Advantages of Military Training
The following are the principal advantages of military training:
[14]. Handiness. The average man does one thing well. He is more or less apt to be clumsy about doing other things. The soldier is constantly called upon to do all sorts of things, and he has to do all of them well. His hands thus become trained and useful to him, and his mind gets into the habit of making his hands do what is required of them,—that is to say, the soldier becomes handy.
Handy arms are a valuable asset.
[15]. Self-control. In the work of the soldier, control does not stop with the hands.
The mind reaches out,—control of the body becomes a habit. The feet, legs, arms and body gradually come under the sway of the mind. In the position of the soldier, for instance, the mind holds the body motionless. In marching, the mind drives the legs to machine-like regularity. In shooting, the mind assumes command of the arms, hands, fingers and eye, linking them up and making them work in harmony.
Control of the body, together with the habit of discipline that the soldier acquires, leads to control of the mind,—that is, to self-control.
Self-control is an important factor in success in any walk of life.
[16]. Loyalty. Loyalty to his comrades, to his company, to his battalion, to his regiment becomes a religion with the soldier. They are a part of his life. Their reputation is his; their good name, his good name; their interests, his interests,—so, loyalty to them is but natural, and this loyalty soon extends to loyalty in general.
When you say a man is loyal the world considers that you have paid him a high tribute.
[17]. Orderliness. In the military service order and system are watchwords. The smooth running of the military machine depends on them.
The care and attention that the soldier is required to give at all times to his clothes, accouterments, equipment and other belongings, instill in him habits of orderliness.
Orderliness increases the value of a man.
[18]. Self-confidence and self-respect. Self-confidence is founded on one's ability to do things. The soldier is taught to defend himself with his rifle, and to take care of himself and to do things in almost any sort of a situation, all of which gives him confidence in himself,—self-confidence.
Respect for constituted authority, which is a part of the soldier's creed, teaches him respect for himself,—self-respect.
Self-confidence and self-respect are a credit to any man.
[19]. Eyes trained to observe. Guard duty, outpost duty, patrolling, scouting and target practice, train both the eye and the mind to observe.
Power of observation is a valuable faculty for a man to possess.
[20]. Teamwork. In drilling, patrolling, marching, maneuvers and in other phases of his training and instruction, the soldier is taught the principles of team-work,—coöperation,—whose soul is loyalty, a trait of every good soldier.
Teamwork,—coöperation,—leads to success in life.
[21]. Heeding law and order. The cardinal habit of the soldier is obedience. To obey orders and regulations is a habit with the soldier. And this habit of obeying orders and regulations teaches him to heed law and order.
The man who heeds law and order is a welcome member of any community.
[22]. Sound body. Military training, with its drills, marches, and other forms of physical exercise, together with its regular habits and outdoor work, keeps a man physically fit, giving him a sound body.
A sound body, with the physical exercise and outdoor life of the soldier, means good digestion, strength, hardiness and endurance.
A sound body is, indeed, one of the greatest blessings of life.