Mistaken Views of Public.—Not every man is suitable for a soldier. The public—including many members of the medical profession in civil life—has the idea that any male over seventeen years of age and not enfeebled by senility or disease may be enlisted and perform efficient service. Nor is every able-bodied man suitable for military purposes. He may be undesirable as to character, mentality, habits, education, or temperament. Furthermore, though the individual may be muscularly strong, he may possess some physical defect which, though negligible in his ordinary vocation, is almost certain to develop into a disqualifying defect in the military service. Thus, when we read the boastful utterances of Jingo orators about “a nation in arms,” “ten millions of men will rise to repel the invader,” and the like, we must realize that, from the standpoint of physical fitness alone, the vast majority of these millions is totally ineligible. A man may be a good insurance risk and yet be entirely unfitted for a soldier.
Small Percentage Qualified.—In time of peace, applicants have ordinarily presented themselves in sufficient numbers so that our small army has been recruited out of good material. The number of men rejected for one reason or another, but chiefly on account of physical deficiencies, greatly exceeds those accepted. Under normal conditions, only one in three or four is taken by officers on recruiting duty in cities, and this percentage is still further reduced by a rigid medical scrutiny at recruit depots, to which provisionally accepted applicants are sent prior to taking the oath of enlistment.
High Motives, Special Abilities.—The motive actuating an applicant for enlistment—such as a spirit of adventure, a desire to wear the uniform, or even a strong sentiment of patriotism—is not a satisfactory substitute for physical fitness. While it is true that some weedy individuals may develop to an adequate degree, or may even exhibit a rare courage or marked endurance under strain, experience shows overwhelmingly that such is the exception and not the rule. Exceptional recommendations as to character, ability, or knowledge of useful trades should ordinarily be allowed to influence us only where such relative defects as slight deficiencies in height or weight are concerned. And it is important to bear in mind that there must be not merely the absence of disease or abnormality, but also freedom from any tendency thereto.
Lowered Standards.—At times of special urgency there is apt to be great pressure directed to the lowering of the standards. Militia organizations may desire to be transferred to the national service intact; officers of newly organized regiments are anxious to fill the ranks; or, a real emergency exists. Even at such times, unless the emergency be acute, the pressure should be resisted, for the inferior material is unlikely to reach the firing-line. The defective men break down at the first strain and, never having rendered real service to their country, are promptest to demand pensions. Woodhull quotes Vegetius (a Roman military writer) as follows: “An army raised without due regard to the choice of recruits was never yet made a good army by any length of service.”
Correction of Physical Defects.—Much can be done to render men with correctible defects, fit for service. In time of need such men should not be rejected, but should be drafted and at once subjected to the surgical or other measures necessary to overcome their disabilities.
Classification of Defective Men for Service.—Where the need is great, all available men should be examined, and classified according to their physical capabilities. Thus, men physically fit for any duty would belong to the first class. The second class would include those having correctible defects which, if remedied, would fit them for the first class. The third class might comprise men able to perform any duty in rear of the fighting line. The fourth, those unfit for hard physical labor, but competent to perform light indoor tasks. Classifications may be varied to suit all conditions likely to be encountered.
Regulars, Volunteers, Militia, Conscripts.—In our military system recruits may be considered under four heads, namely, Regulars, Volunteers, Militia, and Conscripts. Recruits for the first three are all volunteers, in the sense that they apply for enlistment of their own free will. Those for the last are compulsorily chosen in the absence of a sufficient number of voluntary applicants. Regulars are carefully selected by trained officers of the line and medical staff. Volunteers are picked in like manner, but, owing to the inexperience of examiners or pressure to lower the standards somewhat, the material is not always equal to that of the Regulars. This is shown by the fact that in the Civil and Spanish wars deaths from disease and discharges for disability were nearly twice as great among the Volunteers. In the widest sense the militia is the whole number of males of the country who are competent and available for military service. Specifically, the term is applied to the organized militia, these being the men who form the military organizations in the service of the several states. As these organizations—now known as the National Guard—are not ordinarily liable for hard field service, some states have not required a very high standard of physical fitness. When, therefore, in conformity with existing law, the organized militia has been called into the service of the United States, it has been found that a large proportion of the personnel of certain regiments was physically ineligible. It is an interesting but readily understandable fact that, whereas voluntary applicants for enlistment endeavor to conceal defects, conscripts may try to escape service by magnifying existing defects or feigning non-existent ones. In the examination of drafted men, therefore, a skeptical attitude of mind should be maintained toward alleged disabilities.
System of Examination.—In time of peace, line officers, stationed at centers of population, make a preliminary examination, after which the likely candidates are forwarded to recruiting depots. At the latter points army medical officers re-examine the men, weed out the defective ones, and enlist those qualified.
At times like the present, where such great numbers are involved, boards of civilian physicians are, perforce, utilized. These lack experience of service conditions, and it is to be apprehended that errors of judgment will be common.
Principal Defects.—The physical deficiencies which cause the greatest number of rejections for our army are: venereal diseases, heart abnormalities, defective vision or hearing, foot deformities, and poor physique. While it is not to be expected that line officers on recruiting duty shall be able to detect obscure affections of the internal organs, there are many grosser defects which are readily apparent to them. Such are: deformities, skin eruptions, pallor, emaciation, inebriety, venereal disease, defective development of parts, lice, dirty person, rupture, piles, stiff joints, varicose veins, flat feet, indecent tattooing, etc. Furthermore, internal disease may be suspected from shortness of breath, a thumping heart, dimness of vision, or irregular pulse, following moderate exertion.
Character.—The character of the applicant should be determined as accurately as possible. He may satisfy all the physical requirements, but when the recruiting officer asks himself the question, “Would I be willing to have this man in my company?” there is often a decided negative. And this test is a useful one to apply with respect to the intelligence of the applicant, his knowledge of English, and his general appearance. The moral qualifications may be guessed from his features and gaze (open, frank or averted), his manner (direct or furtive and hang-dog), his person and clothing (clean or dirty). He may present the well-known appearance of a drunkard or a tramp. Drug habits may be indicated by numerous marks of the hypodermic needle or very dilated or contracted pupils. A marked disproportion of features or limbs may be indications of degeneracy, or his body may be much tattooed, some of the subjects being of an obscene or otherwise offensive nature.
Mental and Nervous Condition—The mental and nervous condition is important. Many defectives—especially among the foreign born—pass the initial observation and some even the medical examination, for no class of cases is so difficult to determine without an extended observation. Nevertheless, a nervous, shifty, or excitable manner; wandering attention; defective memory; inability to give prompt or direct replies to questions; sudden, jerky movements; will frequently indicate an unstable nervous system or defective mentality.
Age.—Youth is a serious physical defect. We sometimes read the erroneous statement that the Civil War was fought by boys, but in that war, as in all those of history, undeveloped, immature youths succumbed to the fatigues and privations of campaign in vastly greater proportion than grown men. Prior to the age of twenty-one the bones are not fully formed, the muscles lack endurance, and the heart is unduly susceptible to overstrain. On the other hand, men over thirty, unless they have led an active, alert life, are apt to be muscle-bound and mentally slow. The limits of age for our service are, in time of peace, eighteen to thirty-five. It is, therefore, to be seen that minors may be legally accepted in spite of the knowledge that great commanders have, for centuries past, protested against the recruitment of boys for their armies. From a physiologic standpoint the truly desirable minimum is twenty-two years.
Height, Weight, Chest.—In the absence of actual disease conditions, the physical attributes which chiefly determine the acceptance or rejection of an applicant for enlistment are the height, the weight, and the chest measurements. In normal individuals these bear a fairly definite relation to each other, which relation is set down in official tables. Men whose chest circumference, at rest, is below 32 inches, should not be accepted, for such a chest has not sufficient air capacity. The minimum of height for our service has long been 5 feet 4 inches. The question of height is not quite so important now as in the old days of shock action. Other things being relatively equal, the smaller man is generally quicker in his movements and has more endurance. In these days of specialism we may well accept vigorous men who are a little shorter than the present requirement for special service, thus releasing others of standard height for the fighting line. This principle has been accepted in the present emergency, the standard being temporarily lowered to 5 feet 10 inches. With respect to weight, men of the “wiry” type may be accepted when they are but a few pounds under the standard, but the mistake must not be made of confusing these with cases of defective or arrested development. In these latter, deficiency in weight, pallor, flabby muscles, a flat chest, sloping shoulders, and generally poor physique denote a feeble constitution.
Records.—It is essential, for the protection of the government, that careful records be made: (a) of all departures from the normal, including minor ones which are not considered disqualifying, and (b) of means of identification. The first is needed as a defense against unjust claims for pension. The second leads to the detection of criminals, deserters and dishonorably discharged men who enlist fraudulently; it also aids in the identification of the dead.
Depots.—Owing to the widespread derivation of recruits, depots for their collection and training are frequently afflicted with one or more kinds of contagious diseases, brought by some who have contracted them elsewhere. It has sometimes happened that measles, mumps, or other communicable disease has developed in parties of men sent from depots, during the trip or shortly after arrival at their destination. Army posts have thus been frequently infected, while the health of the traveling public has been endangered. If, therefore, such a disease exists at depots, the men who have been exposed to contagion should be isolated, in separate squads, until the period of incubation of that particular disease is past. If a case develops in any one squad, none but members of that squad have been exposed to it and the others may safely be forwarded. A similar procedure is advisable in camps.
Vaccinations.—One of the first requirements after the enlistment of a man is to have him vaccinated against smallpox, typhoid, and paratyphoid fevers. This is a very important procedure looking to his future health and that of the army.
General Order No. 66.—The remarks in this chapter are intended to emphasize the importance of sound recruits and sound methods of recruiting. The most important part of the whole subject, namely, the physical examination of the recruit, is not dealt with herein for the reason that War Department General Order No. 66, series of 1910, is an excellent presentation thereof.
Recruiting Maxims.—Recruiting is a highly important duty, for upon those to whom it is entrusted rests the responsibility for the physical, mental, and moral standard of the whole army. Officers examining volunteers should keep in mind constantly the maxim, If in doubt, reject. In the examination of drafted men, the rule should be, Every man owes service to his country.
Key Takeaways
- Recruits must meet high standards of physical and mental fitness.
- Defective men can sometimes be corrected through medical intervention.
- The age range for recruitment should generally be between eighteen to thirty-five years old, with a desirable minimum of twenty-two years.
- Height, weight, and chest measurements are crucial in determining eligibility.
- Contagious diseases at recruit depots must be managed carefully.
Practical Tips
- Ensure that all potential recruits undergo thorough physical examinations before enlisting to maintain high standards of fitness.
- Maintain a skeptical attitude during the examination process, especially when dealing with drafted men who may try to conceal defects or exaggerate existing ones.
- Keep detailed records of all applicants and their medical history for future reference and to prevent fraudulent enlistments.
Warnings & Risks
- Lowering recruitment standards can lead to the acceptance of unfit individuals who are likely to break down under strain and demand pensions.
- Contagious diseases at recruit depots pose a significant risk to both recruits and the general public, necessitating strict isolation protocols.
- Ignoring the physical and mental health of recruits can compromise the overall effectiveness and morale of the military.
Modern Application
While this chapter provides valuable insights into the selection process for soldiers in early 20th-century military service, many principles still apply today. Modern recruitment focuses on similar criteria such as fitness, mental health, and age, but with advanced medical technology and more stringent screening processes. The importance of maintaining high standards to ensure a capable and resilient force remains crucial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What physical defects were most commonly cited for rejecting recruits in the early 20th century?
The chapter mentions that venereal diseases, heart abnormalities, defective vision or hearing, foot deformities, and poor physique were among the leading causes of rejection. These conditions were considered disqualifying as they could significantly impact a soldier's ability to perform their duties effectively.
Q: How did the author suggest dealing with men who had correctible physical defects?
The chapter states that much can be done to render men with correctible defects fit for service. Such men should not be rejected but should be drafted and subjected to necessary surgical or other measures to overcome their disabilities.
Q: What was the recommended age range for recruitment in 1918?
The chapter specifies that the age range for recruitment was eighteen to thirty-five years old, with a desirable minimum of twenty-two years. This range aimed to ensure recruits had sufficient physical and mental maturity.
Q: How did the author suggest handling contagious diseases at recruit depots?
The chapter advises that if such diseases exist at depots, men who have been exposed to contagion should be isolated in separate squads until the period of incubation is past. This helps prevent the spread of disease among recruits and the general public.
Q: What was the author's stance on lowering recruitment standards during times of urgency?
The chapter cautions against lowering recruitment standards, even in times of special urgency. The author suggests that inferior material is unlikely to reach the firing line and may break down under strain, leading to demands for pensions.