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OFFICE OF CIVILIAN DEFENSE
WASHINGTON, D. C.
NATIONAL ~ADQUANTERS
WASHINGTON, MAY 22, 1945
CIVIL AIR PATROL
SL~JECT:
GM-Sh
Military Training for prospective Inductees
All Unit commanders
i. Military trainin~ of citizens who expect to Join the armed forcesj
e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e w h o h a v e b e e n c l a s e i fl e d i n t h e A - I d r ~ f t c a t e g o r y, i s a n
important service which CAP can perform for the war effort. It is a job which
local Squadrons and Flights can do whether or not they have active flyin~
missions in progress.
2. Like the CAP Cadets, this is an optional program~hich we leave
tot he discretion of the local unit ccmmmn~ers. But there is nothing
experimental about it. The pre-train~n~which CAP has given to its ow~members
amd cadets, together with the special training which scms units have extended
to draftees and Army flying cadets awaiting induction, has made better soldiers
of ~ thousands now in the armed services throughout the worldJ The more
p e o p l e s o t r a i n e d , t h e b e t t e r.
3. W~ile the full course of CAP trainins is designed to prepare
members for aviation service, the military subjects have helped men and women
i n t h e A r m y, N a v y, M a r i n e s , WA A C S , WAV E S , a n d o t h e r s e r v i c e s . F r e q u e n t r e p o r t s
are received regarding members who were inducted and promptly became Corp~als
or Sergeants because of the head start which CAP had given them. The important
thing is not their personal advancement, of cc~rse, but the fact that they are
b e t t e r a b l e t o t a k e t h e i r p l a c e i n t h e w a r.
4. It is not necessary to take in trainees as CAP members or to put
t h e m i n u n i f o r m . M a i n t h i n g i s t o t e a c h t h e m m i l i t a r y c o u r t e s y, d i s c i p l i n e ,
and drill. The farther you can go with the military courses prescribed for CAP
t h e b e t t e r. D r i l l w i t h a r m s i f p o s s i b l e , y o u c a n h a v e w o o d e n g u n s m a d e .
After the trainees have learned their drill, you can work out appropriate grotmd
maneuvers with CAP air support.
9. physical training aspects are important. Calestheniee, hikes,
and marches are reccm~ended. By the cooperation of CAP Medical Officers and
local doctors~ you can help in the correction of physical defects and harden
your recruits for the tou~h trainin~ and the fighting that is s2aead of them.
6. This program can be conducted more readily in the small towns
and rural areas t~m-u in the larger cities. Don't bite off more than you can
c h e w. I t i s b e s t t o s t a r t w i t h a l i m i t e d p r o g r a m a n d g e t t h e b u g s o u t o f i t
than to launch too big an undertaking at once. As experience is developed in
the field, we will report it in the CAP Bulletin.
7. High-ranking Army officers think highly of the CAP Cadet program.
Recent comferences indicate the soundness and desirability of extending CAP
training still farther as something we can do for citizens of all ages to whom
this training can mean so much.
M-7411
EARLE L. JQHN~0N
National Commander
WASHINGTON, D. C.
NATIONAL ~ADQUANTERS
WASHINGTON, MAY 22, 1945
CIVIL AIR PATROL
SL~JECT:
GM-Sh
Military Training for prospective Inductees
All Unit commanders
i. Military trainin~ of citizens who expect to Join the armed forcesj
e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e w h o h a v e b e e n c l a s e i fl e d i n t h e A - I d r ~ f t c a t e g o r y, i s a n
important service which CAP can perform for the war effort. It is a job which
local Squadrons and Flights can do whether or not they have active flyin~
missions in progress.
2. Like the CAP Cadets, this is an optional program~hich we leave
tot he discretion of the local unit ccmmmn~ers. But there is nothing
experimental about it. The pre-train~n~which CAP has given to its ow~members
amd cadets, together with the special training which scms units have extended
to draftees and Army flying cadets awaiting induction, has made better soldiers
of ~ thousands now in the armed services throughout the worldJ The more
p e o p l e s o t r a i n e d , t h e b e t t e r.
3. W~ile the full course of CAP trainins is designed to prepare
members for aviation service, the military subjects have helped men and women
i n t h e A r m y, N a v y, M a r i n e s , WA A C S , WAV E S , a n d o t h e r s e r v i c e s . F r e q u e n t r e p o r t s
are received regarding members who were inducted and promptly became Corp~als
or Sergeants because of the head start which CAP had given them. The important
thing is not their personal advancement, of cc~rse, but the fact that they are
b e t t e r a b l e t o t a k e t h e i r p l a c e i n t h e w a r.
4. It is not necessary to take in trainees as CAP members or to put
t h e m i n u n i f o r m . M a i n t h i n g i s t o t e a c h t h e m m i l i t a r y c o u r t e s y, d i s c i p l i n e ,
and drill. The farther you can go with the military courses prescribed for CAP
t h e b e t t e r. D r i l l w i t h a r m s i f p o s s i b l e , y o u c a n h a v e w o o d e n g u n s m a d e .
After the trainees have learned their drill, you can work out appropriate grotmd
maneuvers with CAP air support.
9. physical training aspects are important. Calestheniee, hikes,
and marches are reccm~ended. By the cooperation of CAP Medical Officers and
local doctors~ you can help in the correction of physical defects and harden
your recruits for the tou~h trainin~ and the fighting that is s2aead of them.
6. This program can be conducted more readily in the small towns
and rural areas t~m-u in the larger cities. Don't bite off more than you can
c h e w. I t i s b e s t t o s t a r t w i t h a l i m i t e d p r o g r a m a n d g e t t h e b u g s o u t o f i t
than to launch too big an undertaking at once. As experience is developed in
the field, we will report it in the CAP Bulletin.
7. High-ranking Army officers think highly of the CAP Cadet program.
Recent comferences indicate the soundness and desirability of extending CAP
training still farther as something we can do for citizens of all ages to whom
this training can mean so much.
M-7411
EARLE L. JQHN~0N
National Commander