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Show AIRMEN I f 3 2J fu lb U Dull LjU 13 1 1 By ELMO SCOTT WATSON ft 7 ' S U ;KrJ? U 4 ? & A TTN Pt ' -eeks at a score V jV ' '"V A 'Vi3 V ,H- -ItU .' of places in different parts of the $f'U , v' ' V ' TS- 1. s r' :V'' Unlted States several hundred husky iif , ' " J, "? J ' Lj1ji young Americans between the ages of i f i f"" seventeen and twenty-two have been L ' I ' - ' " ' ,T ' 1 ,7 5-7 tv" taking the examinations for admission u f j. , .t-,N,iJs. V . to thq United States Military academy Vss s s , , 1 ? , ir j at West Point. They are the men who 1 t , t A V have received appointments to fill the " V f?'1'''sSr yy vacancies In the Corps of Cadets up to its maxi- W. s ' if II fl "5 mum authorized strength of 1,374, these vacan- TVv " " "" cies existing by reason of graduation, reslgna- ( Jr ' " 'aV tions and dismissals from the academy. V. ' Iss' If those who received these appointments are 1 successful in passing the rigorous mental and " physical entrance examinations for there is no V , .s.k: . I ..A T" , place In the world where the demand for a 7? TTC " s 5f".7rj "sound mind In a sound body" Is more impera- " ' I H ? 4f ' V tlve than It is in Uncle Sam's school on the Hud- ' n" - I ( " eon they will enter the academy during the first , i I week of next July and begin that four years f v K t aH - ss ' I course of Intensive training which makes "officers i 4 ir' P,i-w!" J "f and gentlemen" but, most of all, MEN I " J. , fakl 7 tf 11 Where do these 1.374 cadets come from? Well, tLV TK rtT " --!J r thoy come from every part of the United States , V ' Z?S& W IjtV'f'V ty W f and from every stratum of American society. . t? i-V f if Nearly half of them are from the farms of Je ,? ,m M . W - North and the East, the ranches of the West . ? f '4ff U i ill and the plantations of the South. A check-up r 'i f 5' v,rf ?4 Mr- t if! if on the occupations of the parents of the cadets -. ' IA w ! I i M !. 'V t C.fJ ,1 at West Toint in recent years showed the fol- j"S ' V ,1 ? V" f I ' " s & ' ' ? ' li lowing: farmers and planters, 1,149; merchants, 1- . 'L ' ! f -1'"' f""4! 772; lawyers and judges, 645; physicians, 3G7; A'i ' V''"' ! S ' f army officers, 362; mechanics, 341 ; manufactur- V A ll VJlj? s V 'A"hi 1 ers, 151; clergymen, 128; bankers, 00; and one tr I " s 'S(1L) each for the following: auctioneer, author, chief I - - (w v ' " " of police, cook, hatter, Iceman, inventor, justice 3 ' l of the peace, pilot, teamster and warden of a ( X-r. 4c x r I prison. I 1" --xx . From different strata of society the newcomers , ttt to the academy may be when they get off the r t "V CC1"- A rr" "?''5 train at the little station at West Point next H" , jj - " V lf 5- 1 July, but 24 hours later the son of the teamster, j V- v i ' ' 1 w" V 4fsr' O 'i 5 s '"' ! the son of the Iceman, the son of the judge, and j, w V f " ? - 1 1 1 T the son of the army officer are exactly on the , 4 X ' V X A ' v. same plane. They are all "plehes" and, as such, 7 - v tl " are placed In the "beast barracks" to receive fTV v , I I I k( X 'i,vsi their preliminary training. Rich and poor, col- J '1 , At wv!nT ' v '"1 lege man and high school graduate, they are all I t ' 1 r VVi ' 1 S7 ' treated alike. They all rise at five-thirty in the ! h f L ! P morning and go to bed at nine-thirty in the eve- p 4 85 y 11 ' , I ning. So far as equality Is concerned, it is democ- , " s v s V ,"' w if 4 racy to the nth degree. W ' ' - s f 1 , x r ' 1 The course of instruction during the period of V " s 7" . , PN S. Iv I two months before September classes begin Is x. " f '( S ) 'X;:'':::X' designed to give the new arrival a sound, erect r' : : ' ' - T,- 7 x " yf' -S UU body, and teach him the fundamental principles Ay'y,'i X of military discipline and drill. Throughout this 1. Cadets receiving instruction in aerodynam uy''' "" "s v phase, the cadet has little or no time of his 'cs airplane design and construction J -V ' " ' own. In what might be termed his moments of 2 'Chow" time in the mess hall at West Point I It 7 V leisure, he Is required to learn the cleaning and 3 Cadets buiIdlng a pontoon bridge V " FA care of his ride and equipment. . , . . . . . i ' W n . ... ' ' , ., A, 4 Instruction in the ordnance machine shop 7 5 1 I The great melting pot is at work: the egot s- . , . Jv'- xf 1 f Al I ... . .. . . ... ., , on mechanica engineering subjects w Lj , K'' 5 I tical and conceited are brought down; the weak a a J ,L SiS"" s,fs0,sl. I are strengthened; the surly and indifferent are 5 Learfl"19 surveying by doing it. Ul fP ' f3 I taught to obey and act quickly a democratic 6. Cadets on an artillery hike untangling a ;(S";V group of youths is ready to join the Corps of hrse that has overstepped his traces and be- VXlTf TV' i 1& Cadets and start the school year. The first phase come tangled up in his harness. vVT-s w - - I" fy Is over the "beast" becomes a cadet. (All pictures, courtesy United States Military " The corps Is organized into a regiment of 12 Academy.) " io' companies, in each of which members of all four "kS " " " ss 1. Cadets receiving instruction in aerodynamics aerodynam-ics airplane design and construction. 2. "Chow" time in the mess hall at West Point. 3. Cadets building a pontoon bridge. 4. Instruction in the ordnance .machine shop on mechanical engineering subjects. 5. Learning surveying by doing it. 6. Cadets on an artillery hike untangling a horse that has overstepped his traces and become be-come tangled up in his harness. (All pictures, courtesy United States Military Academy.) i By ELMO SCOTT WATSON rsyrV URI'O the past few weeks at a score ''tfc of places In different parts of the ' 7?'. J United States several hundred husky ljjr young Americans between the ages of seventeen and twenty-two have been W 1 taking the examinations for admission a to thq United States Military academy j at West Point. They are the men who have received appointments to fill the vacancies In the Corps of Cadets up to its maximum maxi-mum authorized strength of 1,374, these vacancies vacan-cies existing by reason of graduation, resignations resigna-tions and dismissals from the academy. If those who received these appointments are successful In passing the rigorous mental and physical entrance examinations for there Is no jilace in the world where the demand for a "sound mind In a sound body" Is more imperative impera-tive than It Is In Uncle Sam's school on the Hud-eon Hud-eon they will enter the academy during the first week of next July and begin that four years' course of Intensive training which makes "officers and gentlemen" but, most of all, MEN I Where do these 1,374 cadets come from? Well, they come from every part of the United States nnd from every stratum of American society. Nearly half of them are from the farms of the North and the Kast, the ranches of the West and the plantations of the South. A check-up on the occupations of the parents of the cadets nt West Point in recent years showed the following: fol-lowing: farmers and planters, 1,149; merchants, 772 ; lawyers and judges, 645 ; physicians, 3G7 ; army officers, 362; mechanics, 341; manufacturers, manufactur-ers, 151 ; clergymen, 128 ; bankers, 00 ; and one each for the following: auctioneer, author, chief of police, cook, hatter, Iceman, inventor, justice of the peace, pilot, teamster and warden of a prison. From different strata of society the newcomers to the academy may be when they get off the train at the little station at West Point next July, but 24 hours later the son of the teamster, the son of the Iceman, the son of the judge, and the son of the army officer are exactly on the same plane. They are all "plehes" and, as such, are placed in the "beast barracks" to receive their preliminary training. Rich and poor, college col-lege man and high school graduate, they are all treated alike. They all rise at five-thirty In the morning and go to bed at nine-thirty in the evening. eve-ning. So far as equality Is concerned, it is democracy democ-racy to the nth degree. The course of instruction during the period of two months before September classes begin Is designed to give the new arrival a sound, erect body, and teach him the fundamental principles of military discipline and drill. Throughout this phase, the cadet has little or no time of his own. In what might be termed his moments of leisure, he Is required to learn the cleaning and care of his rifle and equipment. The great melting pot is at work: the egotistical egotis-tical and conceited are brought down; the weak are strengthened ; the surly and indifferent are taught to obey and act quickly a democratic group of youths is ready to join the Corps of Cadets and start the school year. The first phase Is over the "beast" becomes a cadet. The corps Is organized into a regiment of 12 companies, in each of which members of all four classes are arranged according to height. In cadet argot, the second battalion, composed of the short men, are called "the runts," while the first and third battalions are termed "flankers," as descriptive of their station on the flanks at parades and other functions. Cadet commissioned officers and sergeants are appointed from among the first-classmen (seniors). (sen-iors). The highest in rank performs the duty of regimental commander, and is titled "first captain"; cap-tain"; subordinate grades range down through battalion and company commanders to lieutenants, lieuten-ants, who command platoons, and to sergeants. The second-class furnishes the corporals. All these appointments are based on the cadets' ratings rat-ings in leadership, military science, academic standing, conduct, and personal appearance. The "mass molding" of these men Is carried to no extreme; it ends with the military organizations organ-izations and disciplinary drills. In all other activities, activ-ities, Individual character-building, self-reliance and Initiative are stressed. A cadet never loses sight of the great primary aim of West Point the development of personal integrity. Academic sections are formed with never more than 16, usually 12, cadets to one Instructor. After the instructor has discussed the lesson to explain any parts which are not clear, each cadet prepares a blackboard assignment, and later recites re-cites orally from the material on his blackboard. Every cadet recites and is graded each day. His assignment customarily includes original work, develops thorough understanding of a topic, rather than the mere ability to memorize, and the language of his oral recitation must be precise pre-cise and correct. Thus he acquires that quality most essential to his later career self-reliance. At West Point, participation In athletics is not the special privilege of the swiftest and the strongest. Every fall and every spring throughout through-out the entire four years, each cadet Is enrolled for some sport, which he attends twice a week. During the hour and fifteen minutes of each attendance, at-tendance, lie receives instruction from competent coaches, and, after short preliminary training, plays on his company team in competition with other companies. In this system of intramural athletics, no cadet repeats a sport; accordingly, In four years he becomes familiar with eight different sports which, after he graduates, he will employ for the physical training of enlisted men In the army. After the first class has graduated In June, the new second class which has completed two years at the academy goes on a furlough which lasts until the resumption of classes in September. Septem-ber. Meanwhile, the new first and third classes move into tents in a summer camp, located on the edge of the parade-ground, and overlooking the beautiful Hudson river. And here begins that phase of cadet life which West Pointers always remember as most ideal. Drill and play are in order, with no studies to Interrupt the latter. Drill, held only in the forenoon, fore-noon, signifies more than the mere forming of ranks and execution of evolutions on the parade. This drill means learning how various weapons and arms, studied theoretically during the winter, win-ter, behave in practice, out In the open and on . the road. The cadet will spend his mornings In pursuits, always varied, always interesting. He will learn to adjust a McClellan saddle on horses of odd shapes and dispositions. He will do scouting, trotting alone down a country lane; he will ride through villages, whose alleys and rooftops hide imaginary snipers. Or he will control con-trol a team of wheel horses; behind him and on both sides, will roll guns and caissons. He will be a cannoneer, helping in the swift process of unlimbering and going into action. He will lay miles of wire, across creeks, under roads, through underbrush, so that military units may feel and speak to each other. Or, perhaps, in the quiet of a camouflaged observation ob-servation post, he will turn the cross-hairs of a telescope upon an enemy target, and by science, will compute the data necessary to bring down artillery fire. Then again, he will be transported to an army flying field, where he will learn to follow maps and spot targets from a great altitude. alti-tude. During the last week of August, the entire corps takes the field in a grand final maneuver. Under conditions approximating as nearly as possible pos-sible those of war, cadets learn how various arms co-ordinate in battle; they begin to understand under-stand the difficulties of feeding and supplying large bodies of troops. If it rains, If their feet grow cold and wet and blistered, so much the better, for they learn the limits of human endurance, endur-ance, and will know what demands can be made of men in war. Although West Point has as its primary object the training of young men to be officers In the United States army, it gives an academic education educa-tion as well as the fundamentals of military training. Its purpose, which has been followed since its beginning, was best expressed by George Washington when he advocated the military academy. He said that what we need is a school from which we can get an educated officer. Although discipline is maintained in the class rooms, the academic training Is purely for the education of the cadet. The course of Instruction Instruc-tion is planned so that a graduate will have what corresponds to a bachelor of science degree at the average university. But more important than the fund of technical techni-cal and academic Information which the cadet has acquired during his four years at West Point is another kind of training which he has received. re-ceived. Soldierly qualities are built upon a foundation of character and manliness. The development of that character Is accomplished accom-plished through many different channels. As his military and academic education progresses, his social and cultural side is not overlooked. He has a regular course in gentlemanly conduct and etiquette. His social activities are under Intelligent In-telligent supervision and his opportunities for contact with the officers and. their families on the post are frequent. After all, he belongs to the only profession in the world where conduct unbecoming a gentleman is an offense triable by court-martial. So, "officer and gentleman" Is not just an empty phrase. It is an Ideal to be lived up to; and at West Point it Is a livable reality. And to crown the character-building process which this picked body of young Americans undergo un-dergo at the academy Is the system there of placing responsibility upon the cadet from the day he arrives and teaching him to accept responsibility re-sponsibility In an Increasing measure throughout his four years. As the cadet's instruction advances, he Is given more and more opportunities to show his capacity capac-ity for accepting responsibility. He commands at drills and ceremonies, instructs cadets of the lower classes and assumes more and more the duties of on officer as the day of his graduation approaches. As an officer he will be entrusted with the control of others, so by the time he has spent four years at the academy he has shown that he can control himself. At West Point they make "officers and gentlemen" gentle-men" but, most of all, they make MEN I by Western Newspaper Union. |