Massanutten Military Academy - Adjutant Yearbook (Woodstock, VA)

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The C alour Guard spection, we demonstrated in the field the great variety of work we had completed by the end of the first term, close order drill, scouting and pa- trolling, and extended order combat formations. Major Carle, whose visit was his first one to Massa- nutten, was impressed by the excellence of train- ing and discipline shown so early in the year. During the winter months the mandatory VVar Department Program of Instruction was carried out in the classroom indoors under Major Grim- mer, Sergeant Richardson, Lieutenant Reiley and Captain Newcorn. For the basic course first year, the subjects were Organization, Military Courtesy, Customs of the Service and Discipline, Military Sanitation and lfirst Aid, Scouting, National De- fense Act, Map Reading and Rifie Marksmanship. Second year subjects were Automatic Rifle, Ma- chine Gun Drill, Musketry, Squad Combat Prin- ciples, Rifle Marksmanship and Map Reading. The advanced students covered Military Law and Pro- cedure, Military History and Policy, Administra- tion, Aerial Photograph Reading, Mechanization, lfield lfortifications, Principles of Command and Leadership, Estimate of the Situation and Combat Orders, Tactics and Technique of Machine Gun and Howitzer Weapons, and Combat Principles for Platoon and Company in Security, Attack and Defense. The fact that this comprehensive W'ar Department program could be completed within the one hour period allocated to R. O. T. C. in the early afternoon was due in no small part to the simplified drill and organization adopted this year. On February 24th was held our Annual Military Ball which, as usual, was a great success. The theme this year was Pan-Americanism and Latin- American amity. Our honored guests were Colonel and Mrs. Pedro Zanni of Argentina. Colonel Zanni, a pioneer military aviator and at present stationed in Washington, D. C., as military and air attache for the Argentine Embassy, reviewed the pageant given in his honour. The pageant con- sisted ofa special drill by the Battalion, massing of the Hags of the twenty-one Latin-American Re- publics, while the band played excerpts of their national anthems, and a colourful Grand March. A very enjoyable dance followed attended by a C 0 m mzrfiofzed Officers great number of our patrons as well as the cadets and their ladies. The decorations, consisting of flags of all nations, literally covering the walls and ceiling of our gymnasium, the soft lights and the excellent music of the orchestra and of our own band made this an evening long to be remembered. Rifie training this year was practically continu- ous during the first and second terms. Smallbore rifle firing during the past school year was carried on with the idea of having more cadets participate in competitive firing than have done so in the past. Emphasis was placed on developing a large number of good shots rather than a small group of expert

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riflemen. This system made for better shooting in the cadet corps as a whole and at the same time revealed some potentially good marksmen. I.ast fall, before the weather got too cold, pre- liminary riHe marksmanship exercises were con- ducted. These consisted of learning the mechanics of firing, step by step, culminating in the entire cadet corps tiring on the indoor gallery range. After the corps had completed firing, Io-man teams were organized in each separate unit of the Battalion, consisting of Companies A, B, C and the Stall' and the Band, which then competed in an intra-mural match won by the team represent- ing the Staff. Cadet Colour Corporal Kenneth A. Reecher's score of 344 was the individual high score. This firing was completed in January, 1940, after which a team to represent the school in the Third Corps Area and Hearst Trophy Matches was or- ganized. Participation in these matches is com- pulsory for R. O. T. C. units. Results of these matches showed Massanutten trailing in fourth place in the Third Corps Area Match. ln the Hearst Trophy our first team placed eighth in a held of fourteen teams. Cadets firing in the Third Corps Area Match were: Kenneth Reecher, Donald Anderson, Rob- ert Dougherty, VVilliam Tilley, Hector Trau, Robert Cole, Carl Shanor, Franklin, l,ambert, Frank M. Palmer, George Imirie, Robert Wharton, James Buchanan, Edward Sidwa, Harold Hershey and Raymond Miller. Those cadets firing in the Hearst Trophy Match were the same as those firing in the Third Corps Area Match with the exception of Cadet Robert Dougherty, who, be- cause of absence, was replaced by Cadet Cleon Raese. Proficiency in the use of the rifle, the basic arm of the lnfantry, is required of each cadet in an ln- fantry R. O. T. C. unit. Organization of rifle teams and the conducting of competitive firing contribute to proficiency in the use of the riHe besides providing a very entertaining sport, with little or no cost to those who go out for it. On April 16th Colonel Frederic liellond, ln- fantry, Officer in Charge of Civilian Component Affairs at Third Corps Area Headquarters, con- ducted the second of the two annual R. O. T. C. inspections held this year. Colonel Kellond ex- pressed his gratification at the continued excellence of the R. O. T. C. unit and commented particularly on the knowledge of map reading shown by cadets during their classroom map problems as well as the excellent conduct and appearance of the cadets at Company fi Company B