Territorial Reservists: Six Months’ Service; Half-Time Training

Northern Advocate, 29 July 1938, Page 7

Territorial Reservists: Six Months’ Service; Half-Time Training

An attractive new scheme lias been put into operation by the Army Board in connection with recruiting for the Special Reserve. The period of training has been increased from three to six months, not to increase the military work, but to enable half the hours- of work to be devoted exclusively to the trade which (he man himself wishes to continue learning. If fie is not already engaged in any particular occupation, he will be given the choice of several trades in which expert instruction is being given by special staffs. The conditions of enlistment are that the Special Reservists should be between the ages of 18 and 25 less than sft. 7in. in height, able to pass the doctor,, and be a British-born subject.

Here is an excellent opportunity for youths who are temporarily unem- ' ployed to undertake a task which is most valuable from the defence point of view, and is equally valuable from their own personal point of view. They get good companionship, good food, good quarters, good uniforms, interesting training, and a fresh start in civilian life. Young men who are interested should get in touch with the Defence authorities at the earliest opportunity, as the numbers who can be taken for this special six months’ training are limited, and on previous experience the quota will be filled before the end of July. Two drafts have already carried out three months’ continuous training, either in coast defence or specialised infantry work, with the addition of a considerable amount of educational or trade training. On completion of this initial period, these men were posted to appropriate fortress defence Territorial units, and as N.C.O.’s and men of those units will carry out ten days’ annual training for three years. In all, a total of 210 special reservists have been included in these first two drafts, and 63 who were up to the high physical and mental standard required have since been enlisted as regular soldiers. 1 Apart from the military value of their training, which is unquestionable, the results show that these men have benefited tremendously from the regular physical training, good food and good conditions under which they have trained continuously for three months. The modern Army methods of physical training are the best possible means of building up a man in body and quickening up his mental reactions. It consists of a judicious mixture of exercise and games on a progressive basis and full of interest. Results speak for themselves. Within the two batches, the average increase in weight has been 7.4 lbs., an increase in height of iin., and an increase jn chest measurement of nearly two inches. For only three, months’ effort, these figures are most impressive, particularly when it is remembered that the men have spent a large amount of the time on specialised military training, and on their educational or trade work. The third batch of 178 reservists is at present undergoing their initial training at Narrow Neck, Trentham, and Burnham, and are well up to the previous standard.