This was the idea of the development of the Senior
Service Corps—to take men who are over
military age and make them physically fit for whatever
strain may come. It has resulted in not only making
them physically fit, but in practically renewing their
youth. The experimental (New Haven) company of
a hundred, varying in age from forty-five to over
seventy, in weight from 114 to 265 pounds, and in
height from 5 ft. 4 in. to 6 ft. 4 in., after just
completing ninety days’ training, marched at
the dedication of the Artillery Armory over four and
one-half hours without physical discomfort.
Now, war or no war, the man of over military age would
like to be fit, would like to feel that glow of youth
which comes even to the man of fifty when he is physically
in condition.
Nine-tenths of the men over forty-five can accomplish
this, and they can do it by the expenditure of only
three or four hours a week if they will follow with
absolute care the rules demonstrated by a scientific
experiment upon a company of one hundred men over a
period of ninety days. This company of New Haven
professional and business men included the president
of the Chamber of Commerce, the editor of the largest
evening newspaper, the dean of Yale University, the
director of the gymnasium, the president of Sargent
& Company, the owner of the Poli Theater Circuit,
the ex-mayor of the city, two judges, the treasurer
of the savings-bank, the registrar of Yale University,
four professors, three doctors, and many leading corporation
officials.
At the end of this period these men were not only
able to march for over four hours without discomfort,
but without losing a man. Moreover, they all
gained in spirits, recovered their erect carriage,
and found themselves enjoying their tasks.
The plan developed by the National Security League,
under its committee on physical reserve, of assuring
physical fitness for the nation, is capable of endless
possibilities in application and development.
The plan treats each as a separate unit and allows
it to adapt the physical-fitness scheme to local conditions,
favoring the appointment of neighborhood groups for
instruction in physical drill and the “Daily
Dozen Set-up,” assuring such conditions and applications
of diet and hygiene as are particularly demanded by
the individual community’s conditions and demands.
Every individual detail and local development is left
to the committee which each mayor or town or borough
official appoints, on invitation of the league.
[Illustration: Walter camp, president,
and Joseph C. Johnson, secretary,
of the original Senior service
corps established in new Haven,
Connecticut, in the spring of
1917]
