FOR THE TRAINING OF OFFICERS

The program of the Reserve Officers' Training Unit at Harvard as drawn up by Captain Cordier is comprehensive in every detail. Although many difficulties such as not interfering with the regular College curriculum had to be overcome, Captain Cordier has succeeded in rounding out a course of instruction which is far ahead of any similar scheme established at any other university. There is no doubt about the work in the training unit being serious. More time will be given to theoretical and practical instruction than was given to the Regiment last year, but undergraduates must realize that the country is under constant danger of war. This is no time for men to grumble at the increased hours of drill, because any morning may find us at war. If men await further developments before they enroll in the unit, they will in reality be just as disgraceful slackers as those who fail to volunteer in time of need. The country will want trained officers if war comes more than any number of eager raw recruits. Harvard men must forget about the sacrifice entailed during the next few months, and realize that the greater amount of serious, concentrated drill and study accomplished at the moment the greater and more valuable will be the service which Harvard can render the Nation in time of danger.

According to the plan of the present course all the fundamental close order and extended order drill will be learned before the summer training begins. During July and August the entire time can be devoted to instruction in the problems of terrain and the command of troops in fighting formations. The advantage of men joining the unit now rather than later cannot be urged too strongly. Some comment has been made about Military Science 1 counting as a half-course. Since every half-course in College is theoretically supposed to require nine hours' work including lectures, there is no reason for thinking that the work of the unit should count for a full course when it merely fulfills the official requirements of a reguition half-course.

A fact that should appeal particularly to undergraduates is the great advantage this immediate instruction will give them in obtaining commissions in the reserve army. Any others who wish to be officers without first joining a volunteer force will have to wait until other officers' training schools, similar to the one established here, are formed by the War Department. The establishment of such schools necessarily would be delayed owing to the scarcity of available officers and necessary equipment. The citation of the advantages of the training to be given in the unit ought not to be necessary now. Harvard men know the perilous situation. Their response to the call for enrolment will be immediate.