High School Cadet Corps - Adjutant Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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LIEUTENANT COLONEL WALLACE M. CRAIGIE, U. S. A Professor of Nfilirary Science and Tactics

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is x u I, - X In P ' 1 l 'c I'ly 5 V I

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HE ADJ UTANT Volume XIV June 5 and 6, 1933 Number 1 HALF A CENTURY OF ORGANIZATION By LIEUTENANT-COLONEL WALLACE M. CRAIGIE, U. S. Army Professor of Military Science and Tactics ALF a century of organization! The Washington High School Cadet Corps with fifty years of organization stands unique in the annals of high school or- ganizations. A school unit in every respect it has progressed through this period of time until it has reached its present high standard which has accorded it not only local but National prom- inence. The Cadet Corps has a background of tra- ditions and ideals which it has earnestly and suc- cessfully striven to uphold during these fifty years and each member, beginning with the orig- inal two companies up to the present thirty companies, may well feel a sense of duty well performed and time well and usefully spent. Patriotism, leadership and a sincere desire to be- come useful citizens have always been the goal and watch-word of the Washington High School Cadets. The twelve years I have spent with the Cadet Corps have been inspiring ones as well as in- structive ones to me: to have known and to have had personal contact with all these splendid young students has meant much to me as do the letters I frequently receive from those who have been fortunate enough to attend college after high school graduation. Since 1921 I have per- sonally witnessed the presentation of commis- sions to over flfteen hundred cadet ofhcers and when I think of all these serious minded young leaders, together with the several thousands who were not fortunate enough to receive commis- sions, annually becoming a part of our civic life, I feel the Nation has gained a dependable group of young citizens. My sincere and affectionate greetings to pre- sent and past High School Cadets! HISTORY OP THE PRESENTATION OP COMMISSIONS By CAPTAIN WILLIAM E. WILSON, H. S. C. ' NTIL the year 1914 the method of present- ing commissions was a strictly informal affair. In that year Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stephen E. Kramer inaugurated the plan of making it an annual ceremony. From that time until 1924 these presentations were made out-of-doors. ln 1924 it was decided that the ceremonies should be held in the Central High School Auditorium. Thispractice continued until 1929, when, due to the enlargement of the corps, it was necessary again to hold these cere- monies in the open, and Wilson Stadium was selected as the place. It has been the practice to hold the presentation there up to the present, Seven with the exception of 1932 when it was held on the Ellipse in conjunction with the Pan- American Day exercises. In 1925 it was decided to pick one Company to represent the Brigade and to act as a Guard of Honor to escort the officials onto the field. The presentation is usually made by a rank- ing Army Ofiicer assisted by the P. M. S. fd T's of the various high schools. Each commis- sioned oflicer of the Brigade is presented with formal commissions by the Board of Education. This year Dr. Stephen E. Kramer ordered that the officers of each school be commissioned sep- arately.