CHAPLAINS TRAIN LONG AND HARD FOR DIFFICULT TASK

"Praising the Lord but not passing the ammunition" is the modernistic unofficial slogan of the clergymen now in training for active duty with the armed forces in the Chaplain School, headquarters, Germanic Museum.

In the middle of a four week training period, the men are totally absorbed in perhaps the most intensive period of training that they will over experience.

Rising at 5:30 o'clock in the morning, every morning, they rush into a schedule which they claim would cause physical breakdowns to men in the other training groups stationed at Harvard. The schedule for their typical hard day's labor is the following: 5:30  Calisthenics Breakfast 8:00  Chapel 8:20  Classes 11:45  Lunch period begins 1:00  Classes 5:30  End of classes, begin supper period 7:30  Supervised study 9:30  End study, begin special consultation hour. 11:30  Lights out for all.

Only Chaplain

William D. Cleary, Chaplain, Colonel, who is officer-in-charge of the men and head of the Chaplain School, is the only chaplain in the United States Army who has the authority to actually give a military order. Having the responsibility for the school at Harvard, he was given special authority by Washington to do what no other chaplain can do, in the Army or in training, to tell a soldier what he must do.

Discipline among the chaplains is hardly necessary, however. A superior officer merely asks that a job be done, and it is. Furthermore, the men don't have to be given an order twice; they have a cooperative spirit which gets things done on the drill field or in the barracks.

Special Qualifications

In order to qualify for admission into the Chaplain Corps, which is the only completely volunteer group connected with the armed forces, a man must first have gotten a B.A. degree from an accredited college. Then he must--have been three years to an advanced ministerial training college, served three years as a pastor, and finally, receive a full endorsement by his last pastorate.

Practical Training

Although the preachers have a long and tedious academic schedule along the scholastic line, they are not allowed to sit around and get soft. They must take four forty-minute periods of military drill every day, take the 5:30 o'clock calisthenics classes every morning, and spend a considerable period practising gas defense, first-aid, and other vital practical duties.

They must also wander around neighboring vacant lots plotting grave yards, practice grave registration, and have make-believe sessions of hospital visitation. These are duties which help a civilian minister to get himself oriented with his new tasks in the army.

No Holidays

Due to the short period of training which ends on March 4th for this group of men, they are allowed no holidays. Their month session is never broken with week-end in the country or a trip to the museum, but continues on the regular gruelling schedule. Wednesday afternoon is the only free-time alloted, and the men don't get off then until 4:05 o'clock in the evening.

One chaplain explained, however, that as far as the coming Washington Birthday holiday is concerned, when other groups are being allowed to go scott free, he didn't mind a bit. Washington seemed a little out of his category any how, "because he never told a lie."

Men Get Distinction

Officers in the school were selected shortly after men arrived two weeks ago. They were chosen on the basis of leadership and executive ability, and now serve to officer the whole unit which is divided in groups under their supervision.

Only Chaplain

William D. Cleary, Chaplain, Colonel, who is officer-in-charge of the men and head of the Chaplain School, is the only chaplain in the United States Army who has the authority to actually give a military order. Having the responsibility for the school at Harvard, he was given special authority by Washington to do what no other chaplain can do, in the Army or in training, to tell a soldier what he must do.

Discipline among the chaplains is hardly necessary, however. A superior officer merely asks that a job be done, and it is. Furthermore, the men don't have to be given an order twice; they have a cooperative spirit which gets things done on the drill field or in the barracks.

Special Qualifications

In order to qualify for admission into the Chaplain Corps, which is the only completely volunteer group connected with the armed forces, a man must first have gotten a B.A. degree from an accredited college. Then he must--have been three years to an advanced ministerial training college, served three years as a pastor, and finally, receive a full endorsement by his last pastorate.

Practical Training

Although the preachers have a long and tedious academic schedule along the scholastic line, they are not allowed to sit around and get soft. They must take four forty-minute periods of military drill every day, take the 5:30 o'clock calisthenics classes every morning, and spend a considerable period practising gas defense, first-aid, and other vital practical duties.

They must also wander around neighboring vacant lots plotting grave yards, practice grave registration, and have make-believe sessions of hospital visitation. These are duties which help a civilian minister to get himself oriented with his new tasks in the army.

No Holidays

Due to the short period of training which ends on March 4th for this group of men, they are allowed no holidays. Their month session is never broken with week-end in the country or a trip to the museum, but continues on the regular gruelling schedule. Wednesday afternoon is the only free-time alloted, and the men don't get off then until 4:05 o'clock in the evening.

One chaplain explained, however, that as far as the coming Washington Birthday holiday is concerned, when other groups are being allowed to go scott free, he didn't mind a bit. Washington seemed a little out of his category any how, "because he never told a lie."

Men Get Distinction

Officers in the school were selected shortly after men arrived two weeks ago. They were chosen on the basis of leadership and executive ability, and now serve to officer the whole unit which is divided in groups under their supervision.