Advice for Soldiers

Last week the U. S. Army published and furnished to its new soldiers a handy pocket volume full of whys & wherefores for the fighting man, Model 1941. Its title: Soldier's Handbook. Its purpose: "to help you over . . . rough spots [in the transition from civilian to military life] as rapidly as possible and to lay the foundations for your successful career as a soldier." Since 1919 the hard-boiled sergeant, the bull-roaring officer have been fading from the military scene. Their replacements are officers and noncoms taught that intelligent teamwork, not dumb obedience, is what an army needs to make it hum, that enlisted soldiers must know (at least generally) the whys & wherefores of what they are told to do.

Excerpts:

"Before you joined the Army you were a member of a family of closely related individuals . . . shared the same dining room, the same bathroom. . . . You learned that to get along well with other members of your family you must have consideration for them. . . . You have the same obligations in the Army. . . . Several hundred may have to live together . . . eat in the same mess hall, use the same bathhouse or latrine, bunk together, work together and play together. . . .

"The military organization ... is a team that must be constantly trained. . . . Military discipline is nothing more than this same spirit of team play. In civil life lack of discipline in a young man may result in his getting into trouble ... it may cause a member of an athletic team to be sent to the bench, or cause an employe to lose his job. In the army . . . lack of discipline in a soldier may not only cost him his life and the life of his comrades, but cause ... his team to be defeated."

Dos and Don'ts of military courtesy (Don't salute an officer in public places or with bundles in your arms), the care and maintenance of small arms, scouting and patrolling, map reading, many another basic military subject, are you-and-me subjects to the Soldier's Handbook. It all winds up with care of the soldier himself (brush teeth twice a day, see the doctor if you feel ill) and a glossary of common military expressions, some hangovers from World War I.

Samples:

Blind: a court-martial fine.

Jawbone: credit.

Kick: dishonorable discharge.

Over the hill: to desert.

The old man: commanding officer.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.