THE CITIZEN OFFICER.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 762, 10 March 1910, Page 8

THE CITIZEN OFFICER.

57. While tie staff corps will provide the trained instructor, the leadership of units of the . Citizen Force will'depend on the , citizen.officer,and it is,- therefore, ' all important. that he ■ should be of • the,, most promising material available, chosen, young, and selected solely for his capacity for:." leadership' and', military Knowledge, and devotion to.duty. Every opportunity must be taken to educate him m the. , spare moments of his civilbusiness,, and .accordingly .means of instructiqn: should be available at or near his home.--:..' -. . . ■'■ -~-, ■'■.

■58.' Onoe elected, the .welfare ~pf the force- requires 1 ' that- officers should; serve more, continuously ; and for longer periods than.their men,-and in this, way repay the; nation -foir".the trust reposed in them. ,;.59.'A ' consideration of these- requirements leads .to', the conclusion that—

(a) The citizen officer should be ap- ■ pointed !as yearly as possible in his ■. ' military , career, .so■ that he may, . .■• ■ ; at the most :receptiYe.time of his . . life, study his duties as an officer, • and develop his. qualifications for ira'parting , ' instruction- and leader- ... .':sh'ip of 'men.- , ' i". '~.' (b) It. should'be understood, that .the " ' .'acceptance .of .a commission: , en- ...' • ' tails.'a liability.to serve as/an offi- '. ■ . cer-for. at .least, 12' years, but. such '. . ■ a _ liability would , not interfere with free movement. ,from place to. place in Australia; nor with resignation -should the GovernorGeneral be pleased to-accept it; nor, subject to the exigencies of the service,. with the privilege of leave on private affairs to visit '.. countries outside r :.' ' . .' ' - j "i'- i} . _ the principle:4aid dpwa. inthe-3)efence Act, thatin citizen forces: all promotions should be from the ranks, but,, in order: to get.young officers, I advise that for, this .purpose service, in the ranks of senior cadets, should count.'.The 1 ordinary procedure to be followed in the appointment of an" officer would then generally be— ■' '..:\< . ; .'■■' . :/ 61 -The.area officer would nominate suitable senior. cadets'::to sub-lieutenants in the cadet corps; speh rank to carry no , pay nor command outside the cadets. During the'first year of their adult training these sub-lieutenants should.be on'probation as lieutenants in l ,the.citizen forces. Whe.n approved .by the battalion commander, and after passing the necessary tests, their .-names would -be submitted, the usual channels,'for commissions. • .. . ■ : .'-,..-, ■'•:' '■:■ '■■ • '■■■■ '•'.

62. As regards (b), the commission would then be granted- on the! declaration of the'officer that he is willing to serve for twelve years. Under this system; it as estimated , that; an. officer, would- obtain' his' first commission between the age's of 18 and 20, -would: reach tie rank' of captainabout Sβ, and of fliajor . about 30 or 32, i.e., when his twelve years' service ;is about to expire.- .Above the rant of major no obligation to-.serve should be ; zealous- officers wonld':• remain. in : order ' to.' command -their battalions or regiments; .and subsequently brigades. . ■•"' -.;.; :, . ..- . - _63. A citizen officer elected to liainent should be at once seconded.-...'