22nd Infantry Regiment CMTC 1926

The CMTC staff for 1926
COL George F. Baltzell, Regimental Commander of the 22nd Infantry
and CMTC Commander, is in front, third from left

The following was written by Colonel Baltzell and published in The Cimitracam 1926:

The CMTC at Camp McClellan has been a marked success this summer. The number of students is less than last year,
but the quality is very high and the earnestness, interest and enthusiasm of these young men have been very marked.
These camps offer young men a wonderful chance to spend a month in the great outdoors, doing a little military training,
getting an understanding of citizenship, and having much opportunity for recreation and athletics of all kinds.

Military training is given only in its rudiments. It is impossible within four weeks to develop a fixed standard of training;
yet progress made in disciplinary drill is really remarkable. A single instance will suffice. On the 5th day of the Camp the Annual Visitors' Day
for the ROTC and CMTC was held. This day was near the conclusion of the six weeks' period of training of the ROTC
and came at the very beginning of the CMTC. The Regimental Parade held by the CMTC on its fifth day was marvelously well executed,
considering conditions. The steadiness in ranks, the marching and the spirit shown by these young men under a situation of unusual heat
railed forth the highest commendation.

A very important element in the training given is citizenship. Undoubtedly, young men have little understanding of our Government,
its operation and our military system and its purpose. Likewise, they have thought little about the obligation of the citizen to his community,
state and country. This subject has been given particular attention and the fact has been impressed that the same qualities which make the good citizen
also make the good soldier. Particular emphasis has been given to the following truth: "Every good citizen realizes that for what is given him by his Government,
he is obligated in turn to give to that Government full measure for what he receives." The greatest opportunity for the execution of the duties of citizenship
arises when the Government itself is threatened—that is in a national military emergency.

There are many insidious influences in this country strenuously exercised by very opposite types of people and organizations.
These efforts extend from the low-minded "Reds" and I. W. W.'s to those who are very high-minded religionists.
All these are based on a common purpose. The effect is just the same, whether it be to destroy Government or to nullify provisions of the Constitution,
which enable the Government to provide for the common defense. If the young men, in the CMTC, can be made to realize their obligations
to the Government—and the greatest obligation is to maintain and preserve the country—a great national service will have been done.

A youth capable of sound thinking must realize the benefit obtained from the camps. There are maintained the highest physical,
mental and moral standards; the atmosphere is clean, the work and training are most wholesome, and if he and his friends will but take stock of him
upon completion of the four weeks' stay, all are bound to recognize the value that he has received. In addition, the young man from the rural district
has an opportunity to meet and make friends in a way not otherwise possible to him. He gets a knowledge of personal hygiene and sanitation
which probably has never heretofore been given him to learn. The effect on all the young men gathered together can be compared to a trip,
by each, through the states and communities represented at these camps, and the concentrated benefit is of course very great.

The success of a camp of this nature, where the young men pay nothing for travel or maintenance, can only be measured by comparing it
with the same camp held the succeeding year. If each young man returns, or through his influence encourages others to come for the first time,
then it can be assumed that this camp has had real value.

If the public at large will think of the advantage that can be gained in one month by their sons through such an experience,
Congress will be led to make the larger appropriations so much needed.

CMTC students on a field hike, wearing M1910 web belts with attached canteen.

CMTC student in full field gear (M1910) with his Springfield rifle (M1903)
Student living quarters (tents) are in the background.

Ranking second only in importance to military training was athletics.
Each student Company was assigned an athletic officer, some of which gathered together for the above photo.
Four of the officers are wearing 22nd Infantry Distinctive Insignia on their campaign hats.

Staff for the 1926 Annual
CPT Marvin R. Baer, 22nd Infantry, Officer-in-Charge for the Annual
is in the center of the 2nd row.

Enamelled badge for the CMTC

Several of the students in the photo above
are wearing this badge.

Student seated, front row, second from the right
has the badge on his right breast.

This company organized on July 9 was known as the best all-round machine gun company at camp. Captain I. C.Nicholas, Infantry DOL,
Company Commander, was assisted by Lieutenant Parsons and Sergeant Tidesco, of the 22nd Infantry, our 1st sergeant,
a good baseball man, but when it came to position, the "top kick".

We were very efficiently sponsored during the whole training camp by the Twenty-Second Infantry from Fort McPherson, Georgia.
In the heart of every man of Company "H" there beats a pounding pulse of appreciation for the splendid training and the pleasant summer
afforded them by the CMTC and the grand old Twenty-Second.

Plate in the 1926 Cimitracam thanking Colonel Baltzell ( Commanding Officer 22nd Infantry )