TRAINING OF OFFICERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23501, 16 May 1938, Page 9

TRAINING OF OFFICERS

INCREASING THE SUPPLY COLLEGE TO BE REORGANISED RUGBY, May 13. A reorganisation of the Staff College, which will have the effect of increasing the supply of staff officers and reducing the age at which they will graduate from the college, is announced, and was referred to by the War Minister (Mr L. Hore-Belisha) in a speech at the laying of the foundation stone of the new buildings at Cheltenham College. The reorganisation will come into effeffct in January, when the Staff College will be divided into senior and junior wings. The object of the one-year, course at the junior wing will be to train officers to fill staff appointments up to, and including, the second grade. Approximately 120 officers will attend each course, of whom about 100 will be officers of the regular army. These will be selected by competitive examination. The other 20 vacancies will be available for the Territorial Army, the Royal Marines, the Royal Air Force, the Dominions, Egypt, Iraq, and foreign countries. The age of entry of this wing is reduced by stages, so that for the examination of 1941 and subsequent years, candidates will have to be under 30 instead of under 34 as at present. The object of the other course, which will also be one year at the senior wing, will be to train officers to fill first grade staff appointments, and for command. About 55 officers will attend the course, of whom 30 will be regular army officers. These will be nominated by the Army Council. The remainder will be filled by officers of the Territorial Army, the Royal Marines, the Royal Air Force, the Dominions and Indian Army.