Page:The history and achievements of the Fort Sheridan officers' training camps.djvu/204

 202 THE FORT SHERIDAN ASSOCIATION

They should be the kind of men that can be counted upon as good officers for troops to be organized later when they have had the advan- tage of their experience with the half million in its formation period. Or they should be good temporary officers in the regular army. They will be recommended for appointment as second lieutenant if under 31 years and 6 months of age; otherw^ise, as first lieutenant. The number will, of course, vary. It is more a matter of enforcing a high standard than appointing a large number.

Quality to Be First Aim

It should be borne in mind that other camps w^ill follow if the w^ar continues. An excellent man w^ith three months' training is much supe- rior to a w^eak man with a year's training; hence, it is better to rely on the excellent men of the next camp than to rely on weak men, no matter how much time they have devoted to training.

Men who have definite promise of being competent officers, assum- ing additional training, will be encouraged to enter the next camp. It is expected that the number of these men will be quite small and w^ill include only young men of most exceptional merit and natural ability w^ho have had no military experience prior to the opening of these camps. No reserve officer of enlisted men of the regular army or national guard w^ill be included in this class.

Sifting Process Described

All others, being those w^ho have merely survived the training period w^ithout having demonstrated affirmatively that they possess the fitness and efficiency necessary in an officer, w^ill be discharged with the expiration of enlistment. Reserve officers in this class will be recom- mended for discharge.

Enlisted men of the Regular Army and National Guard w^ill be ordered to their respective regiments. Men of indifferent promise v/ill not be compelled to remain in training.

Cognizance must be taken of the fact that the men of the National Army w^ill be between 2 1 and 3 1 years and of every gradation of intelli- gence and standing. Immature, weak-looking or unpresentable officers are absolutely out of the question. The requisite is military efficiency. It is emphasized that military efficiency implies ability to lead.

The men were hungry for any authoritative information from Washington which might indicate the plans and prospects of the future. Such an announce- ment as that of General McCain served to furnish an idea of what was expected of candidates and w^hat the rewards of their efforts would be.

This second and final period of training commenced and continued v/ith an intensity even greater than that of the first. The preliminary training of an all-around nature had been completed. Energy was now diverted towards the work of specialization, although there were several subjects which of necessity w^ere continued and taken up anew, alike by all.

Infantry, Artillery and Cavalry continued the 'Studies in Minor Tactics " for a period of four weeks more.

A new study of importance to be taken up simultaneously by the three arms was that of mapping. The subject was carefully explained by the in-

�� �