Fort Lewis ROTC Camp - Recall Yearbook (Fort Lewis, WA)

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Forward During the second week of June, 195 1, activity began in preparation for the 1951 RCTC Camp at Fort Lewis, Washington. Under the leadership of Colonel E. D. Porter, officers and nonfcoms worked hard to set the stage for the six weeks of intensive training that were to follow. By the end of the third week of June preparations were complete, and ROTC students began to arrive. Some cadets reported early and were therefore awarded special details-policing the grounds, setting up volleyball courts, etc. Some cadets reported at the correct time. Some reported late and were awarded demerits for their efforts. When the last trooper had wandered in, a total of 1169 Engineer and Infantry ROTC cadets were safely bunked under the watchful eye of the U. S. Army. These cadets, con- centrated in a part of Eastern Fort Lewis, had come from 32 different colleges and uni' versities in 14 states, Hawaii, and Alaska. During initial processing we learned how to wait in a line and to acknowledge that we had received umteen pieces of valuable clothing and equipment for which we were financially responsible. Newcomers to army life found that a few men can serve meals to many cadets provided the cadets walk, eat, and leave in a hurry. We also learned how obnoxious a shrill whistle in the hands of a first sergeant can become, especially at 5 : 15 in the morning. After the introductions were' over, the instruction began in earnest. The most memorable of the early instruction was PRI, otherwise known as Preliminary Rifle Inf struction and several other distorted and unusable word combinations. The extensiveness and thoroughness of this course so impressed the cadets that they added several verses con- cerning PRI to the popular marching tune Sound Off. In our military science classes at school we had been absorbing or trying to absorb the theoretical side of the many and varied subjects necessary for an officer's education. Here at Fort Lewis, for the first time, we were able to learn by doing. The practical field training made possible by the facilities of the camp supplemented our theoretical know' ledge and enabled most of us to understand more clearly what our PMS E? T's have been endeavoring to dun into our heads. Weapons were given particular emphasis. We spent four days on the rifle range firing, coaching, and pulling targets. Many of us made expert and won medals that we may proudly display at military functions back home next year. We fired most of the other infantry weapons-carbines, pistols, machine guns, mortars, etc. This was familiarization firing and it did just that. The weapons that we had previously seen, disassembled, and been told about came alive in our hands. During the first half of the six weeks' camp the courses given the infantry and the engineers were roughly parallel. However, the paths of instruction parted during the last three weeks, with particular attention being given to the more specialized subjects applicf able to each branch. Near the end of july the camp slowly drew to a close. With travel pay in our pockets and varied memories of our six weeks' tour with the army in our minds, we departed for home with gusto. To those readers not acquainted with RCTC camp, this book should provide a picturefstory of our six weeks' training. For those of us who attended camp, the following pages should help us recall our life at camp.