CADET TRAINING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 241, 5 July 1919, Page 8

CADET TRAINING

NEW SYLLABUS ISSUED

PHYSICAL TRAINING A SPECIAL FEATURE

DEVELOPMENT OF CHARACTER

A new syllabus of cadet training for the ;Yew Zealand military forces has just been issued. The syllabus, which is the result of much careful work and close study on Ihe pari of Hie (raining staff, makes some important changes in the training of cadets. Briclly. fccl of Ihe changes is lo increase the proportion of physical training apd (in smaller degree) of musketry, and redipe the proportion of infantry drill in thn cadet, syllabus. Twenty-three hours are lo be given to physical I raining in the rear instead of eleven hour.--. This is the compulsory minimum, but thfe aim of the instructors will be to geMhc boys, and also Ihe parents, interested in the work, and arrange voluntary classes. The physical training is nnl Lo be merely a series of fixed movements. It "'ill include cames and sports, and t|ie instructors will trv lo introduce the competitive element The time allowed for musketrv instruction is to be extended from eleven hours to over fifteen hours. Infantrv drill is to bo reduced from thirty-eight hours to less than half that, time. A new feature is the introduction of short lectures, one to be given nt eacli parade by the senior officer prosent. , , The objects underlying the new syllabus are sketched in the preface. "It is recognised," .says the preface, "that no movement that possesses a purely military oysteci ia likely to prove a success in the' Dominion.' since it .is exactly this military domination that we have been fighting against in Germany. The purnose, Iki-r.'.'fore. of this cadet system is to produce good citizens primarily, rather than good soldiers; but there are two sides to citizenship, of which one sido certainly is the preparation and capacity to defend the Dominion by force of arms should the need arise. Citizenship, not militarism, is therefore the real aim of the cadet force. The greatest op-, nonent of military service would agnre that strength of character, a healthy mind and body, attention to personal appearance, punctuality, respect for authority, and high ideals are valuable assets to a young man and to the country which claims such men for its citizens. The opportunity to secure or strengthen these qualities or habits should be Riven to all. rich and poor, stronß and weak. This is what the cadet force training is endeavouring to urovide—whether successfully or not wil largely depend upon the assistance and encouragement given to the cadets by the citizens of the Dominion. "The need of the Empire to-day is healthy-minded young men filled with tho fine spirit of true democracy and intolerant of all mean and paltry nctious-men worthy to'carry on tho traditions of those noble souls who havo sacrificed their lives in Ihe Great War in order to giye freedom to the world. That success may result from tho teachings of this syllabus it will bo essential to teach by personal example that the best men are llioso who retain most; of tho high ideals ot their boyhood, and every endeavour must, therefore be made to eliminate the feeling that the leading of a clean life is unmanly. i "i'n pnysique and morals the youth ol New Zealand is possibly above that of other countries. Notwithstanding .-this, in a progressive, prosperous, and underpopulated country it is essential that ovm-v youth should receive tho maximum instruction possible in citizenship; and in this, as in many other respects, New Zealand, if she will, can set the example lo- the Empire, first and foremost in cadot training; must come tho duty of interesting (he cadet. Unless he can be stimulated lo lake an interest in his,work, little progress will be mado. Boresome drill, unnecessary repetition, and lengthy explanations aro. fruitful sources of dislike of cadet service. > The ii:.-,m;ciur who studies and considers his cadets at all times, wl)o maintains their interest by frequent changes of.work, who attends every parade with carefully, planned ideas oi' how to -increase their interest and efficiency, is one of tho greatest assets the Dominion enn possess. The subjects to be taught ore of natural interest to boys, and if Ihey are properly taught thero is no difficulty in maintaining their interest. This'now syllabus of cadet training forms but a part of a new system which will gradually be built up, the endeavour of which is not to produce highly-trained soldiers, but to improve the physical and mental qualities of those ' undergoing instruction, while developing and strengthening the general principles of citizenship, so important in a nation."

Grading by Efficiency,

Tho syllabus provides ihat cadets shall be graded by efficiency and not by age. For instructional purposes each cadet unit will bo divided into four parts corresponding with Ihe efficiency of its members. A third-year cadet, for example, may be placed among the fourthyear lads or retained with the secondyear boys, according to the degree of jefiicieiicy he has attained. All officers and non-commissioned officers must be 'capable instructor.-. "Unless this is the case,", states the syllabus, "their value is practically nil. . . . The officer or n.c.o. who i-i unable to both instruct and interest his cadets cannot ho considered cither suitable or efficient, or of the type to gain the confidence and loyalty of those under his rnmma'id." All cadets will attend thirty-four > veiling drills, each of one hour and a- hnlf'n duration, during every year of service. These drills wil be extended equally over the whole year. All units are lo adout the circuit system of training. In order to facilitate this the cadet syllabus has been divided inlo two main parts; (1) The first-year and second-year cadets, (2) the third-year and fourthyear cadets. A separate portion of tho drill space available should he allotted to each part. The method of training .will require a cadet unit to have two .physical training instructors, ono musketry instructor and one drill instructor, leaving the unit commander to superintend (he work of Jill tho subdivisions, and be responsible for tho chang* periods. In exceptional cases, however, where the unit is tuo small, or where instructors are difficult lo find, the new syllabus allows for all tho training to bo carried out by two instructors, one having charge of the first and second-year cadets, and the oilier of Ihe third and fourth-year cadets. This is tin minimum stall', considering that thcro arc three suhleels to he taught. Tesls for eyesight, hearing, and _condition of the tojth arc provided in the syllabus. "The lrlioie period of a cadet's service." state the instructions, "must be regarded as the preliminary slop towards physical, .'iirnliil, moral, and defensive efficiency; for this msun care will bo taken to Improve- the general health. physi(|Ue, and knowledge of citizenship of lire- cadet. U will be understood Hint, a certain amount of drill unci a high standard of discipline are essential to success in all such training. Musketry is also an essential. But the niilslanding subjects during a cadet's training must be I hose dealing with his physical, menial, and moral development. Tho mere nbilil.v le perform the physical training exercises is ,of small value unless these aro properly taught, and tho .-adets are stimulated to tako an interest in them. For a. like reason no amount of physical training can make a. cadet strong and vigorous whose teeth require attention, or whose knowledge of f clf-eon , .roi and' personal hygiene is dciirienl. Those vested with the important dutv of thus improving the youth of the nation must boar these things in mind. I'v means of short but inlcrcsliiisr ledurettes. and by personal cxiample, ill? instructor must aim at creating hnnuv, disciplined, and healthy cadets, lilied with esprit do corps, and smart in appearance and movement. Nothing must be left undone tu attain this desirable end." I Subjects of Lectures, The -syllabus sets out the programme of work' for each year in detail. The siibjeds of Ihe ten-minute lectures are sla!"d and notes for the use of officers | arc included in tho syllabus. The lcc- ! lures cover such subjects as "physical ! p.flicien.-y and nines--,'' "personal by-

gieno," "value of puueluality, discipline, and smartness," "observation, memory, and concentration," "self-control and good health," "swearing, smoking, and drinking," "care with firearms and explosives." "first aid," •'sanitation," "palriotism and citizenship," "hc-althy minds and bodies," "life-saving and swimming." The physical (raining course embodies many oi' the features of training given to recruits in the Expeditionary Force camps. The games that proved so popular and useful a porliou of the preparation for active service' have been introduced inlo the cadet syllabus, with many of thn limb and body exorcises provided in Iho physical training manual.'Several pages of illustrations \vi|l assist iufil motors and cadots to Wrn the exercises, and develop-their usefulness fully; Mora than a, dozen games suitable for boys are described.

The new syllabus has tjeen distributed throughout the military districts, and it will be used in the training of the cadets this year. Boroo officers, indeed, linyn introduced portions of the syllabus already, and Iho stimulus given lo the training of cadets had been immediately observable. The training staff is particularly anxious to secure the co-opera-tion of parents and employers. A general realisation on the part of the public, that healthy bodies mean healthy minds, and that the combination of both ensures good citizenship and sure defence will mako certain the success of. the new training.