Military Instructors Manual Part 29

Soldier will not be charged with desertion until commanding officer has reason to believe he intended to desert. Absence of less than 24 hours will not be noted upon the muster roll.

139. DISCHARGE of enlisted man only 1. By order of President or Secretary of War.

2. By order of General Court Martial.

3. By order of United States court or justice or judge, on writ of habeas corpus.

4. By command of territorial department.

5. By disability in line of duty.

6. By sentence of civil court.

7. By purchase.

(N.B.--In time of war it is probable that the last two methods would not be effective for discharge from the service.)

140. FINAL STATEMENTS. The company commander will furnish each enlisted man a final statement (or duplicate) or a full statement in writing explaining why such final statement is not furnished. No final statement will be furnished a soldier who has forfeited all pay and allowances or who has no deposits due him.

147. CERTIFICATE will give 1. Character certified by company commander.

2. Whether recommended for re-enlistment.

In case of negative opinion, the soldier should be notified at least 30 days prior to discharge. In that case the company commander shall convene a board of three officers (if possible) to determine what kind of discharge shall be given. The soldier will be given a hearing.

151. LOSS OF DISCHARGE CERTIFICATE. Discharge certificates will not be made in duplicate. Upon proper proof of loss or destruction without fault of person ent.i.tled to it, the War Department will issue a certificate of service, showing date of enlistment and discharge from the army and character given in original certificate.

Discharge certificates should never be forwarded to the War Department in correspondence unless called for.

159. PHYSICAL DISABILITY CERTIFICATE issued when an enlisted man is permanently unfitted for service, in line of duty. Certificates of disability not made in duplicate.

162. DEATH OF SOLDIER.

1. Effects are secured.

2. Nearest relatives notified.

3. Adjutant General of army notified.

In active service the War Department requires the following reports: 1. Report of company commander to Adjutant General, covering death and disposal of remains.

2. Report of surgeon or company commander embodying a. Cause of death.

b. Whether in line of duty.

c. Whether due to another soldier's misconduct.

3. Inventory of effects in duplicate.

163. EFFECTS, when not claimed within reasonable time, sold and credited to United States.

No authority for officers to pay debts of dead soldiers.

Trinkets will not be sold but sent to the Adjutant General's office.

165. EFFECTS will be delivered, if called for, to legal representative of deceased after arrears are paid.

167. MEDAL OF HONOR. Authorized by Congress to be awarded to officers and men for extreme acts of gallantry in action, beyond line of duty.

Recommendations will be considered by standard of extraordinary merit, and must have incontestible proof.

184. CERTIFICATE OF MERIT. Granted by President to any enlisted man in the service for distinguished acts in line of duty, on recommendation of company commander, based upon statement of eye witness, preferably the immediate company commander. $200 permanent additional pay is allowed.

285. QUARTERS. Name of each soldier on bunk. Arms on rack.

Accoutrements hung up by the belts.

287. SAt.u.r.dAY INSPECTION preceded by thorough policing. Leaders of squads will see that everything is clean.

1011. NEGLECT OF ROOMS or furniture by officer or soldier a military offense. All necessary costs shall be paid by him.

1178. DESTRUCTION OF TABLEWARE or kitchen utensils by soldiers will be charged against their pay.

288. CHIEFS OF SQUADS are responsible 1. For cleanliness of men.

2. For their proper equipment for duty.

3. For their proper dress when going "on pa.s.s."

374. PREMISES shall be policed daily after breakfast.

290. COMPANY COMMANDER will see that public property held by men is kept in good order, and missing or spoiled articles paid for.

292. ARMS shall not be taken down without proper supervision and by order of commissioned officer.

No changing of parts or finish.

Tompions (muzzle plugs) in small arms forbidden.

657. ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY--Both devolve upon persons entrusted with public property.

Responsibility without accountability devolves upon one to whom property is entrusted, but who does not have to make returns therefor. Responsibility does not end until property has been given back to accountable officer and a receipt taken, or he has been relieved by regulations or by orders.

Accountability without responsibility occurs when an officer holds proper memorandum receipts for property delivered to others.

EXAMPLE.--The Company Commander is accountable and responsible for the rifles turned over to his company. He is accountable without responsibility when each enlisted man has been issued a rifle and has signed a receipt for it. Each enlisted man is then responsible for his rifle, without accountability, until he returns it in proper condition. In general, therefore: Accountability requires evidence of the disposition that has been made of property. Responsibility implies possession, and requires return of the property or payment for it.

685. LOSS OF PUBLIC PROPERTY by neglect of any officer or soldier shall be paid by him, at such rates as a survey of the property may determine.

Charges will be made only after conclusive proof, and not without a survey if the soldier demands one.

Signing the payroll will be regarded as an acknowledgment of the justice of the charge.

1202. RATION is the allowance of food for one person or animal for one day.

1229. FORFEITURE of ration is made when a soldier overstays furlough.

1339. PAY for continuous service is credited a soldier if he enlists within three months after honorable discharge.

For privates an increase of $3 per month is allowed up to and including the third enlistment, beyond this $1 per month increase given up to and including the seventh enlistment.

For non-commissioned officers the increase of $3 per month continues to and includes the seventh enlistment.

No increased pay is given after the seventh enlistment to private or non-commissioned officer.

1347. ALLOTMENTS (revised by Act of Congress, October, 1917).

The new law does away with future pensions. Allotments may be made to: 1. Family.

2. Bank.

For married men or those with dependents, such as children, parents divorced wives, whose support is required by court order, allotments are compulsory, and must not be less than $15 a month and not more than one-half of his pay. The Company Commander is responsible for finding who comes under this rule. By this arrangement soldiers cannot s.h.i.+rk the support of dependents.

The government will double the amount allotted by each soldier, to a limit of $37.50 a month. In cases where the soldier allots half of his pay the government will add to the allotment according to the following scale, even though it more than doubles the amount paid by the soldier:

Cla.s.s A.

Wife, no child, $15.

Wife, one child, $25.

Wife, two children, $32.50.

For each additional child, $5 more.

No wife living, one child, $5.

Two children, $12.50.

Three children, $20.

Four children, $30.