Citizens Military Training Camp - Full Pack Yearbook (Fort Leavenworth, KS)

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THE FULL PACK THE OMTO MOVEMENT WILLIAM T. POWERS The idea of training camps for citizens originated with Major General Leonard Wood while he was commanding the Eastern Department. He was authorized by President Theodore Roosevelt to hold a training camp at Plattsburg, New York. Thus the camps were called Plattsburg Camps. Unlike the camps of today, the applicants were required to be College and University men who could and who would bear all expenses of the camp. The value of the camps for training Officers was demonstrated during the World War. Congress, realizing the 'value and the importance, provided for the CMT Camps in the National Defence Act of IQZO. The first CMT Camp was held in IQZI. Its great success and the great demand of the public spirited youth of the United States has caused Congress to provide for the training of thirty-five thousand men each year. Two thousand more boys applied for orders to attend the CMT Camps in the Seventh Corps Area this year than could be taken care of, Colonel Tenney Ross, Chief of Staff of the Seventh Corps Area, stated upon a visit to the Leavenworth Camp. He said, If we had the funds to take care of them, we could easily train 7,ooo boys at the camps of the Seventh Corps Area. During the past few years the amount appropriated by Congress has steadily increased until now it is possible to train 35,000 men. lt is now the secret hope of every CMTC lad that Congress will continue to increase the appropriations so that soon we may have a total of 50,000 young men in training in the 53 CMT Camps of the United States. One of the most important things that comes of the CMT Camps is discipline- subordination to properly constituted .authority. Every man in the United States must obey the law, no matter in what he is engaged, if in business, he must obey the economic law, or the law of his employer, or the law of his superiors. Obedience is a thing that every man must learn. He also must learn to exercise authority. No man can command who has not learned to obey. Not in military life alone but in every walk of life this prin- ciple is fundamental. These camps teach principles of commanding and comradeship, and fundamentals of good citizenship. V 5 We all want to see this CMTC movement grow. We would like to see the man who comes here the first year continue through subsequent years until he has completed his four year course. We know by experience it will be beneficial to him. It is the general opinion among some that the boys are doing the government a favor by going to these camps. The boys are given an opportunity which costs the govern- ment thousands of dollars each year. The favor is to the civilian lad who partakes of Uncle Sam's hospitality, for he receives a great benefit by attendance. If he fails to go to camp he is missing a wonderful opportunity to strengthen his entire body, to become broader minded, and to become better qualified to perform his duties as an American citizen. 0 A HELP US MAKE CMTC MEAN CITIZENSHIP Page Thirty-fzx ' T v v v.v.v v v I ' a

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THE FULL PACK ADDRESS OF WELCOME You are gathered here for the 1927 Citizens, Military Training Camp to give to your country a service of patriotism and high civic spirit. You are assembled in the interest of National Defense to prepare yourselves to perform your part should our country and its ideals be endangered. The CMTC has a serious purpose of providing a basis of National Defense against those who would ,loot us if We fall and who would like to see us fall. If you read the news- papers you vvill learn that the air is full oftrouble, full of the petty jealousies and anirnosities of nations. Believe me, We did not bring you here, as some insist We did, to start a fight. We don't Want a fight. We who have seen the pain and bloodshed of thevbattlefield do not Want War. But We do Want to put you one jump ahead of those who Would pick a fight. , We Want to make you strong physically, We Want to make good citizens of you, too. We Want to teach you to exercise your rights as citizens. In this camp are developed initiative, iresourcefulness, courage, right thinking, and a spirit of fair play and regard for rights of others. In this camp there is physical develop- ment,,mental development, and moral development. ' To you I extend my hearty congratulations on your being able to come here. I hope you may all return next year. You Will have to Work and you will have to play in this camp. Both are good for you, and I hope you Will enjoy it. I congratulate you and I vvish you Well. ' EDWARD L. KING Brglaeliee General, U. S. Army Commanding M. C. KERTH I I I- M- PETTY Cogomg, Inf. Lieutenant Colonel, Inf. Asslt. Camp Commander SCIUOF Instructor Page Thirty-three v.v.v.vn.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v. ' ' ' ' a U

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THE FULL PACK Q , ., CMTC PLANS AND, TRAINING if is , if 1 The instruction imparted to the young man attending the Citizens' Military Training Camp is of 'two general classes: first, that which prepares him in a measure for the duties his government will call upon him to perform in the event of a national emergency neces- sitating the formation of a non-professional Army, second, that which aims to assist him in solving the problems to be encountered in the daily pursuit of legitimate peace time activities of civil life. ' The course is divided into four classes designated, respectively, Basic, Red, White and Blue each corresponding to a year of attendance in camp and being progressive in character. In the primary courses, such military training is given as will instill in the trainee habits of discipline and obedience to constituted authority and at the same time develop the idea of team-work with its subordination of the individual to the smooth functioning of the group. No obligation for future military service is entailed by attend- ance in the Basic Course. The instruction in the advanced courses is an elaboration and extension of that given the Basic classes and has the further purpose of preparing the trainee to qualify for appointment as a Commissioned Officer in the reserve component of the army of the United States. The teaching of good citizenship in these camps is considered of equal importance to that of the fundamentals of military preparations. , An endeavor is made to interest the students by means of a series of short talks on selected topics, designed to bring out the salient features of our country's history, and to stress the characteristics of the outstanding individuals who have contributed so greatly to our nation's progress. In arranging daily schedules due cognizance has been taken of the average age of those undergoing instruction, and attempt has consequently been made to avoid unduly pro- longed periods of instruction. All citizenship and military work, with the exception of occasional parades and similar ceremonies, are completed. before noon. The afternoons are given over to controlled athletics of various kinds, and the interest of the students is fostered by encouraging the competitive spirit and providing suitable rewards in the shape of medals, cups and other trophies, for individual and group prowess. In general it may be said that the training given in these camps is suflicient to repay the government for the financial outlay involved, and the student for the time he has given up from other pursuits in order to attend them. There are those well meaning citizens of this country who object to the CMTC move- ment and advance the claim that it tends towards militarism. Close connection with several of these camps will prove that there is no virtue in such claims. Experience has indicated the necessity for a sane degree of military preparedness on our part, and com4 mon sense should recognize the value of any agency tending to foster democratic ideals and interest of our young manhood in the history and future of our country. The train- ing camp contributes to the accomplishment of both of these results, and the student who successfully completes the prescribed courses of instruction will find that he is better equipped to perform his duty as a citizen with credit to himself, his family and the com- munity in which he lives. Page Thirty-five v v V V , ,m,.,.,,,,,,,,,,,,,, , v 7 , 7 ' nv.vmv.v.v.v.v.vw.v.v.v.v.v.v v v v v v v v v 0 . . Q l U