however, are going to college for the first time. Many of these
have no athletic skills due to the peor physical facilities of the

high school attended. While in the service they were taught few,
if any, athletic skills which could now be used in college,

Physical training in the military camps is a toughening
process, It consists princinally of calisthenics and running over
and under obstacles. The average college physical education pro-
gram, on the other hand, offers such skills as basketball, hardball,
volleyball, tennis, softball, swimming, etc. - skills that can be
enjoyed not only during their undergraduate days but later in life.

This lack of athletic skills will deter many vetcrans
from using the physical education department. Since people like to
do the things thoy do well, these unskilled veterans will not enjoy
the activities in which they are always beaten, In physical edu-
cation we try and get our students out of the "dub" class in
each sport befoke we put thom on thcir own,

Time should be made aveilable during school hours when
these veterans may be given instruction in any chosen skill so
they may become proficient enough to want to return to the physical
education building as long as they are in the Institute,

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS' RESPONSE TO AUTHORITY

There will be very fow officers coming to the Institute
who have not fulfilled our requirement of two years of physical
education. Many will be our own previous students and we know that
they will not resent the authority of their "old" instructors,
Those officers who were not former students of this Institute will
not be "ordered around", as is necessary in a basic physical train-
ing course, All officers will be notified that they are to fulfill
the physical education requirements by attending a recreational
class on specified days, and at a certain hour, for clective ac-
tivities.

AVAILABILITY OF ATHLETIC FACILITIES

If physical education wore voluntary for veterans, many
would take advantage of our athletic facilitics. They would use
our basketball and handball courts and swimming pool, but they |
would of necessity use these facilitics after school... Unfortunately,
at that time, especially from 5 to 6 P.M., all of our athletic
facilities are strained.

At this Institute we have two years of compulsory
physical education. This is supplemcnted by a comprehensive intra-
mural program. One purpose of this program is to provide recreation
for juniors and seniors. Freshmen and sophomores are also cligible
for this competition. The result is that our facilities are over-
crowded after school. If we add to our present load several
hundred veterans who will occasionally use our facilities after
school, it might be impossible to accommodate all groups. One
solution is to stagger the load throughout the day.

INDIVIDUAL'S CHOICE OF AMOUNT AND KIND OF RECREATION

We beliove that many individuals are not competent to
determine what exercise and amount of recreation they should have.
They will readily admit that exercise is good for thom; that they
feel better after competition; that it has psychological, social as
well as physical values,

—

If physical education wore made optional, many would
put off taking exercise regularly and only a few would receive these
recognised benefits. This statement is evidenecd by an order issued
by the Commanding Officer of a V-12 unit. He requested that all
his officers and enlisted personnel under his command participate in
some form of physical recreation three times a weck. When some of
these officers were interviewed by the writer, they acknowledged that