32. Qualifications for Pigeoneers
a. General. Minimum specifications required for a pigeoneer are——
(1) Skill. That required for a basic private, plus the ability to care for, feed properly, catch, and hold pigeons; to attach messages; and to train birds for messenger service.
(2) Knowledge. That required for a basic private, plus a thorough knowledge of capabilities, limitations, and habits of homing pigeons.
(3) Personal traits. A pigeoneer who is boisterous and of a turbulent nature tends to frighten and upset pigeons and thus reduce their effectiveness. The successful pigeoneer should possess——
(a) Dependability. To perform all his duties regularly and promptly.
(b) Kindness. To obtain confidence of the pigeons.
(c) Patience. To spend much time and repeated effort required for training pigeons.
(d) Neatness. To maintain a sanitary and attractive loft for the pigeons.
(e) Firmness. To enforce control over pigeons.
(f) Power of accurate observation. To note and learn characteristics of individual pigeons in the loft by observing details readily and accurately.
b. Basic training. Only qualified basic privates are selected for pigeoneer training. Skill and knowledge to be attained in this course may be based on this manual.
c. Advance training. Qualified pigeoneers who complete basic training prescribed in b above, and who possess the ability, may be selected for advance training which will prepare them to become specialists or non-commissioned officers. This training will teach:
(1) Skill. (a) Ability to manage a training loft and to train both young and old pigeons.
(b) Ability to manage a breeding loft and supervise breeding activities after schedules have been prepared.
(c) Ability to instruct others in (a) and (b) above.
(2) Knowledge. A pigeoneer should possess a thorough knowledge of loft management; feeding, training, and breeding of pigeons; and employment of pigeon communications described in this manual.