CADET N.C.O.'S

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 222, 13 June 1919, Page 6

CADET N.C.O.'S

COURSE OF INSTRUCTION ADDRESS BY COLONEL SLEEMAN The special course of instruction arranged by the Group Commander (Cuptain W. "M. Bell) for cadet n.c.o.'s was continued at the Garrison Hall last night. About one hundred lads received instruction in infantry drill, physical drill, and musketry from sergeants-major of the instructional staff, wider the supervision of Captain Beil and Lieutenant J. Thomson, and they worked with evident enthusiasm. Lieutenant-Colonel J. L. Sleeman .(Director of Military Training) and Colonel Ct. F. C. Campbell (Coast Defence Commander) were present. The cadets were divided into squads, and given instruction on tho intensive plan adopted at the Expeditoinary Force training camps. Thev passed rapidlyfrom one subject to another, and were kept continually on the alert, without, undue strain, and yet without opportunity for attention to wander. The training included the "physical jerks" that became 60 important a part of tho camp work during the later stages of the war, after their value in the building up ol' the body and the development of mental and physical alertness had been proved. Under tile direction of tho instructors the boys played the military games with great keenness. After ' the evening's instruction had beu completed some of the cadets took part in a shooting competition, and others engaged in bouts with the gloves. The highest scorer, in the shooting competition was Sergaant W. B. Bray, 31st Company. The boxing was conducted with great spirit. Several of the boys showed that they had already received a good grounding, and all of them were keen to take advantage of the assistant given them by the-instructors. It was announced that a boxing competition would be arranged later in the course. ' During the evening Colonel Sleeman briefly addressed the cadets. Ho 'congratulated them on the spirit they had shown in coming forward for the special' course of instruction. They were making a sacrifice now in giving their time to the work,'but he could assuro them thev would be well repaid in the future. They ■ woufd be smarter men and stronger men for - the training they were receiving. They would benefit mentally as well' as physically. That statement was justified fully'by the experience that had been gained before the war and during the war in the British Army and the Dominion forces. New Zealandeis had been able to see for themselves how quickly the military training increased a man's', physical . capacity, menial alertness, and confidence in himself. The lad who had the, habits and instincts of a sportsman, who took a' pride' in hiniself and obeyed orders oieeriully, added Colonel Sleeman, would becoijie the successful man. There was nothing, of. the "wowser" about such a boy, and he need not care lor the jeers of fellows who were developing neither their bodies nor their minds. , The jmrpose of the training that tho class was .receiving was to make good citizens, One of the duties of a good citizen was to be capable, of assisting in the defence of his country, but the cadet training" was not being directed to the military side to any large extent. The.nrtm who was physically lit, who could obey orders without servility or resentment, and who took a just pride in himself and his country, was the man who would make a good soldier I if that form of service were required of him. A. man must be able to obey before he was fit to commnnd, and to be able either to obey or to command he must have self-control, which was - one of the things to be learned in the cadet training. Self-.control was the basis of character, and every boy should remember that lack of ability to take orders was simply lack of self-control, it had been found in tho Army that the men of strongest character madg good soldiers, for they had no difficulty in adopting habits of discipline and obeying orders intelligently. Such men did not let slackers prevent them learning i their jobs and doing their work. Colonel Sleeman reminded the n.c.o.'s that under the now training system, which would ■ shortly be issued, they would be .required to impart to their companies the knowledge they themselves were now acquiring. Thoy must be prepared to show that they knew their work, because a fellow who did not know his own job'could never give orders successfully, as a soldier or anything else. The root of success was'work. The colonel mentioned that he had been receiving letters from men he had trained as cadets beforo the war, and he was not at all surprised. to find that the best cadets had become the best men. The lad who was honest, straight; keen about his work, regardful of his appearance, and ready to do his duty cheerfully would make a success of life.