KEEP ON YOUR COURSE

ATC Observer, 1 August 1942, Page 1

KEEP ON YOUR COURSE

By

Keys.

It’s a great life - if you can make the grade©’ But in thus, the finest of the Services, only the best-is good enough* From the time you applied, to enter' the A*T 9 C O to the time you are posted t-o an operational unit you will find that you are being kept constantly under observation. Time and time again you will have to appear before Selection Boards who will examine your personal file wherein will be recorded your physical and- educational qualifications and the opinions of the officers and instructors' who have been responsible for-your training© It’s a log book 1 kept by others about you and will show '' what kind of a course .you’ve made.-

Too many'made the mistake in., the early stages of., this war of underestimating the enemy* A few still do - hut not those with any experience* I watched the young Germans at their training in 1939 - just before ' the outbreak of war, and came away realising that, no - matter how much I detested.their social outlook and political views, they' had developed many qualities which were going to make them very difficult to bring down* They were splendidly developed physically, and fanatically devoted to their cause. Their technical training was

thorough and up to the dot’. Their organisation and equipment were much ..co. be envied. But I realised, too, that we also had”the stuff “ co beac , them — man for . man and machine for machine , once we , were given the, chance to develop it. on .the scale that was necessary. Once given a chance to meet them on even terms -we would have them beaten. And there s your xJob. You are to be matched against r this “enemy who, because he is fighting for all . that we hate, has to be beaten to / the so that we can have a world in which decent people will predomina’ Filo c for pilot, obaerver for observer, gunner for /gunner,- technician for technician, ,we can meet them now,/ .and if you' do your level best to keep the standard high we’ve got them beaten. . Because he’s good - you nave, to be better. < Bit it isn’t easy. There are those hours of swot to be put in-, with the tests'at the end of them that will sort out .those who haven’t worked up to. the collar.. . There the drill .and' the discipline to be faced that will show up those who just haven’t got what it takes. There’s .the hard physical training in preparation for long hours and tough going, when quick thinking, accurate judgment and real endurance decide J whether you win -or lose. There’s the demand for qualities of character and leadership 7 (hard to define,, but easy to recognise) that have already made the service distinctive; ' have given it, the reputation it so richly deserves.

Your goal is a difficult one, but if you’ll stick to your: course whatever happens; youll make it. And the. reward is this v you be accepted by all, in the Service and civil life alike, as a worthy member of the finest outfit in the world* You’ll feel proud v of your' uniform and fit to wear it - and, you hold your head high.' ' , v . . ■ • ■ / '■ . '■■'.7'<‘..l j 1 •>' ■ .Your take off has been .good; now keep on your cours-eJ