THE CMTC TRAINING COURSES Fort Custer Michigan

THE CMTC TRAINING COURSES

WILLIAM SPIEGEL

The average civilian is fairly well acquainted with the CMT Camps, in that they know what they are about; but how many really know what is taught at these camps? Very few. The object of this article is to give you a greater knowledge of the instruction that is given to the students and the many benefits that are derived at the CMT Camps.

Before the instruction at the CMT Camps is considered, it is necessary to obtain a definite idea of the courses offered at camp. The first is the "Basic Red” course. In this course the student is not a member of any particular branch of the service. The second is the “Advanced Red” course, in which the student is permitted to select any branch of the service he prefers. These branches are the Infantry, the Field Artillery, the Cavalry, the Engineers and the Signal Corps. The third is the “White” course, and the fourth and last is the " Blue’’ course.

The simplest of all courses is naturally the “Basic Red ". Here the men are given the elementary infantry training. in this course there are one hundred hours of instruction, which are devoted to physical training, citizenship, hygiene, infantry drill, rifle marksmanship and combat principles. All this instruction is given in the morning, the afternoon being turned over to athletics.

The instruction for the advanced Reds, Whites and Blues of the infantry is very similar to that of the Basic, except that it is very much more detailed and complete.

As for the Reds, Whites and Blues of the Field Artillery, Cavalry, Engineers and Signal Corps, their instruction is quite different, as each subject pertains to each individual branch. For instance, the Field Artillery receives lessons in field work and duties of gunners; the Cavalry in equitation and care of animals; the Engineers in field fortification and duties of Engineers; and the Signal Corps in signal communication and topography. In all these branches there are subjects, such as drill, marksmanship, physical training, hygiene and citizenship that are identical.

No doubt there will arise, in the minds of some persons, a question of how so much training is given in the allotted time. Possibly this could not be accomplished elsewhere than in the Army.