Military Subjects Heads of Departments Roy J. Heffner, 1st Lieut., A. S., Sig. R. C. Signalling Robert B. McPherson, 1st Lieut., A. S., Sig. R. C. Gunnery Mr. G. R. McDonald. Airplanes Howard L. McLean, 2nd Lieut., A. S., Sig. R. C. Engines David J. Conant, 2nd Lieut., A. S., Sig. R. C. Observation Mr. R. A. White. Finances Shortly after the formation of the school in May, 1917, a Budget Committee was appointed to keep the President of the Academic Board informed on finances. The principal part of the accounting is done by the Accounting Department of the University. The Budget Committee makes monthly reports showing: 1. Receipts and disbursements from the opening of the school to the date of the report. 2. Receipts and disbursements for the month of the report. 3. An estimate of receipts and expenditures for the coming month, divided according to accounts and departments. The cost of permanent improvements for the duration of the war, such as barracks and laboratory buildings, is charged off in monthly installments extending over periods ranging from six months to a year. Three laboratory buildings and five barracks have been built since the establishment of the school. Buildings and Equipment The University has constructed laboratory buildings for the School of Military Aeronautics on the campus near the Mechanics Building. The first building constructed was 60 X 120 feet and provided sufficient space for laboratories essential in the study of signalling, gunnery, airplanes, engines, and aerial observation. As the size of the school increased the building became inadequate, and it was necessary to make two additions to the original structure. It also has been necessary to construct an engine laboratory on another part of the campus. For lecture purposes, the rooms of the regular University buildings have been placed at the disposal of the School of Military Aeronautics. At the opening of the school, cadets were quartered in fraternity and boarding houses near the campus. The University at once undertook the construction of barracks, and there is now available one large two-story building just south of the campus and four smaller units on the campus, the last four units being of similar construction. Space for any future increase will be provided by building additional units of the same type as the four smaller barracks. Department of Military Subjects Lieutenant R. J. Heffner, Head The Department of Military Subjects has been in operation since the opening of the school in May, 1917. At that time the work of the department covered four lecture hours per week, given by one instructor, and divided into three topics: Army Regulation, Military Law, and Organization of Modern Foreign Armies. In July, 1917, the staff of the department was increased to two instructors. A total of sixteen hours per week and a final examination at the completion of the series of lectures were provided. The scope of the course was enlarged to include one lecture each on the organization of the United States, German, British, and French armies. Since that time instructors and lectures have been continually added. Both the topics discussed and the number of hours devoted to each have been increased. At the close of last year a total of twenty-eight hours of work per week was provided for in the curriculum, including a final examination and lectures on Organization of the Schools of Aeronautics, Military Law, Military Discipline, Esprit de Corps, Military Courtesy and Ideals, Administration and Organizaton of the Unted States Army, Regulations of the United States Army, Military Hygiene, Sanitation and First Aid, Army Paper Work, Methods of Modern Warfare, and Morale of the Air Service. In March, 1918, the number of hours of work per week was virtually doubled, and at present reaches a total of fifty-four hours. The course includes lectures, demonstrations and examinations. The following brief outline of the present instruction may prove of interest: The subjects of Military Hygiene, First Aid and Sanitation are discussed and demonstrated in a series of seven lectures. Elementary principles of personal hygiene, communicable diseases, camp and barracks sanitation, emergency treatment for the injured, etc., are explained. Military Discipline receives but one hour in the lecture room, but its principles are practiced throughout the entire course of twelve weeks. Military Courtesy is discussed in a series of two lectures. Rules for saluting, honors and courtesies to the colors and the national anthem, etc., are explained and emphasized. The principles of Guard Duty are brought out in two lectures. The subject of Administration and Organization of the United States Army is taken up in brief synoptical form, three hours being given to such discussion. The Paper Work of the Army, including military correspondence, blank forms, requisitions, accounts, reports, etc., receives attention, ten hours being devoted to lectures, discussions and practice. Army Regulations governing both officers and enlisted men are studied. Military Law and the Articles of War, including the system of military tribunals, courts and commissions, is discussed in a series of lectures covering five hours. At the completion of this series the students themselves hold a mock court-martial for practice in legal work. Methods of Modern Warfare, including construction of trenches, service in the trenches, methods of attack and defense on European battle fields and organization of modern foreign armies are discussed in a series of four lectures. Seven hours of discussion and drill in the use of gas masks give the student elementary instruction in defense against gas attacks. One hour is spent in discussing the elementary principles and benefits of infantry drill as practiced by members of the Aviation Service. The proper methods of giving commands as well as general theories of drill movements are explained. This is coördinated with the practical work on the drill field. In the last lecture the subject of Morale in the Air Service is discussed with an idea of building up pride in the organization, faith in its progress and powers and general satisfaction among its members. Eleven instructors are connected with the department. Students are furnished with sets of notes mimeographed in skeleton form and are instructed to fill in details from the material presented in the lecture room. In this manner a logically arranged set of notes is assured the student, who is given the opportunity of assimilating the information through the act of writing it himself, rather than reading it from a text. Each week sees changes and improvements in accordance with the policies of the War Department. The practical work in the Department of Military Subjects, consisting of drill, guard mount, etc., although listed under this department is actually conducted separately, under the direction of Lieutenant Harold B. Reed as the Department of Drill and Discipline. Department of Signalling Lieutenant R. B. McPherson, Head The Department of Radio and Signalling was organized as a part of the school in May, 1917, for the purpose of instructing cadets in radio telegraphy, and the Radio Laboratory of the College of Mechanics was turned over for its use. First practice in signalling was given in one of the fraternity houses, where the cadets were quartered at the beginning of the school. The name of the department was later changed to the Department of Signalling, although the scope of the course remained practically the same. Practice in sending and receiving the International Morse Code occupies most of the time of the cadets. This work is given on silent code practice apparatus which permits several hundred students to have simultaneous individual practice time without any interference. The signalling laboratories are located in the "aero" laboratory and the barracks units built by the University, the laboratory in "C" barracks being large enough to accommodate 240 men doing individual work at the same time. Sufficient apparatus is available at the barracks for the cadets to engage in a certain amount of night practice in addition to the regular work required in the daily curriculum. The course also includes lectures on the theory of wireless telegraphy and several hours are devoted to visual signalling. |