Education Council Expects ROTC to Continue, Army to Use Universities

After studying Secretary Stimson's ERC statement and conferring with Army representatives, the American Council on Education has drawn the following conclusions which it issues as a guide to college students.

1. There is no indication that the Army will call to active duty members of the A. E. R. C., or those enlisting during the semester, prior to the end of the term or semester beginning in September even though they are or become of Selective Service age.

2. In the future the same principle will apply; that is, men in the A.E.R.C. will probably not be called to active duty until the end of the semester or term in which they reach approximate Selective Service age.

3. It is now planned that Selective Service age will be interpreted at the equivalent age at which a man would otherwise be inducted through Selective Service --approximately 20 years and 6 months.

4. The R. O. T. C. will be continued although it is indicated that some slight modifications are under consideration.

5. The Army intends to use the facilities of the colleges and universities for such training as may be considered necessary for future officer candidates.

6. There is no indication that the Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard will make a similar change in their respective Reserve Corps plans.

7. As previously announced the Recruiting Team from all Services will begin its visits to college campuses on September 15th.

The text of the official statement of the Secretary of War, released on September 10, covering the Army Enlisted Reserve Corps is as follows:

"The enlistment of college students in the Army Enlisted Reserves was authorized by the Secretary of War in the belief that the training afforded by study at colleges was useful for their preparation for service in the Armed Forces and that a substantial number of those enlisted would prove qualified for selection as candidates for training as officers.

"By such enlistment students have the satisfaction of placing themselves immediately at the service of their country to be called to active duty in the Armed Forces whenever the Secretary of War finds that the exigencies of the war demand it. Meanwhile, they are engaged in preparation deemed useful for that service.

"The stepping up of the intensity of the vital combat in which we are engaged and the growing need for enlarged forces make it clear that all young men fortunate enough to have the physical and mental qualifications to enable them to serve their country in the Armed Forces are destined for that service. Further, the exigencies of the war have now become such that it is now expected that by the end of the college term or semester beginning in September those student members of the Reserves who have reached Selective Service age will all or for the most part be called to active duty and those reaching that age during subsequent terms will similarly be called.

"When enlisted reservists are called to active duty the Army will determine what further training is required to qualify these men for military duty. For this purpose the War Department will adopt such methods and utilize such facilities of their own or of the colleges as will best meet the current military requirements.

"In general, training after call to active duty will be highly specialized to qualify military necessity and will be concentrated into the minimum time period. Plans under consideration contemplate an R. O. T. C. training program modified to conform to this policy."