Commissions Granted to Candidates from Certain Uni versities.—Commissions are granted to duly qualified candidates nominated each half-year by certain universities. The universities, which must be "recognized" by the Army Council, are in two groups : (i.) Those with established courses of military study— Oxford, Cambridge, London, Edinburgh, Manchester, McGill (Montreal) and Sydney (New South Wales), and (ii.) those with out established courses of military study—St. Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Durham, Wales, Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds, Bel fast, Bristol, Sheffield, Dublin (Trinity College), Toronto. Candi dates from group (i.) are commissioned senior to those from group (ii.).
cadet becomes an officer from the date of his commission as published in the London Gazette. The training of officers in the various branches of the army differs considerably, and the officers of each branch might be regarded as specialists in their own particular line. Before the World War the infantry weapons were simply the rifle and bayonet, but now, in addition, an efficient officer is required to possess expert knowl edge of the various kinds of grenades, machine guns, Lewis guns and gas. Even with this diversity of specialized training, there are some basic features common to all arms, such as drill, physical training, duties in barracks and on the march, dress and certain elements of discipline and military law which are fairly common to the everyday life of the army. This elementary instruction is carried out at the regimental or corps depot or with the home service unit, and usually occupies the first six months of the officer's service. Having completed his recruit's course, the young officer is drafted to a service unit, where his training is continued on a higher level, his responsibilities increasing with efficiency. For the first few weeks he carries out the various duties as "super numerary" to another officer until he is considered fit to under take the duties by himself. Not the least part of his training is that of entering into the games of his men.
According to the King's Regulations: "Every officer is expected, if he has been two years in the service, to be capable of command ing and exercising a company, etc., in every situation, and to be perfectly acquainted with its interior management, economy and discipline." Also, "Officers above the rank of 2nd Lieutenant will be required to pass professional tests comprising examinations or courses of instruction for each step of substantive promotion up to and including the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel." The courses have for their object the specialized training of selected officers and other ranks, and are carried out at schools set apart for the purpose, and an official programme of the Courses of Instruction is published annually.
During the young officer's first few years he is absorbing knowledge and experience from the above mentioned sources, in addition to special lectures arranged by the higher commands and delivered by experts on some particular phase of military science. Not only the young officer but officers
generally are kept busy in an endeavour to keep abreast with the development of modern fighting methods. The mechanization of the army, the development of the tank, and the various kinds of grenades, guns, etc., all demand constant attention. The views of officers on military topics find expression in "service" journals under the control of unofficial bodies, the chief being The Journal of the Royal United Institution, The Army Quarterly, Fighting Forces, The Cavalry Journal, Journal of the Royal Artillery and other corps journals.
The regulations for promotion examinations are contained in the King's Regulations, and are divided into two parts, written and practical. The result of any examination may fall under one of the following three heads : "fail," "pass," or, higher still, "special certificate." Officers awarded the "special certificate" become eligible for special consideration for advancement and employ ment. Second lieutenants are not required to pass an examina tion for lieutenant but must receive satisfactory reports from the three senior officers present with the corps. An officer who fails twice in "duties in the field" is not, as a rule, permiLted to remain in the service.
An officer below the rank of substantive lieutenant-colonel is required, before promotion to higher substantive rank (lieutenant colonel or colonel) to undergo a course at the senior officers' school.
The staff colleges at Camberley and Quetta (India) are maintained for the purpose of affording se lected officers instruction in the higher branches of the science of war and in the duties of the staff. The course lasts two years. An officer who graduates at either college has the letters "p.s.c." recorded after his name in the Army List and is eligible for em ployment on the staff. Both colleges are open to officers of all arms, including the Indian army and the Royal Marines, but that at Quetta is limited to officers borne on the Indian establishment. The entrance examination for both colleges is identical. A limited number of officers of the permanent staff of the permanent forces of the dominions selected by their respective Governments are permitted to undergo the course. For instructional purposes the staff college is divided into two divisions—senior and junior—each under a general staff officer, first grade. The junior division corn prises students in their first year and the senior division students in their second year. Instruction is given by means of lectures, conferences, indoor exercises, sand models, practical work on the ground, and by visits to the other services and various technical schools and colleges. During the vacations the students are at tached to arms of the service other than their own.