SECOND ECHELON

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21508, 22 November 1939, Page 9

SECOND ECHELON

N.C.O.’s TO BE CALLED UP NEXT MONTH Non-commissioned officers for the second echelon of the Special Force will be called into camp about December 9. They will do an intensive course of training in readiness for their appointment to the units of the echelon. It is suggested that if young men are hoping to receive appointments as non-commissioned officers, they should enlist at the nearest registration office without delay. Selection will not be left till the last minue, since circumstances have enabled the military authorities to prepare for the training of the second echelon in much less haste than was the case with the calling up of the first echelon. Whereas non-commissioned officers now in camp have to work extremely long hours and take special lectures in the evenings to keep ahead of their men, those of the second echelon will have a far better opportunity of learning their duties before they go into camp with their units. Officers of the second echelon are enjoying similar opportunities, since they are already in camp. They will thus have had about a month’s refresher course before their noncommissioned officers are called up, and a very reasonable time before they take up their commands with the echelon. The non-commissioned officers will not be sent to any one camp. They will go to various camps, according to their arm of service. They will cover the full normal range of units—infantry, artillery, engineers, army service corps and divisional cavalry. Those going to Burnham will be infantry and army service corps.