the United States, including a theater of war. It presents in considerably more detail the projected war organization of tactical formations, the functions of commanders and staffs, and the system of administration. It is a reference book rather than a text.

Organization for national defense affects the whole population. The obligation of every citizen to serve in the defense of the United States is an accepted principle. This places in military formations or categories all citizens who are able to perform service. The value of the forces so formed depends on the soundness of organization and on the individual and collective spirit, power, and will of our people. In war personal sacrifice extends to each family, as war affects deeply each town and village. Therefore, a democracy through its realization of the self-imposed horrors strives to avoid war, and our nation has generally been able to suppress efforts to bring on needless conflict with its consequent suffering: But when war is unavoidable, defeat is more bitter and more costly than success. In a nation possessing the resources of the United States, early success in war is insured by sound preparation. The most important form of preparation in time of peace is thorough provision for a war organization.

Thorough organization for national defense contributes to success in war, and what is more important, tends to prevent war. A nation is slow to attack another which is known to be prepared for national defense.

The organization of the several arms, branches, and services is given in Tables of Organization, W. D. The text-