WWI - Training

A critical element in any military force, training was an essential step in transforming American civilians into the gallant “doughboys” we remember today. In addition to teaching basic drill orders and command structure, training typically readied soldiers for military service by putting servicemen through a battery of physical fitness, mental preparedness, and weapons proficiency tasks. While most soldiers joined the ranks as enlisted men, a smaller contingent went to Officer Candidate School (OCS). Upon successful completion of OCS, graduates became commissioned officers of the United States Army.

Americans from many states joined the service, but trainees did not always prepare for war within their home state. Training centers large and small were found in a variety of locations including rural areas, urban districts, and even on college campuses.

During World War I, military training was not limited to soldiers. In 1916, the Military Training Commission was established to comply with a mandate set forth by the Board of Regents, which required that boys between the ages of 16 and 18 receive physical and military training at school. Some teenage boys were also selected to go to specialized summer training camps in preparation for military service.

WWI. Off to War. Train departing for war from Westfield, New York.

WWI. Small Formation of Soldiers at the RPI Campus. Soldiers in formation near a sports field at the RPI campus in Troy, New York.

*WWI. Carl Hapeman at a Rifle Range. Carl Hapeman at a rifle range.

WWI. Training a Dog with the Medic Corps. A dog in training to work with medics.

*WWI. Map of Major Military Sites in the Eastern and Northeastern United States. Map of major military sites in the Eastern and Northeastern United States.

WWI. U.S. Army Training Detachment. U.S. Army training detachment at Sheldon Hall in Oswego, New York, 1918.

WWI. Large Formation of Soldiers at the RPI Campus. Soldiers in formation on a sports field at the RPI campus in Troy, New York.

*WWI. Officer Training Camp. Shooting at a training camp for officers. Excerpt from "Troy’s Part in the World War 1918."

*WWI. Bernard Howard's Letter to His Grandmother. March 18, 1918 letter by Bernard Howard sent from Camp Upton, Long Island.

*WWI. Bernard Howard. Photograph of Bernard Howard.

WWI. Training at Cornell University. U.S. soldiers training at Cornell University.

*WWI. "Soldiers Find Much to Amuse." Letter from Private Robert Elliot describing the YMCA and various forms of entertainment at Camp Wadsworth, South Carolina.

WWI. Peekskill Training Camp Letter. May 31, 1917 letter approving a state military training camp in Peekskill, New York.

WWI. Peekskill Training Camp Mail Call. Boys at the Peekskill state military training camp receive mail in July, 1917.