MILITARY TRAINING 1. All military training is developed and prescribed for the one purpose of putting into battle the most efficient troops possible, in the most efficient manner that can be devised. 2. To this end experience has demonstrated the following essentials: a. Physical development, to endure the hardships of the march and the battle field. b. Discipline, to execute unquestioningly and loyally the orders and directions of military superiors, including those orders and directions found in regulations. c. Knowledge, to understand and to intelligently execute orders, both individually and collectively. d. Practice, to attain the facility to execute orders under distracting conditions and surroundings. 3. During the peace-time training of the National Guard it can not be expected that proficiency can be acquired in all these essentials, particularly physical development, but the foundation can be laid for a rapid development when an emergency requires. 4. No training should ever be undertaken except in conformity with a well-considered plan. This plan (the training schedule) is based on the training program of the next higher commander and the special training requirements of the particular unit. The sequence of training will be governed by the scheduled training inspections of higher commanders and the demonstrated results of preceding training, as evidenced by the training chart or other satisfactory method. 5. The methods of training must be efficient to insure qualification within the time allowances, which, because of the short weekly periods, comprise few working hours. To this end the four basic elements of instruction should be carefully observed. They are: a. Explanation, which will be short and concise, taking up one phase, movement, or element of a movement at a time. b. Demonstration.-Often coincident with explanation. An individual movement is demonstrated by the instructor. Organized movements are demonstrated by a demonstration unit, which should rehearse them in advance. c. Practice. Consists in the drills or exercises just previously explained and demonstrated, for the purpose of producing facility in execution and such familiarity that right actions become second nature. d. Test.-For the purpose of demonstrating progress and qualification. When an individual or unit has demonstrated qualification in any subject it will be recorded. 6. The individual training chart should be on a sheet of cardboard about 24 by 30 inches, ruled to give a line for the name of each man of the unit and cross ruled to make a square for recording results for each man under each subject of individual training, as in the chart on page 39, Training Regulations No. 150-5; similar charts for each squad, section, and platoon should be prepared and posted. The records of all qualifications should be recorded on the chart the day they are made. The chart should be conspicuously posted and available for examination by all personnel of the organization and by higher authority. There is no greater incentive to competition than this method, with consequent increased interest and efficiency. OATH OF ENLISTMENT 7. Every soldier on enlisting in the National Guard takes upon himself the following obligation: day of "I do hereby acknowledge to have voluntarily enlisted this 19, as a soldier in the National Guard of the United States and of the State of —, for the period of three (or one) year-, under the conditions prescribed by law, unless sooner discharged by proper authority. And I do solemnly swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America and to the State of and that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies whomsoever, and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and of the Governor of the State of —, and of the officers appointed over me according to law and the rules and Articles of War." Signature DISCIPLINE (A. R. 600-10) 8. General.-a. Obedience to orders.-All persons in the mili tary service are required to obey strictly and to execute promptly the lawful orders of their superiors. b. Military authority, how exercised.-Military authority will be exercised with firmness, kindness, and justice. Punishments will conform to law and follow offenses as promptly as circumstances will permit. c. Military courtesy.-Courtesy among military men is indispensable to discipline; respect to superiors will not be confined to obedience on duty, but will be extended on all occasions. 9. Relationship of superiors toward subordinates.—Superiors are forbidden to injure those under their authority by tyrannical or capricious conduct or by abusive language. While maintaining discipline and the thorough and prompt performance of military duty, all officers, in dealing with enlisted men, will bear in mind the absolute necessity of so treating them as to preserve their self-respect. A grave duty rests on all officers and particularly upon organization commanders in this respect. Officers will impress upon the young soldiers lessons of patriotism and loyalty, will teach them the necessity for obedience and military discipline, and above all will impress upon them the necessity of obedience in the service. These lessons will be repeated again and again. The difference in the status of a soldier as compared with that of a civilian will be carefully explained. The Articles of War will be not only read to the enlisted men, but will be explained and their purpose laid before the young soldier in such a way as to make him understand that in becoming a soldier he has subjected himself to a new control and has assumed obligations of service that did not rest upon him as a civilian. Officers will keep in as close touch as possible with the men under their command, will take an interest in their organization life, will hear their complaints, will endeavor on all occasions to remove the existence of those causes which make for dissatisfaction, and will strive to build up such relations of confidence and sympathy as will insure the free approach of their men to them for counsel and assistance, not only in military and organizational matters, but in personal or family distress or perplexity. This relationship may be gained and maintained without relaxation of the bonds of discipline and with great benefit to the service as a whole. OBEDIENCE 10. Discipline is evidenced by obedience. Obedience is the first and last military duty of a soldier, but it must be intelligent and trained obedience to be effective. It is then the foundation on which all military efficiency is built. Without it an army becomes a mob, while with it a mob ceases to be a mob and becomes possessed of much of the power of an organized force. It is a quality that is demanded of every person in the Army, from the highest to the lowest. Each enlisted man binds himself, by his enlistment oath, to obedience. Each officer, in accepting his commission, takes upon himself the same solemn obligation. 11. Obey strictly and execute promptly the lawful orders of your superiors. It is enough to know that the person giving the order, whether he be an officer, a noncommissioned officer, or a private acting as such, is your lawful superior. You may not like him, you may not respect him, but you must respect his position and authority, and reflect honor and credit upon yourself and your profession by yielding to all superiors that complete and unhesitating obedience which is the pleasure as well as the duty of every true soldier. 12. Orders must be strictly carried out. It is not sufficient to comply with only that part which suits you or which involves no work nor danger nor hardship. Neither is it proper or permissible, when you are ordered to do a thing in a certain way or to accomplish a work in a definitely prescribed manner, for you to obtain the same results by other methods. 13. Obedience must be prompt and unquestioning. When any soldier (and this word includes officers as well as enlisted men) receives an order, it is not for him to consider whether the order is a good one or not, whether it would have been better had such an order never been given, or whether the duty might be better performed by some one else, or at some other time, or in some other manner. His duty is, first, to understand just what the order requires, and, second, to proceed at once to carry it out to the best of his ability. 14. When, by long-continued drill and subordination, you have learned your duties, and obedience becomes second nature, you have acquired discipline. It can not be acquired in a day nor in a month. It is a growth. It is the habit of obedience. To teach this habit of obedience is one of the objects of the close-order drill, and, if good results are to be expected, the greatest attention must be paid to even the smallest details. The company or squad must be formed promptly at the prescribed time-not a minute or even a second late. All must wear the exact uniform prescribed and in the exact manner prescribed. When at attention there must be no gazing about, no raising of hands, no chewing or spitting in ranks. The manual of arms and all movements must be executed absolutely as prescribed. A drill of this kind teaches discipline. A careless, indifferent drill breeds disobedience and insubordination. In other words, discipline simply means efficiency. LOYALTY 15. But even with implicit obedience you may yet fail to measure up to that high standard which is at once the pride and glory of every true soldier. Not until you carry out the desires and wishes of your superiors in a hearty, willing, and cheerful manner are you meeting all the requirements of your profession. For an order is but the will of your superior, however it may be expressed. Loyalty means that you are for your organization and its officers and noncommissioned officersnot against them; that you always extend your most earnest and hearty support to those in authority. No soldier is a loyal soldier who is a knocker, a grumbler, or a shirker. Just one man of this class in a company breeds discontent and dissatisfaction among many others. You should, therefore, not only guard against doing such things yourself but should discourage such actions among any of your comrades. MILITARY COURTESY 16. In all walks of life men who are gentlemanly and of good breeding are always respectful and courteous to those about them. It helps to make life move along more smoothly. In civil life this courtesy is shown by the custom of tipping the hat to ladies, shaking hands with friends, and greeting persons with a nod or a friendly Good morning," etc. In the Army courtesy is just as necessary, and for the same reasons. helps to keep the great machine moving without friction. 46 It 17. One method of extending this courtesy is by saluting. When in ranks the question of what a private should do is simple he obeys any command that is given. It is when out of ranks that a private must know how and when to salute. SALUTING 18. In the old days the freemen of Europe were all allowed to carry weapons, and when they met each would hold up his right hand to show that he had no weapon in it and that they met as friends. Slaves or serfs, however, were not allowed to carry weapons, and slunk past the freemen without making |