America Prepares

Series

Series Name

The March of Time 6th Year

Issue

Issue No.

10

Date Released

1941

Length of issue (in feet)

1719

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1America Prepares

Story

Story No. within this Issue

1 / 1

Summary

The March of Time synopsis: The film shows not only how the nation’s industry is speeding up production of weapons, machines and munitions for defence, but also how the young men in the citizen army live, what they are learning, and how they are being welded into a well-disciplined well-trained fighting force.
1940 will be noted in U.S. history as the year of that country’s first peace-time conscription, when more than sixteen million men registered for national service. Service periods are scheduled by a ballot in Washington with recruits enlisted in batches for a twelve monthly training course in the American fighting services.
In every community Selective Service Boards have been set up. They consist of unpaid volunteers men famliar with all the local conditions of their respective communities. Their job is to decide with absolute impartiality which registrants can go as soon as they are called-up, which are entitled to deferred classification, which are to be rejected. The March of Time follows the daily routine of these young soldiers recruited from cities, farms and towns, from a thousand businesses and trades, even from the ranks of those who have never had a steady job. Wars abroad have taught American Army leaders the importance of a large mechanised army, and thousands of recruits are being trained to use the most modern war machines. Special ability is quickly recognised during the training period; an interest in any special branch of mechanics, or an aptitude developed through past work, or skill in leadership may earn the young soldier quick rating as a specialist and promotion to non-commissioned rank. After nine months in the army the way is open for exceptional soldiers to earn a reserve commission.

The test of any modern army is its ability to co-ordinate all the elements of its command, to carry out successfully the lightning thrust which has made today’s war vastly different from the First World War. Each young American recruit is rehearsing day after day, playing again and again the part he may some day be called upon to take in real battle. Each civilian is contributing also to the unity which alone can help to forge the new arm of defence; political differences are being submerged for this purpose, jobs are held open for the young men who, in a year’s time, will return from their army training. Congress has already appropriated an initial sixteen billion dollars for the gigantic defence programme which is to give the nation an army of five million active and reserve troops, including ten full divisions of mechanised and motorised units; a two-ocean Navy totalling more than three million tons of fighting ships; and an air force of 30,000 planes. And looming great behind ships, tanks and planes is the nation’s truest strength, the spirit of its marching youth, confident, aroused and free.

Researcher Comments

This story was included in Vol.7 No.4 of the US edition.

Keywords

War and conflict; Military

Written sources

The March of Time Promotional Material   Lobby Card, Used for synopsis

Credits:

Production Co.

Time Inc.