How Much Training Were WWI Soldiers Supposed To Get?

[fifi1936]

I just read of a sale on Ebay of a uniform of an American soldier, who was drafted May 28, 1918, and is shown as going into action in France in early to mid June 1918. This barely gave him time to get fitted for his uniform, find out which end of the rifle was which, and then get transported to Europe. Probably did a LOT of learning on the ship voyage. Sounds like very little time to even do any target practice!!

Was there any standard training period in any of the armies participating in WWI, like our 8 week basic training today, or was it all just a bare minimum like above, and then into action?? This might have been a reflection of some of the higher-ups that troops were just fresh meat, and the military did not want to waste time in a lot of training like today.

Any policies on the British, French, Germans, etc, that are known concerning training????

[John_Hartley]

I would question the accuracy of what's written.

Training for Brits was several weeks (at its shortest). I cannot believe that the the Yanks would be daft enough to send someone into action only days after they had joined up. It owuld make no sense whatsoever.

[truthergw]

.....

Was there any standard training period in any of the armies participating in WWI, like our 8 week basic training today,

...

There was a recognised training programme but in 1918, there was a desperate need for feet on the ground and so British troops at least, were shipped with a few weeks training. An untrained soldier could release a trained one from a job in the rear echelons to serve at the front. He could be slotted in to a section and learn on the job, as it were. I am sure some of the American pals will know the numbers with regard to their units. No officer from NCO upwards wanted the burden of untrained troops. Their use was simply down to dire necessity. Highly trained cannon fodder is preferable to untrained at all times.

[centurion]

I am aware that some specialist American troops (mainly medics) were posted to France immediatly on joining in 1917 being seconded to British units but most Americans underwent significant training and quite a number never made it to France being still in training when the war ended (the real US 'surge' would have been in 1919). This being so your man's story sounds most odd - are you sure that the dates are right or possibly adverts on E bay can sometimes be just the tinsiest bit off beam? I can't see why he would have been rushed out so fast when there were camps full of guys still training.

[fifi1936]

Just for the heck of it, here is the reference for the Ebay item:

http://cgi.ebay.com/BIG-RED-ONE-IDED-WWI-U...1QQcmdZViewItem

It shows his draft notice of May 28, 1918, and mentions him seeing action in Montdidier-Noyon June 9-13, 1918. Sure makes one wonder.

[Max]

I will stick my neck out and say that I think that the listing on ebay is nonsense. Whether the soldier received any training or not it would be virtually impossible for him to have got from Maine to Montdidier-Noyon, and straight into action in the time given.

Andy

[centurion]

Just for the heck of it, here is the reference for the Ebay item:

http://cgi.ebay.com/BIG-RED-ONE-IDED-WWI-U...1QQcmdZViewItem

It shows his draft notice of May 28, 1918, and mentions him seeing action in Montdidier-Noyon June 9-13, 1918. Sure makes one wonder.

Link doesn't work I just get dropped back into the forum

[truthergw]

Could this be confusion of 2 soldiers with same names? similar numbers that sort of thing? It does seem like they must have sent him on a fast destroyer.

[punjab612]

Tend to agree with Max about listing, particulaly when one of the items included in th sale is

"A DOCUMENT AWARDING PVT FOSS HIS VICTORY MEDAL,3 BATTLE CLASP AND 3 BRONZE STARS 21 MAY 1918"

Victory by May is a new one on me!

Peter

[Pete1052]

For once in my life I agree with Max on this one, something isn't right here, the timeframe doesn't make sense. Even people with professional or technical qualifications needed by the military during wartime who get a fast-tracked into the service get a couple weeks of instruction on how to salute and wear the uniform.

[janwbay]

Link doesn't work I just get dropped back into the forum

The link worked fine for me.

Janice

[centurion]

The link worked fine for me.

Janice

Something in my security set up (Kaspersky) detects something not right about it !

[fifi1936]

Queried the seller--he apparently screwed some dates--sent me this

"arthur according the dates are as follows reported 5 may 1918 left US 6 july 1918 wounded during argonne 9 oct 1918 awarded his medals 21 may 1919 awarded his last chevon 6 july 1919 you are right I screwed up some of the dates thanks"

Looks like this guy did not just get thrown into the battle, but did have training.

Still, was it normal for every army to give their soldiers a course of good basic training, or did some just thrust the newbies into battle?

[John_Hartley]

Queried the seller--he apparently screwed some dates--

Thought that might have been the case - hence my initial response in post #2.

[Pete1052]

Still, was it normal for every army to give their soldiers a course of good basic training, or did some just thrust the newbies into battle?

No. What usually happens is periods of training get shortened and shortened to meet the wartime need. The U.S. Army didn't like doing that, but as General Sherman said, "War is hell."

[centurion]

Still, was it normal for every army to give their soldiers a course of good basic training,

Yes in most cases (its useful if your soldier knows how to load his rifle, how to point and fire it, the meaning of the word safety catch! As well as things like grenade pins purpose of). There will be exceptions (and definitely they are exceptions) in extremis. Thus during the German offensive in 1918 some not very combat ready British troops were thrown in to plug holes (but again not so much straight from being conscripted as rear echelon types such as clerical duties types). I think that the Russian Army may not have been so careful in all cases but in general untrained troops put a strain on food and other supplies and medical facilities without adding any combat effectiveness and possibly being as much a danger to their own side as the enemy