National Defense Act

The national defense act of 1920, amended to include March 4, 1927, provides: That the Army of the United States shall consist of the Regular Army, the National Guard while in the service of the United States, and the Organized Reserves, including the Officers' Reserve Corps and the Enlisted Reserve Corps. Except in time of war or similar emergency when the public safety demands it the number of enlisted men in the Regular Army shall not exceed 280,000, including the Philippine Scouts. The total authorized number of enlisted men, not including the Philippine Scouts, is at present fixed at 125,000. Regular Army. - The Regular Army consists of approximately 118,000 enlisted men and some 11,500 officers. A large part of this force is used for garrison purposes at home and abroad. Those at home spend about eight months of the year in their own training and in intensive preparation for the work required of them in summer training camps. The Regular Army also conducts the training of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, the Organized Reserves, and the National Guard. Officers and men of the Regular Army are qualified to impart physical, mental, and moral training of the highest character. The very nature of their work makes them specialists in this field. No business or profession demands stronger character and ability. No group is more carefully disciplined, and nowhere will be found greater loyalty and honor. To train with and serve under the officers and enlisted men of the Regular Army is to be afforded an opportunity for personal betterment which any wide-nwake young American should be eager to accept. National Guard. - The second amendment to the Constitution provides that - A well-regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed. Prior to the national defense act of 1916 it was left to the States to provide an organized militia adequate in numbers, equipment and training to police the State in time of riot or insurrection; it was also to be used by the National Government in time of war with a foreign power. With the addition of a small standing Army the forces thus provided were presumed sufficient for national defense. Under the national defense act of 1920 the National Guard, in time of peace, is under the command of officers appointed by the governor of the State, but their training and administration is supervised by officers of the Regular Army assigned for that purpose. In time of war the National Guard, as a component of the Army of the United States, is immediately called into national service. Together with the Regular Army, it serves as the first line of defense while the reserve forces are being organized and equipped. An efficient Militia is authorized and contemplated by the Constitution and required by the spirit and safety of free government. - Madison. Organized Reserves. - The Organized Reserves, together with the other components of the Army, form the basis for a complete and immediate mobilization for national defense in any national emergency declared by Congress. Each reserve unit is now organized with its officers and a few enlisted specialists. In time of war these units will assemble at points designated, there to be equipped and trained. Every member of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps and all graduates of the citizens' military training camps who have qualified for leadership and have been commissioned would be required to report to his proper station on the designated day. To expose some men to the perils of the battle field while others are left to reap large gains from the distress of their country is not in harmony with our ideal of equality. - President Coolidge.