CHAPTER II RECRUITS AND RECRUITING 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 unfit for a soldier. Small Percentage Qualified.—In time of peace a sufficient number of applicants ordinarily present themselves, so that our small army may be 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. Only 1 in3 or 4 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 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 volunteer 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 celebrated 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.” 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 do not require a very high standard of physical fitness. When, therefore, in conformity with existing law, the organized militia may be called into the service of the United States, it will be found that from one-half to two-thirds of certain regiments are physically ineligible. It is an interesting but readily understandable fact that, whereas voluntary applicants for enlistment endeavor to conceal defects, conscripts try to escape service by magnifying existing defects or feigning non-existent ones. In the examination of conscripts, therefore, a skeptical attitude of mind should be maintained toward alleged disabilities. System of Examination.—Up to 1907 the physical examinations were made largely by civilian physicians, employed under contract, at recruiting stations in cities. Under this system great losses of men occurred as a result of disabilities discovered after the recruit had been sworn in. At the same time the government spent much money for the transportation and clothing of these defectives, while company commanders became dissatisfied on account of the poor quality of the material sent them. As a result of these undesirable features a system has been developed whereby line officers make a careful preliminary examination at their recruiting stations, and forward likely candidates to depots. At the latter points army medical officers examine these candidates, weed out the defective ones, and enlist those qualified. The Surgeon General reports that “the present recruiting system operates in a highly satisfactory manner and furnishes to the army recruits of far better quality than when they were examined under the former system.” 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 present minimum of height is 5 feet 4 inches. The question of height is not quite so important now as in the 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 might 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. 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, bounty jumpers, and dishonorably discharged men who enlist fraudulently. 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 small-pox and typhoid fever. 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. If in Doubt, Reject——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 assigned to this duty should keep in mind constantly the maxim, If in doubt, reject.
Key Takeaways
- Only about one-third of applicants are accepted due to physical deficiencies.
- Regulars and Volunteers undergo more rigorous selection than Militia or Conscripts.
- Physical defects like venereal disease, heart abnormalities, and poor physique lead to the greatest number of rejections.
- Recruiters should maintain a skeptical attitude when examining conscripts for alleged disabilities.
- The age range for enlistment is 18-35 years, with 22 being the ideal minimum.
Practical Tips
- Carefully screen potential recruits to ensure they meet physical and mental fitness standards.
- Maintain a high standard of hygiene at recruitment depots to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
- Use official tables for height, weight, and chest measurements when evaluating applicants.
- Keep detailed records of all departures from normalcy to protect against fraudulent enlistments.
Warnings & Risks
- Lowering standards during emergencies can result in inferior recruits who are more likely to break down under strain.
- Physical defects that may seem minor can develop into serious issues in the military environment.
- Misleading applicants about their physical condition can lead to legal and health complications.
Modern Application
While many of the specific recruitment methods described in this chapter have evolved, the core principles of ensuring physical fitness, mental acuity, and overall health remain crucial for modern survival preparedness. The emphasis on thorough medical examinations and maintaining high hygiene standards is as relevant today as it was a century ago.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the main reasons for rejections during recruitment?
The main reasons for rejections include venereal diseases, heart abnormalities, defective vision or hearing, foot deformities, and poor physique. These physical defects can significantly impact a recruit's ability to perform in military service.
Q: How does the chapter suggest maintaining hygiene at recruitment depots?
The chapter advises that if contagious diseases exist at depots, men exposed to contagion should be isolated until the incubation period is over. This helps prevent the spread of communicable diseases among recruits and the traveling public.
Q: What is the recommended age range for enlistment in this context?
The chapter recommends an age range of 18-35 years, with a minimum desirable age of 22. This range ensures that recruits are physically mature enough to handle military service without being too old and slow.