Jefferson Barracks Citizens Military Camps - Jeffersonian Yearbook (Lemay, MO)

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THE CALL OF THE CAMPS ff :- I a 7, .ff camps a highly-prized occasion for preliminary practice in full accord with academic rules. Track teams enrolled also from many schools and shared the exceptional advantage of training and competition in jumping, running, pole vaulting, shot putting, javelin and discus throwing under expert coaches. The athletic youth of the Nation found nowhere else as great an opportunity as the War Department afforded in the Citizens' Military Training Camps, because it saw in these out-door sports not merely physical betterment, but also a moral education in team work, fair play and the will to win, coupled THE CAPITOL is a symbol of patriotic devotion. with full recognition of the principles of the game. A The characteristic American gospel of health and fitness impelled to the camps thousands who were not eager to shine as athletes, but sought the conditions which make for bodily well-being. Within a generation a remarkable change has come' in our national life thru emphasis on proper diet, exercise and outvdoor living. Young men have caught this spirit and have adopted what may be called almost a religion of physical health. Therefore, they welcomed heartily the training offered in the camps. The preliminary physical examination and the succeeding bodily tests at the time of registration taught them a EE +9 x Q N - X N X r r swiss 5 K X L NJN , - N r.r.i X . . 1 , 'i ...g , t s THE CATH OF ALLEGIANCE+A solemn pledge of service given by the men of the CMTC. Pagf Ten ' - I V V V V V V V'V'V4V-'NM'-V-V' V V ' r.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.vmv.v.v.v.vN.mv-v.v.v.v.v.v.v-v.v.v.v. 0 a

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THE CALL OF THE CAMPS , fi THE CALL OF THE CAMPS One hundred and fifty-eight thousand young men I enrolled for the Citizens' Military Training Camps in the six years since their establishment in 1921. Ninety-sixthousand more,an average ofsixteenthousand T' each year, made application but could not be trained for lack of room. The call of the camps drew a quarter of a million young Americans to seek admission. Many and diverse reasons impelled them to register in these camps, where the Government offered four weeks of training with all necessary expenses paid. Athletics brought a large part of the enrollment. In no other country of the civilized world have young men a greater devotion to a large variety of sports and games than in the United States. This interest was reflected in applications, from men who saw in the. camps a chance of participating in all popular types of American sports under skilled instructors. The Government furnished much necessary equipment and this was supplemented by donations, where requested, from the Military Training Camps Associa- . . tion and other patriotic societies and civic committees. E Many of the training centers were located on the THE COLOR GUARD is made UP seashore or on inland lakes and rivers with ample opportunity for bathing. At other points the War Department established adequate, hygienic and at- tractive swimming tanks. The Red Cross generously arranged systematic courses of instruction, leading successful candidates to final credit -as life guards. Baseball diamonds and suitable equipment were provided for all men who sought to qualify for' the company teams and to take part in the inter-company and regimental games. Tennis courts were to be found everywhere, boxing was taught for men of every weight, volleyball, pushball and fencing were hardly less popular. ln greater measure each year high school, normal school and college football teams, sometimes with their own coaches, found in the summer of the best men at a CMTC. One can easily imagine their pride. ff ' , i . V . . - ' THEY MARCH LIKE VETERANS-CMTC men after one month in camp file past in iinal parade. ' Page N ine V V Y U Y Y YgV4VA V I O

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THE CALL OF THE CAMPS A K .Q F newandstillhigherstand- ard. At an impression- able age, for the majority of those enrolled were just entering upon man- hood, they learned from menofcharactertheideal of clean living. They found in the daily pro- gramthemeanstogreater physical vigor and con- trol. Military drill brought proper carriage, quickness of response and exact co-ordination of nerve and muscle. Mass calisthenics emphasized these ,qualities thru rhythmic movement. Adequate, varied, nutri- tious and appetizing diet for thirty days contrib- uted its share to a bodily growth, measured by inches of height and chest expansion and many pounds of Weight. Regular hours estab- lished a proper habit of life. Systematic medi- cal inspection Warded off any danger of undue ex- ertion and it Was sup- plemented by hospital care in case of need, although the 'records showed far less sickness than in the ordinary American home or city. Y DWIGHT F. DAVIS Secretary of War ...--...... .....,....... THE TENT CITY is typical, although sometimes the men are housed in permanent barracks Page Eleven v Q V VV 'V' 'VV' V VVYYAVQVQ . ,