US Army Training Center - Yearbook (Fort Eustis, VA)

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f SEVEN YEARS OF THE CMTC X f , f opening to the closing day of the month 323 in training. i 533 camp from reveille to taps and from the J is if Iii' Physical health and strength are at the same time a condition of admission to the camps and a prime consideration in the daily schedules. liach candidate is subjected to a careful medical examin- ation at the time he applies and again - when he reports for training. Special exercises are prescribed in case of need and at the close of camp there is another physical examination which registers his bodily growth and often carries sug- gestions to parents for their future guidance. Thus the doctrine of H keeping fit is carried to hundreds of thousands of American homes and camp ratings become the standard measurements of community well-being. The social and religious phases of the Citizens' Camps have been developed also with the utmost care. Army Chaplains are the first to welcome the incoming candidates and opportunity is afforded not only for worship adapted 'Von R. Wvmes to the different faiths, but also for a 5f'vff'ffIfyJl7l'Cfl personal contact, which is often more THEY'RE OFF --True sportsmanship is the spirit in each CMTC. IIIIKI' T?UI'Hfjl .1.viv.v.v.v.V.vuVJNJ.1N.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.1-v.v.v.v-W' I ' I.v.v.VN-IN.VNNNNNN.1.VNN.v.vNN.VNNN-Vasu Q I

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SEVEN YEARS OF THE CMTC f G f The daily program has been successfully evolved in these seven years to meet the purpose of the camps and the capacity of the men enrolled. These are for the larger part in the first year, or Basic Course, Where the instruction is limited to the Infantry. An increasing percentage each year is returning for the succeeding courses, the Red, the White and the Blue, in the first of which the young men may continue the Infantry work or elect to enter and thereafter remain in the Cavalry or Artillery fField or Coastl. sf ff In some camps there is instruction by the Signal Corps and it is likely that presently there may be elementary teaching in at least the theoretical bases of Aviation. Enrollment in the CMTC does not carry any military obligation, but the best graduates are reckoned eligible to be examined for commissions in the Organized Reserves, some compete for appointment to the United States Military Academy and many enlist later in the National Guard. All camps are under a military discipline, considerate but effective, which has its outcome in a sense of law and order and a prompt obedience to recognized authority. General Pershing has noted also that the men grow more aggressive, more confident, they get the spirit of leadership and initiative and in every way become better able to meet the problems of everyday life. H Character building is thus a definite contribution of camp training. It is coupled with a better feeling of citizenship, which emerges not so much out of the few hours given to teaching the basic facts and principles of life in our democracy as out of the entire life of the A GREEK STATUE OF TODAY TO THE VICTORS are offered rewards in many kinds of military and athletic contests. SOMETHING NEW MARKS EVERY DAY AT CAMP Page Nim-m-11 ........ . ................- ........ .......,v.v.v.v.v.v.v. l

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dh X 'X SEVEN YEARS OF THE CMTC highly appreciated and effective than parents are apt to think. Experienced hostesses guide the social life and make an atmosphere of home in the attractive houses which are available for social pur- poses at all camps. Strictly military training is confined almost entirely to the morning hours. The even- ings are given to various forms of indoor recreation, lectures, dances, concerts and moving pictures, inter- spersed with boxing bouts and other forms of entertainment devised and conducted by the men themselves through their own debating clubs, jazz bands, orchestras or dramatic groups. The afternoons are in many ways the most enjoyable part of the thirty days. They are devoted to a great variety of outdoor games. Every camp gives opportunity for swimming, in ocean, lake or river or in large tanks, adequate and hygienic, supplied by the War Department. Track work is universal, baseball, football and volley- ball are popular, tennis, boxing, wrestling and fencing have their votaries. Each candidate makes choice of his favorite sport and is given expert coaching. Unfortunately: Congress has never recognized the expenses incident to this important phase of camp life. Good provision is made for the strictly military needs of the CMTC but little money is given for the equally important equipment indispensable to various outdoor games of the daily schedule. In the preparation ofthe camps, not much is done for the playing fields. This year for a typical camp the Government allowance for all athletic purposes was a trifle more than one cent per day for each candidate, hardly enough to pay for the gasoline and lime needed for rolling and for marking the many acres devoted to the outdoor games ofthe young men enrolled. Doubtlcss Congress will presently be more generous,but meantime the camps would greatly suffer were it l10t for private donations toward athletic equipment and re- creation. Many communities have taken pride in making more at- tractive the life at the nearest training center. Civilian Aides and local chairmen of the Military Training Camps Association have helped to organize committees for local entertainment, for baseball games, boat rides and evening dances, for the supply of addi- tional athletic equipment and for medals, pennants and prizes for both military and athletic con- tests. The interest of citizens in Citizens' Camps, manifested in so many ways, has thus been an important element in their success. Seven has always been a mys- A HAPPY HOUR LL.. TOUCHDOWN?-He may make it! Page Twzvily-onf . mv. .v . -vvv-V - -V-V-V' ' ' 'V' ' ' ' ' ' r.v.v.v.v. .v .mv vv.v.vvv.v.v.v.v.v.v.v-v.