Royal Military College of Canada - Review Yearbook (Kingston, Ontario Canada)

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1953 169 For the complete functioning of this multi-national supreme headquarters approximately 2,700 personnel are involved, of which 2,600 are military. How- ever, if supporting organizations such as the Signals Battalion, a Car Company, a Provost Company, etc, are excluded the total staff required for SHAPE alone Cas of 1 September 19523 amounts to 800, of which nearly half are officers. Canada's contribution is presently 7 officers and 16 other ranks from both the Army and RCAF, though these numbers are increasing slowly month by month. On 5th October 1951, General Eisenhower authorized military and civilian personnel assigned to SHAPE to wear a new insignia, bearing SHAPE's official motto VIGILIA PRETIUM LlBERTATIS QVigilance is the Price of Libertyj. At the same time an official SHAPE flag bearing the new insignia and motto was raised on the Headquarters building to join the ffags of the NATO countries flying in the main forecourt. The source of the motto can be found in a speech by John Philpot Curran delivered in 1790 upon the right of election. Two gold swords, unsheathed, are superimposed on a gold scroll bearing the official maxim: HVigilia Pretium Libertatis . Two sprays of olive leaves in gold at the bottom of the scroll indicate dedication of the NATO nations to peace, the swords show the armed strength necessary to preserve the peace. The position of the swords produces the letter HA representing Allies. Within the scroll, and behind the swords, are twelve silver fronds stemming from the olive sprays and denoting the original signatories of the North Atlantic Treaty. They produce by their position rays of hope. The whole design is superimposed on a shield of dark green. The shield represents the crusading nature of SHAPE's mission and its colour signifies the peaceful woods and fields of Europe. That, in briefest outline, is SHAPE - an organization perhaps unique in the annals of military history. Speaking of NATO as a whole, General Eisenhower has said, 'fln the past great coalitions have often been joined in greed or hatred, our union seeks nothing that we do not now own. It does not seek to thrust on others our own system of beliefs. It is solely an effort to forge a protective weapon to ensure a safe peacew. In those few words can be found the raison d'6tre for SHAPE - the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. But perhaps the 'Oxford Dictionary is more prophetic, for there SHAPE'7 is defined as . . . to create, form, construct, . . bring into desired or definite form . . or more simply, the responsibility originally assumed by General Eisenhower 19th Dec- ember 1950 and now borne by his successor, General Ridgway.

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168 R.M. C. Review the Military Representatives Committee, in addition, there is the Military Stand- ardization Agency. The sphere of Command embraces the Canada-U.S. Regional Planning Group. SACEUR, SACLANT CSupreme Allied Commander Atlanticj, the Channel Comittee, and a series of subordinate commands. To describe, even in general terms, the scope and functions of each of these inter-related bodies and geographical areas would require a much more extensive article than this purports to be. However, the mere listing of some of their names will provide the reader with a small measure of familiarity. Within all this, SHAPE is responsible, under the general direction of the Standing Group, for the defence of the allied countries of continental Europe against invasion. Thus SACEUR would in time of War control all land, sea, and air operations in Europe to this end. Internal security and defence of coastal Waters remain a national responsibility, but the Supreme Commander Would have full authroity to carry out such operations in these areas as he considered necessary for the defence of Western Europe. SACEUR's functions are defined as: Cal The organization and training of the various units of the armed forces of the North Atlantic countries allotted to his command to ensure that they are knit together into one unified force. fbi The preparation of defence plans. Ccj Making recommendations to the Standing Group about such matters as the adequacy and training of his forces, and indeed on any military questions which effect his ability to carry out his res- ponsibilities in peace and war. The Supreme Commander ordinarily receives his directions from the Standing Group, but he has the right of direct access to the Chiefs of Staff of any of the NATO Powers, and in exceptional circumstances, to Defence Ministers and Heads of Governments. In addition, all the North Atlantic countries maintain military liason officers at SHAPE who are responsible for the day-to-day liaison with their Chiefs of Staff. The Supreme Commander obtains political guidance through the Standing Group from the NATO Council. SUP EME HEADQUARTERS LLIED POWfRS 'UROPF I I ED FORCES ALLQSQCEQND ALZEQEQR FLAG OFFICER ALLIED FORCES O, E N EURO E CE TR L EU,-,CPE C NTR E ROPE CENTRAL EUROPE SOUTHERN EUROPE - ED LA D ALLIED AIR ALLIED NAVAL ALLIED LAND ALLIED LAND ALLIED AIR ALLIED NAVAL ALQSQCEQND ALLF'D,,CE5N FORCES FORCES FORCES FORCES FORCES FORCES NORWAY DENMARK NORTHERN NORTHERN sOurHEAsrERN SOUTHERN SOUTHERN scurHERN EUROPE EUROPE EUROPE EUROPE EUROPE EUROPE

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170 R. M. C. Review ESPRIT DE CORPS By No. 2290 Colonel D. MENARD, D.S.O., C.D. Th: following article is reprinted from The Canadian Gimnvr, Shilo, Man., 25th July, 1952. Every Regiment, every Corps of the Canadian Army, is proud of its traditions and its record of service in peace and in war. With bated breath, almost, the newly inducted soldier listens to tales of prowess and of daring that have enabled the past history of his service. Gradually, scarcely perceived, the raw recruit is iilled with. entirely imbued with, the spirit of his unit or arm of the service. Gradually he comes to know and be proud of what his comrades have done - for they are now his. He feels that though he may never have known them in the flesh, they are nonetheless truly his companions for they have served in his unit. And with the growth of this feeling of pride and loyalty and comradeship, the new recruit becomes a soldier, smart on parade because he wants to equal or better the records of the past, becomes a gentleman and a man, so that by his conduct no one need be ashamed - either the comrades of the past or the comrades of the present. If he is an Artilleryman, there is no title he wears more proudly than that of Gunner . If he is an Infantryman, he is proud to belong to that arm, without which no war could be won. If he is an Engineer, he revels in the name of 'fSapper . Whatever the arm of his service, he becomes proud of it and will work and train and play, always in the best traditions of his group But what is the spark, the motive, the spirit that makes men proud of their regiment, of their service? Does it rest in the exploits of the past? Is it the unity of man to man, that spirit that seems to grow up among a group of men pursuing the same interests, doing the same things, working for the same ideals? Is it the loyalty of soldier to his soldier? ls it found in every good regiment? ls it the loyalty of soldier to his soldier? Is it found in every good regiment? ls it that spirit that turns a mediocre or poor outfit into a good one? Or can it be the same aim in an efficient and cheerful manner? It is all this and possibly more. It is called ESPRIT DE CORPS. But Esprit de Corps is not easily defined, nor are the qualities that go with it easily delineated. It is perhaps easy to say that it is the spirit of teamwork. It is harder to realize that to produce the spirit of teamwork, many virtues and qualities are required. And the lirst of these is friendship, a comradeship of man to man. But to maintain a constant comradeship think of what is required - almost the charity of the saint, and certainly the tolerance of the gentleman. Think, too, of the lesser virtues - tact and diplomacy to smooth over the possible rough edges of natures jarring upon other natures - work and discipline, too, are needed, for in a slack and lazy unit, nothing ever goes easily and the men are always grumbling and unhappy. The morale of the men must be high and the morals strong, or gradually the unit will fall to pieces. And yet, this requires a degree of physical and spiritual fitness that is, unfortunately, not too common. And too, let us not forget in all this, the obedience we owe to God and our country. When, in any unit or service, one finds all this, the unit is smart on parade, skilled in its specialty, cheerful in the performance of its duties, loyal to its officers, gentlemanly and sportsmanlike at play or in recreation, - then we say and know for sure that that unit has ESPRIT DE CORPS.