Lane Tech College Prep High School - Arrowhead Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

Page 94 text:

COMPETITION PLATOON CRACK DRILL SQUAD One of the outstanding events of the year, at least for the R.O.T.C., is the annual Platoon Com¬ petition, held generally in March. Every R.O.T.C. unit in the city enters a platoon in this compet¬ ition and the Armory where the event is held is crowded all day with interested spectators. The Competition is very keen and the judging is very close. Often the winners are determined by fractions of a point. Last year second and fifth place winners were separated by less than five points. The present Cadet Lieutenant Colonel, Joseph A. Downey, was commander of the platoon in the competition last spring. The platoon placed fifth in the event and each member of the platoon was awarded a ribbon bar for this honor This year’s platoon plans to do even better. Quite a number are back from last year and they are working hard to secure the plaque awarded for first place. THE COLOR GUARD The Lane R.O.T.C. unit maintains three Color Guard units in order to take care of the many calls for such work. In addition to the various R.O.T.C. and school functions at which they are used, they recieve many calls from civic and patrio¬ tic groups, for memorial services, dedications, “E” awards, parades and other affairs, as well as taking part in formalities at football games. Service on one of the Color Guards is voluntary but is eagerly sought after. It requires a great deal of practice, all outside of the regular R.O.T.C. period, and places on the detail are won only after close competition. THE FLAG DETAIL One of the jobs that falls to the R.O.T.C. here at Lane is the raising and lower¬ ing of the school flag each day. This job is given to a detail consisting of a Cadet 2nd. Lieutenant, Sergeant and Corporal. This detail is changed each week. The Lieutenant, who commands the detail, must watch the weather so that the flag does not fly in the rain. Page ninety

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Training In The R.O.T.C. Although started during the first World War, and made a permanent part of our defense sys¬ tem in 1920, most people still have an entirely wrong conception of the purpose and functions of the R.O.T.C. After twenty-five years the ma¬ jority still has the idea that “RO” consists of drill, parades and strutting around in a uniform. They believe its chief purpose is to “make sold¬ iers” out of boys. Such is not the case. The R.O.T.C. has three distinct aims in its training program for the high school boy. Just as no individual can do best when he is ill, so can no nation achieve its proper place in the world if the people who compose that nation are weak and diseased. For this reason we seek to build a strong and healthy citizenry. Through classes in First Aid and in the laws of Sanitation and Hygiene, the R.O.T.C. teaches the cadets to pro¬ tect the health and to save the lives of them¬ selves and of others. Equally important is bodi¬ ly development. Through correct posture, proper breathing, the light exercise of drill, together with the more strenuous physical exercises, we seek to build and maintain strong and healthy bodies. Even the strongest body is of little good to the nation if the mind which controls it is not in accord with the laws of the nation. In order that we may develop an honest and useful citizenry the cadet is given such subjects as Citizenship, the Constitution, American Philosophy of Gover¬ nment and Military History. Thus the cadet is taught respect for our American ideals, and how to take his place, as a citizen, in the function¬ ing of our government. Finally, we seek to develop strong, efficient and able leaders. Today, as at no other time since the founding of our republic and private enter- prize, we need men who can accept responsibil¬ ity, and who will not fail to give their best, in¬ stilling these same virtues in those serving under them. In the practical application of leadership, the first step is teaching the boy to obey. No man can become a leader, giving orders and dii’ect- ing others, until he first learns to take orders. The boy must learn to respect and obey his su¬ perior officers. He must learn self-control as well as submission to the authority of others. Hav¬ ing learned these fundamentals, the boy is now ready to advance. Having won the right to a Corporal’s rank through a competitive test, he assumes command of a squad. As he proves him¬ self he advances though the various non-com¬ missioned grades; then, if he has the ability, he may become a 2nd. Lieutenant. As a Captain he will command a company of about eighty men. He is responsible for their formations, drill, and instruction, under the watchful eyes of the Mil¬ itary Instructors. He must be a real leader. He must develope loyalty to himself and to his unit. Thus the R.O.T.C. of today, by presenting a full, well-rounded program, is developing a corps of capable, well-trained leaders who tomorrow will be able to fill the many positions of respon¬ sibility and trust where they are now needed. Page eighty-nine

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RIFLE TEAM This year’s team, under the excellent super¬ vision of Sgt. Gordon, is going to be built around the remainder of last year’s team of veterans. The older members will assist Sgt. Gordon and Cadet Major Ray Peters, the captain, to break in the new members to the routine of the range. Elimination tryouts for the ten vacancies left by the graduating members ran until the end of November. The team consists of the following men: Ray Peters, Capt. Ed Adams Louis Tresselt Walter Krupp Hermann Zander Leonard Rogoza Douglas Brieske Ted Zyss Harold Franck Chet Schirmer Ralph Kozeny Fred Sood Robert Swenson David Dalton Robert Beardmore Ray Hudash Richard Kothera Michael Mancone William Mack Kenneth Gnaster These men have shown that they have the makings of a first rate group of marksmen and also a first place team. Sgt. Gordon, being a new instructor, has brought with him many new and excellent ideas for improving the team. Years in the army have given him practical experience on which to base these suggestions. One of his ideas for training consists of vigorous exercises with rifles to build up the muscles in the arms, shoulders, and legs. The reason for strengthen¬ ing these particular muscles is because the great¬ est physical strain is on them while in position for firing. Sgt. Gordon and Cadet Major Peters have various ideas for making the men relax during a match. A good marksman is always re¬ laxed when shooting. If he is tense or nervous he is not going to be accurate because all his muscles are tight and strained. The team has worked hard for these competi¬ tive matches. The two big matches of the year. Sixth Service Command and Hearst Trophy, are set for early the second semester, but graduating cadets are allowed to fire before they leave. Be¬ fore these big occasions take place the team challenges several other schools for training matches. Page ninty-one