University of Wisconsin River Falls - Meletean Yearbook (River Falls, WI)

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jffiW MELETEAN m iSiveet ore the scene Where oft u e’ve trod The velvet green Or Snotvj sward; But Sweeter far I The me nor es Oer which our heart tfeefj u atch ar diva lyfl [ ’gj— Page Sixteen X 1919 X

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The Students’ Army Training Corps In the days when the United States first entered the war, it was a matter of considerable discussion in our colleges and universities whether the students could best serve our country by enlisting at once, or by continuing their studies for a time and entering the service at a later date. Many colleges, believing in the wisdom of the latter plan, and knowing that the loss of so many students would greatly cripple the work of the universities, strongly advised the students not to enlist, or at least, to postpone their enlistment. Despite this advice, the students thronged to the recruiting offices, and. in a short time, many colleges and universities were practically depleted of men students in the upper classes. For the most part, these students went into training as enlisted men. mostly into branches of the service where their training at school gave the government a minimum, rather than a maximum service. To the government, was thus presented Hie problem of preventing this haphazard enlistment of college men. and of adopting some means by which it might properly select, train, and distribute the resources of the colleges. Material for officers’ training camps was needed far above the available ascertainable supply- Trained men were needed as experts in every line. To meet these needs, the trained man must be properly placed and further trained with the least unnecessary delay. For this purpose, the Students’ Army Training Corps was formed on October 1. 1918. and all students eligible were urged to enlist for assignment to this branch of service. Over 500 colleges, universities, and normal schools over the country reorganized their systems and turned their resources over to the government. In the River Falls State Normal School, the S. A. T. C. started on October 1st with a small company of four officers and 97 enlisted men. and for two months we worked and trained, trying to do in a few weeks, what in the regular army it takes years to accomplish. The writer can conscientiously say that the spirit and enthusiasm shown by our men here is rarely, if ever, equalled elsewhere in the army, even in the officers’ training camps. It has been frequently observed that in schools where military training prevails. the school life is inconsistent with the duties, the routine, and the discipline of the army. If such is the tendency in the average college or normal school, this tendency was surely overcome by our men in masterly style. In some schools, the criticism has been made that the S. A. T. C. members regarded studies too much as merely incidental, a necessary evil that must be endured with the minimum of effort. Not so at River Falls. Practically to a man. they kept up West Point efficiency in their studies as testified to by government inspectors. The River Falls spirit which wins in other endeavors, came to the front to do its share in making a success of this mighty government undertaking to help win the war. Nicholas Jav,rf.cuy. hirst Lieutenant Infantry. V. S. A., Commanding. X Page Eighteen 19 X