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

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ON BEING A CADET By DR. HARVEY A. SMITH Principal, Central High School HE rookie who enlists in the cadet corps for the nrst time looks forward with a great deal of pleasure to the time when he can don his uniform with its new brass but- tons and insignia and drill with the rest of his company. Quite probably he imagines the dim future three years hence when he will be giving commands instead of obeying them. Between these two events there is a period of training which prepares him for the responsibilities which he must assume when he receives a commission. This period of training is of profound sig- niicance in the life of the cadet. It is during these years that he learns, if he is a good cadet. the importance of doing his part in that rather intricate piece of machinery, the company. If he is late for drill, his company loses valuable time: if he is out of step, the company is not functioning properly: if he misses a command. the entire organization suffers: if his uniform is not properly pressed and cleaned or his shoes not shined, fifty of his fellows suffer. All of this is excellent training in loyalty and respon- sibility to the organization of which he has become a member. Later on when he becomes a non-commis- sioned oflicer, he is responsible not only for his own conduct, but for that of those who are directly under his command. If his work is not done properly. his unit does not drill properly and more harm is done than would have been the case if he had failed in his duties as a pri- vate. To his own individual responsibility there now is added that for the platoon which he directs. He must, if he is a good oflicer, not only meet his own obligations but see to it that those under him meet them. His experience as a captain of a company is very much the same as that of a corporal, with this difference: that now he is no longer in direct command but must delegate many of the duties which he assumed before, to subordinates and see to it that they are properly carried out. Herein lies the test of his success as an executive. He must be able to command the respect and obedience of those under him: he must set a worthy example for every man in his company: he must be thoroughly familiar with all the de- tails of drill so that he can detect and remedy any deficiencies on the part of those under his command: he must in addition to all these, be able to inspire those who are responsible to him. All this, to be done properly, requires efliciency, personality and character. Membership in the cadet corps means healthy outdoor exercise: training in neatness, punctual- ity, reliability, and loyalty: and, finally, prep- aration for responsibility as anexecutive. Central's Officers Club Thirly-nine

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J 26131. .. CAPTAIN C-IIAIQLES Infmrgncn ADJU TA-NT GPIQANK Jermsom .ssmafyxmr Mfmurq I I I AI A! Ubsfrf I1 I-Ixirqzocs CCLOIZ 5EIEGSANT QE UTENANT Comms L Wu.LmM SCOCHENGIIIQ COMMANDER CAPTAIII Iawmim QIIAMMEIQLLIND PER-5OIxIAI. Amumrev LIEUTENANT GLENN UNEII. TRAINING LIEUTENANT I I I I LUAPI U6 ENAH 'WWVMA M 'QUAZQTERMAE-TE? :sEq'a5,awT ' I I I I I THE FIRST REGIMENT STAFF CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL Fortu