Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on November 13, 1940.
SUCCESSIVE STEPS THROUGH WHICH A SELECTEE PASSES WHILE BEING TRANSFORMED FROM A CIVILIAN INTO A TRAINED SOLDIER IN THE ARMY OF THE U.S.
Homes of Selective Service Men from which they leave to go to Register
Steps taken by a civilian subject to selective service from the time he leaves home to register, October 16, until he becomes a soldier are pictured in this accompanying chart prepared at Fifth Corps Area headquarters, Fort Hayes, Columbus, O.
All selective service trainees coming from Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia and Indiana will follow these steps. They include:
Men report to their nearest registration board, October 16, complete registration and again return home.
Some time later一after first prospective trainees are selected by civilian boards一those called report to their local boards. They are placed in charge of a group leader and are taken to an induction center.
Upon arrival at the induction station一similar to a recruiting station一prospective trainees meet army personnel for the first time. Heretofore civilian personnel have been in charge exclusively but now the shift to army supervision begins.
The selectees are checked in at the induction station, given a standard army physical and mental examination. Some prospects are rejected because of physical or mental disqualification and are returned to civilian life. Qualified selectees are sworn into the military service for the first time, again are placed in charge of group leaders and sent to a permanent reception center.
At the permanent reception center, and hereafter until they complete training, the recruits are under control of army personnel. The selectees are checked in, housed, classified according to abilities, vaccinated and immunized against smallpox and typhoid, offered opportunity to take out government insurance and make allotments to dependents, clothed and equipped, and finally assigned to a unit of the army of the United States. Then they are sent out to join their units.
Men who arrive at an induction center too late to accompany their group to the permanent reception center may be sent to a temporary reception center instead. Here they undergo the same processing as that followed at the permanent reception centers.
Upon reaching their regular tactical divisions or training units the recruits begin their year’s training as a soldier.
After original tactical divisions or training units are filled with their initial quotas, remaining recruits will be sent to replacement training centers. These men will join newly formed tactical units or will join the original divisions. Others will be sent back to reception and induction centers to fill posts vacated there by the original army personnel.
Completing their year’s service and needed no longer for an emergency, the selective service soldiers will be given full physical examination and returned to their homes. For 10 years thereafter they will remain members of the army of the U.S. Reserve. If they desire to remain in the active army longer they may enlist as one-year or three-year volunteers.
