Page:The history and achievements of the Fort Sheridan officers' training camps.djvu/203

 THE FIRST OFFICERS' TRAINING CAMP

���THEY ALL SHOWED UP HERE

��squads, and entered upon the work of specialization with an enthusiasm seem- ingly increased by the vision of a definite goal.

On the following day a communication was published in the new^spapers of the country, giving notice of the standard demanded of the future officers, signed by Adjutant General McCain. The edict follows:

It is time to correct erroneous impressions. The best qualified of all reserve officers and candidates w^ill be selected to become officers of the regiment which the training company represents. The object is to appoint from each company troop and battery men in such numbers and grades as to complete the quota of officers needed for each regiment after officers of the regular army have been provided. The total number selected and the number in each grade w^ill therefore depend upon the regular army contingent appointed to each regiment. While the age limits prevent the appointment of older men to lower grades, they do not prevent the appointment of younger men to higher grades — thus, a man of 30 may be a captain or a major.

Appointments to Be Speeded

Those qualified to be reserve officers at the end of the training period, but not selected as indicated above, w^ill be appointed officers at once and continued in service for the duration of the w^ar, subject, of course, to elimination for misconduct, etc., or to relief from active duty as the result of a material and unforeseen change in the military situation.

Those classified under the paragraph should be such as are com- petent to serve as additional officers of the prospective regiment during its organization period and should be the kind of men who are able to assist in organizing and training the new^ regiment, to assist in teaching inexperienced and non-commissioned officers their special duties.

�� �