AN ALL-WOMEN ARMY UVER-TRAINING CENTRE
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High State of Organization of Centre of the A: is Given in Drivi the Whole of tlu
taken Sot .ricy Marks the
M.T. Training Where Instruction nd Maintenance, rk Being Under
Women
MANY are the praises bestowed upon women for their part in the war effort, and a better example for commendation would be hard to find than that provided by the Training Centre, M.T. Companies, A.T.S. The M.T. side of this branch of the Service is young, but its direct value in the National interest can be quickly measured by calling to mind the rapidly expanding duties that women are undertaking as Service drivers.
It was to gather some first-hand impressions of the way in which recruits are schooled for such work that we recently looked in at a Training Centre in the south, where the C.O.
gave us every chance to see how an allwomen organization can reach and maintain the highest standards of military efficiency.
It was not a " show piece " that we set out to inspect for we butted in on the day's ordinary routine, and as a mere male it was certainly most impressive to note the clockwork precision with which the personnel set about the different tasks. Not that the work appeared to be carried out by a lot of robots, but the 'whole organization certainly seemed to run like a welloiled piece of machinery—and that is not a fulsome analogy. Feminine fuss and flurry were refreshingly absent.
Now, the Training Centre we visited is really divided into two sections—one of which is for trainees (women to be trained as drivers) and the other for driver instructors. The Centre is composed of three companies, one of them serving as the H.Q. wing and being responsible for the others. The total strength of the establishment is in the region of 900, the driver-instructor section being under a quarter of that. Driver-trainees receive a 10-weeks' course, at the end of which, after a passing-out test, they are posted to drive—according to their grade—staff cars, ambulances and vehicles in Convoy collected from the makers for delivery to military units, whilst some of them are drafted to A.A. batteries. Should they become proficient before the set period has elapsed they are posted to units right away.
At the outset, all the trainees pass through an Infantry Training Centre, which is chiefly intended to familiarize them with drill requirements, military regulations, the importance of discipline, and similar procedure. From the time that they reach the driving school they follow a set schedule of training, but this is not too onerous in its application—a wise ruling which avoids sameness and takes heed of temperamental differences which must inevitably arise', particularly as the women are drawn from all walks of civilian life.
Once they become accustomed to their new surroundings they usually display a marked zest for their work, which explains the reason for the fact that there are few failures, There are occasions, however,' when the recruit herself realizes that she will not make a good driver and in such cases she can
report for transference to another branch of the A.T.S.
Reports of progress are kept, and individual psychological reactions are noted as a guide in handling recruits. The instructor's task, therefore, is not merely one of teaching the art of driving to a set plan. She must adapt and adjust her job to siiit the receptive make-up of the trainee. Blind trust in the instructor is important, because it helps to engender and maintain confidence. All the trainees are given an Army driving licence, but this does not entitle them to drive civilian vehicles.
The vehicle strength of the complete Training Centre is between 150 and 160, including two light commercial vehicles with dual control (not only pedals, but also steering), these being used in the first stages of instruction on a large field, before road work is attempted.
The convoy principle is adopted for road experience, and routes of different lengths and offering a variety of conditions, are chosen. Vehicles handled by the trainees range from 8 hp. light cars to 3-tonners with different forms of bodywork, the commercial vehicles being mainly of Austin and Bedford makes, with 30-cwt. types predominating. Pickets control traffic When. convoys are on the move, so that other road users are not unduly hampered. Driving in respirators is part of the routine training, as is map-making. An instructor accompanies every trainee driver on the road, and so long as she remains at the school she holds noncommissioned rank. N.C.O.s need the qualities of leadership, patience, reliability and responsibility so as to be in a position to instil and command a degree of discipline that operates with fairness and justness. .
It has been found by experience that the best drivers are seldom the best instructors because, most times, they have been accustomed to driving cars of relatively low horse-power with synchromesh gears and have not been trained in the art of -double declutching which is essential on many of the Commercial vehicles in use at the Centre
if smooth and noiseless changes are to be made. For this reason some of the car drivers have been proved to be the worst when driving commercial vehicles.
Now, to the driver-instructor side of the organization. The women selected for this branch of the service are,' • naturally, experienced drivers, drawn mostly from A.T.S. companies, but a few enter from 'civilian life. The course they take extends over five weeks. At • the time of our visit there were about 130 instructors for the three companies whereas originally, two years earlier, there were only 25.
An odd fact, borne of instructors' experience, is that recruits are often better in convoys on the road at night, and that they suffer few of those eyestrain troubles which are prevalent amongst men, although we find it difficult to digest the belief that, to-day, the difference results from the variation in the amount of smoking of the sexes!
Workshop for Running Repairs
Attached to the school is a well-kept workshop in which running repairs are carried out by specially trained women under the control of a workshop officer. The 16-task system, so well understood in the R.A.S..C., forms the basis of the maintenance routine, each section detailing a group of operations, so that the S chief mechanical components are given that amount of attention which ensures efficient functioning. The biggest jobs are sent to an R.A.S.C. centre for attention. In their dungaree suits we saw mazy of the women in the workshops setting about their jobs with enthusiasm, and, clearly, they kntw well what they were about. Apart from the equipment in the maintenance section, a workshop lorry is also available, the machine tools it carries including ta lathe, vertical
drill and grinder. An indication of the faith reposed in the workshop section is that the vehicles of military units in the neighbourhood of the Training Centre are sent there for attention There is a rota for overhaul and maintenance, every vehicle on the school establishment coming in for inspection once atnonth. We inspected the lecture, hall in which a group of women was receiving instruction, and it was evident from the quick answers that were given to questions that they were absorbing technical rudiments with intelligent alertness.
Part-sectioned Commer and, Austin Six chassis are available for imparting practical knowledge, as are major engine and chassis components, whilst lubrication and other charts on the walls help to contribute to an understanding of working parts.
A constant flow of recruits is needed to replace " casualties," which regularly arise as the 'result of promotions, etc.
We think we have said enough to suggest that life in this branch of the A.T.S. has many attractions, and it ^should certainly make a strong appeal to motor-minded women. The Training Centre, M.T. Companies, A.T.S., is in need of recruits, and young women with road-vehicle experience are particularly sought. The Service does not want those girls who merely see the chance as one for obtaining driving
tuition. Fuller information may be obtained from any A.T.S. recruiting centre.