The Plattsburg Manual Part 25

The remainder of this chapter boils down to an irreducible minimum some of the most important subjects with which a Reserve Officer or an applicant for a commission in the Officers' Reserve Corps should be familiar. It emphasizes those things with which a reserve officer should at once become familiar.[A] It merely opens up a broad field of study for a reserve officer and at the same time can be used as a place of reference.

THE LAND FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES

You now are, or expect to become, a member of the land forces of the United States. Of what do the land forces of the United States consist?

They consist of the Regular Army, the Volunteer Army, the Officers'

Reserve Corps, the Enlisted Reserve Corps, the National Army, the National Guard in the service of the United States and such other land forces as Congress may authorize.

The land forces are grouped under two general heads:

(1) The Mobile Army.

(2) The Coast Artillery.

"The Mobile Army. The mobile army is primarily organized for offensive operations against an enemy, and on this account requires the maximum degree of mobility." (Field Service Regulations.) It consists of:

Infantry.

Field Artillery.

Cavalry.

Engineers.

Signal Corps Troops.

"The Coast Artillery. The coast artillery is charged with the care and use of the fixed and movable elements of the land and coast fortifications." (Field Service Regulations.)

The President of the United States is the Commander-in-Chief of the Army. He exercises his command through the Secretary of War. The Chief of Staff acts as military adviser to the Secretary of War. He puts into effect the Administration's wishes.

For the purpose of equipping, inspecting, directing, and administering to the Army, there are the following corps and departments:

(1) General Staff Corps.

(2) Adjutant General's Department.

(3) Inspector General's Department.

(4) Judge Advocate General's Department.

(5) Quartermaster Corps.

(6) Medical Department.

(7) Ordnance Department.

(8) Bureau of Insular Affairs.

(9) Signal Corps.

(10) Engineer Corps.

The following are the grades of rank and commands of officers and noncommissioned officers:

(1) General Commands: Armies.

(2) Lieutenant-General Commands: Field Army.

(3) Major-General Commands: Division.

(4) Brigadier-General Commands: Brigade.

(5) Colonel Commands: Regiment.

(6) Lieutenant-Colonel Second in command in a Regiment.

(7) Major Commands: Battalion.

(8) Captain Commands: Company.

(9) First Lieutenant Commands: Platoon.

(10) Second Lieutenant Commands: Platoon.

(11) Veterinarian He has no command.

(12) Cadet at United States Military Academy He has no command.

(13) Sergeant-Major (Regimental) He has no command.

(14) Ordnance Sergeant He has no command.

(15) Quartermaster Sergeant He has no command.

(16) Sergeant-Major (Battalion) He has no command.

(17) First Sergeant Commands: Platoon.

(18) Sergeant Commands: Sometimes a Platoon.

(19) Corporal Commands: Squad.

ARTICLES OF WAR

The Army is governed by the Articles of War, which can be found in the Army Regulations. Any laws, orders, et cetera, pertaining to the Army must not violate directly or indirectly any of the Articles of War. It is therefore desirable that each Reserve Officer know where to find them and become, in a general way, familiar with them.

GENERAL ADVICE

To become a first-cla.s.s drillmaster is desirable and necessary. But, being one, you are not to be intrusted with the command of troops in the field unless you have gone much farther than that. To become an excellent drillmaster means simply that you have mastered a detail. In order to become one you should bear this in mind: You cannot teach a man how to do a thing unless you know that thing yourself. If you don't know your drill, don't try to "bluff" your men. Burn the midnight oil, or remain a private.

MILITARY CORRESPONDENCE

An official letter should refer to one subject only.

In writing to the War Department address your letter to "The Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D. C."

The United States (including colonies) is divided into the following departments:

(1) The Northeastern Department, with Headquarters at Boston, Ma.s.sachusetts.

(2) The Eastern Department, with headquarters at Governors Island, New York.

(3) The Southeastern Department, with Headquarters at Charleston, South Carolina.

(4) The Central Department, with Headquarters at Chicago, Illinois.

(5) The Southern Department, with Headquarters at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

(6) The Western Department, with Headquarters at San Francisco, California.