Jerry Sanson, Louisiana Maneuvers & Military Museum Staff
American military commanders were generally not pleased with the quality of recruits they were expected to turn into Doughboys during World War I. They discovered that the young men were not in good physical condition and that they knew little, often nothing, about American military tradition or protocol.
Creation of the Citizen’s Military Training Camp Program (CMTC) was a partial solution to this problem in case the United States became involved in another war. The voluntary program offered young men the opportunity to live in military surroundings during their summer break from school, participate in physical activities designed to improve their condition, and learn about military life without any commitment to join the military in the future. Typically for government programs during the Depression, they received compensation–$15 and room and board for participating in the month-long experience.
Camp Beauregard (now Training Center Pineville) hosted a CMTC program during the 1930s, and Brigadier General Robert J. LeBlanc, a participant in the program at Beauregard, left a rare description of how it operated in his memoir, Another Acadian Citizen Soldier-Public Servant, a copy of which is included in the Louisiana Maneuvers and Military Museum library collection.
LeBlanc recounts that he applied for entrance into the program after hearing other boys at his school boasting about the $15 they had earned during the summer and was accepted for his first year in the program for the 1938 session. He caught the train to Alexandria in New Iberia, and other CMTC participants climbed aboard in Lafayette, Opelousas, and other towns along the route.
After arriving at Camp Beauregard, trainees underwent a physical inspection, went to the quartermaster for clothing and bedding, then marched to a collection of collapsed tents. Their first lesson in military life focused on putting up the tent that was to be their home for the next month.
Participants were divided into four groups. The Basic group included first-year participants who were designated as Privates. Reds, second-year participants, were Corporals, Whites were Sergeants, and Blues were Student Commanders, Platoon and Company. Completion of White and Blue levels could lead to accelerated promotions if a completer joined the Army. Regular Army Non-Commissioned and Reserve officers led training sessions in close order drill, rifle marksmanship, map reading, weapons firing, and small unit tactics.
The day started at 0530 each morning with first call assembly, physical training, breakfast, drills call at 0800, morning instruction, midday meal, afternoon training, retreats, and the evening meal. The day was not yet over. Chores for participants such as grass cutting and cleaning up their area followed the evening meal. Wednesday afternoons featured athletic competition, and the young men enjoyed free time from 1200 Saturday until 1630 Sunday.
The program worked as designed. Gen. LeBlanc reports that many American soldiers during World War II had completed at least some CMTC training and therefore were more used to Army life than their predecessors were during World War I. He adds that his personal experience provided him with valuable knowledge. For example, during his fourth year when he was a Trainee Company Commander, he learned about morning reports, sick call, rosters, discipline, and commanding men, all of which helped him with his responsibilities during World War II. He also comments that “the CMTC, ROTC, National Guard, and Army Reserves were the foundation of the Army in World War II.”
