_The Director_: “Are there any questions?”
_Lieutenant Williams_: “Yes, sir. I would like to ask why Captain Harvey
places the automatic rifleman so far back in the formation?”
_The Director_: “Captain Harvey, will you please explain your reasons?”
_Captain Harvey_: “If the point encounters the enemy, we would want to
conduct a little reconnaissance before committing the automatic rifleman
to action. If he is any farther to the front, he is most likely to get
involved early in the encounter and perhaps in a position hastily
chosen, where his weapon could not produce his maximum effect. The
automatic rifle has the fire power of several rifles, and we want to
take advantage of this fact. We must therefore get the weapon into the
position where it can be done, and this cannot usually be determined
with the first few shots of an advance guard meeting engagement.”
_The Director_: “Those are very good reasons—ones which I believe all
the members of this class will remember when it comes to training their
own non-commissioned officers. Are there any other questions?”
_Lieutenant Williams_: “Why did Captain Harvey omit to designate a
second in command?”
_The Director_: “The succession in military command is determined by
seniority. Corporal Smith is the next senior and will automatically
assume command. If there were no non-commissioned officer with the
squad, Sergeant Roberts would have designated one of the privates as
second in command. Any other questions? (_Pause._) There appear to be
none. I wish you would ask questions to bring out points that are not
fully understood. It is by a discussion of these points that we arrive
at a reasonable solution of these problems. Now, a few remarks before we
pass on to the next situation.”