Four specialized training programs for overseas replacements were started by Plans and Training during the early days of operation. A continuation school was started in October with only one course; others were added in November and December. Late in October a secret training schedule was set up for a selected group of weathermen. The other 2 programs were developed for band members and finance men. A 5^th program was begun December 19, 1943 for the training of air crew members.

   The continuation schools provided refresher training for casuals awaiting shipments after they had completed 23 days of training. The only course available during the first weeks the Overseas Replacement Training Center operated was radio code. However, in November, Bombsight Maintenance, Power Operated Gun Turrets, Armament and Photography courses were provided. A course fro weathermen was added in December. Instructors for the various courses were supplied from technical training schools by Headquarters, Army Air Forces Western Technical Command located in Denver Colorado.

Intensified Weather Unit Program

   Military Intelligence and the Plans and Training department collaborated on the training or specially selected weather men. Starting late in October the program was continued through November and December. The first group consisted of approximately 50 men, all volunteers, who had been selected for the training on the basis of education, versatility, adaptability and knowledge of weather operations.

   The men were assembled at the Overseas Replacement Training Center, Kearns Utah, by order of the Weather Wing, Asheville, N.C. The first group was briefed by weather officers on temporary duty at Kearns. The initial briefing required 2 days and consisted of such subjects as capture and escape, life in the jungle and other allied topics. Later, the briefing was taken over by the Overseas Replacement Training Center military intelligence officer

   Under supervision of the Plans and Training department the weather men were qualified as experts with the .45 caliber automatic pistol, the Thompson sub-machine gun, the .30 caliber machine gun. In addition to the regular training provided for enlisted replacements the weathermen were given extra training in calisthenics in order to obtain the highest possible physical fitness. Also they were given extensive course in judo and instructions in swimming and life saving.

   Military Intelligence provided courses in map reading, use of the compass, airplane recognition and cryptography. The program was augmented with lectures by army personnel returning from overseas duty and civilians familiar with life in the South Pacific Islands.

   It was the first body of men to be given training at the Overseas Replacement Training Center as a group and the results obtained were noted by Major Clarence R. Case, the Assistant Executive S-2: who commented,

   “It is noteworthy that this is the first body of men to receive instruction as a group. The result of such instructions was a high ‘esprit de corps’ and a team spirit not commonly observed among other trainees.”

Band Training Program

   A training schedule for band members, patterned after the general overseas training program was started November 3, 1943 and a schedule was placed in effect on November 15, 1943 trained as combat first aid, supply men and stretcher bearers. They also were qualified on the .30 carbine and the Browning automatic machine gun. During the 48 days of training, band members accompanied troops on a 20 mile hike as first aid and supply men. They were also drilled in both band formations and movements and in Military formations.

Finance, Air Crew Training

   On November 3, 1943 a special program for finance men was started. The men were given four hours of duty in the station finance office each day and four hours of field training following the regular schedule.

   It was anticipated that only a few air crew men would be sent to Overseas Replacement Depot No.2 from time to tome for ground training and processing. But a training schedule was set up to provide a 19 specialized training program for that classification of enlisted men. Upon the completion of the special schedule, the air crew replacements took up training under the regular overseas program.

   The specialized training stress Airplane Recognition, Calisthenics, Marksmanship and firing the carbine, and Chemical Warfare. 23 hours were devoted to recognition, 20 hours to calisthenics 16 hours to Marksmanship 16 hours to firing the carbine and 12 hours to Chemical Warfare.

   Besides the various schedules of training for overseas replacements the Plans and Training department conducted physical training and refresher programs for permanently assigned officers and enlisted men.

   On November 10, 1943 a refresher course was inaugurated for al assigned officers of company grade. The class was conducted twice weekly and consisted of 2 one-hour periods. The curriculum included Orientation, Training Management, Command and Leadership, Discipline and Exercise of the Command, Military Training, Training Aids, Chemical Warfare instruction, Small Arms familiarization, Airplane recognition, Field Fortification and Entrenching methods and Physical Training.

   A training program was set up for assigned enlisted men on November 15, 1943. Group commanders were charged with the responsibility of seeing that all permanent, enlisted men under their respective commands attended the 4 hour periods weekly. The first 3 weeks of the 7 week program was devoted to Chemical Warfare. The remainder of the program provided instruction in Malaria Control, First Aid, Field Sanitation and Personal Hygiene.

   Both permanently assigned officers and enlisted men were required to take 3 hours a week of calisthenics in addition to such other training was provided by S-3.

   Physical fitness tests were given both officers and enlisted men in mid-November. Of the 67 officers tested, the average physical fitness rating was 53.6 percent. 1280 enlisted men were given the test and the average rating was 48.56 percent. Both officers and enlisted men 38 years of age or older were not required to take the tests. Service records were brought up to date and particular attention was given to checking the classification of the men.

   The various sections of processing were set up in one area of the 8 blocks allotted to the Overseas Replacement training Center. Barracks were used for offices and a mess hall was converted into a clothing issue department.

   Placed under the direct supervision of the Shipping and Receiving officer the processing system was recommended by the board of officers was set up in 2 parts - Receiving processing and Shipping processing. A staff of officers and enlisted men was assigned to handle a minimum of processing. When additional help was required, men were secured on a temporary basis from the training groups through Personnel Utilization. Such men were used for preparing and checking records and in the inspection and drawing of equipment. After the peak of processing was completed, the extra men were returned to their regular duties.

   During October 11, 1943 225 enlisted men and 710 officers went through processing at Kearns. Of these totals 4321 enlisted men and 223 officers were received and 6940 enlisted men and 484 officers were shipped.

   Processing slackened in November with 4702 enlisted men and 340 officers going through. Figures of the Statistical department show that 1675 enlisted men and 118 officers were received and 3027 enlisted men and 222 officers were shipped.

   Figures for December were still lower with a total of 3652 enlisted men and 154 officers being processed. Men received totaled 1185 enlisted men and 80 officers and 2467 enlisted men and 74 officers were shipped.

   Late in November it was agreed between the Training Command and the 2nd Air Force that Overseas Replacement Depot #2 would process and ship a group of overseas replacements for the latter command. The processing continued into December and 1329 officers and enlisted men went through the depot.

   Processing of permanently assigned enlisted men was started on December 22, 1943. The men were sent through only 4 steps of the receiving program, however. They were started out with beginning check, giving a thorough physical examination, service records were checked and identification tags were changed where necessary.

   Several factors contributed to the morale of officers and enlisted men at Overseas Replacement Depot #2 during the first 3 months of operation. Those factors were: Special Services functions, the organization or a Consultation Service, furlough policy, operation of a Technical Library, messing facilities and the functions of the Chaplains office.

   Functions of Special Services were limited in scope as post theaters and service clubs were operated by the Second Air Force. The same was true with Post Exchanges and cafeterias. However, Special Services contributed to the general morale of permanently assigned men and overseas replacement by conducting talent shows and organizing intramural sports programs.

   During the football season the department sponsored a post football team known as the Kearns Eagles. The eleven lost only 2 games of a seven game schedule. The team ran up a total of 116 points against its opponents 42. The season record is as follows:

KEARNS, 4 Salt Lake City 0

Kearns 0 FORT DOUGLAS 6

KEARNS 20 Logan Naval Training Center 0

KEARNS 25 Bushnell General Hospital 0

KEARNS 19 Pocatello Idaho AAB 0

KEARNS 48 Fort Douglas 6

Kearns 0 SALT LAKE CITY AAB 30

   Upon completion of the football season, Special Services organized an intragroup basketball league. Actual operation of the league was turned over to the Plans and Training Department. Operating with funds allotted by the 2nd Air Force Special Services, the ORD department kept training groups supplied with recreational and athletic equipment. Arrangements also were made by the department for group parties and dances.

   On October 9, 1943 a Consultation service was established with a psychologist in charge. The purpose of the department was to assist enlisted men who found it difficult to adjust themselves to Army life. In the first 3 months of operation, 304 cases were handled by the service. 71 men were interviewed in October, 147 in November and 86 in December.

   Furloughs for permanently assigned enlisted men were frozen by verbal orders of the commanding officers when the Overseas Replacement Training Center opened. But men who were transferred from Basic Training Center #5 to ORTC for overseas shipments were granted absences. It was not until November 9, 1943 that furloughs were granted to permanent party. Men were allowed seven days plus travel time and only 5 % of the permanent personnel were allowed to be away at one time. However, this policy was changed on November 12, 1943 to permit 10% on furlough at one time.

   A technical Library, established during the days of Basic Training Center #5 operated the installation at Kearns; it was maintained by the replacement center and the replacement depot. Operated under the supervision of S-2 the library was well stocked with technical books, magazines and Air Force technical orders. A Panoram machine, showing the latest training and fighting films, was available also. Orientation maps were available and the progress of the Allied armies on the various fronts was charted on a cellophane covered map of the world. Comparatively few men made use of the library until a poster campaign were inaugurated acquainting the men of its existence.

   Operating under directives from higher Headquarters the enlisted men’s mess was found to be inadequate for the type of training conducted in the Overseas Replacement Center during October 1943.

   Complaints were made by group commanders, mess officers and enlisted men. To remedy the situation, a board of officers was appointed on November 12, 1943 to investigate and make recommendations for correction. It was recommended that issues of food be made on a meal basis and required 12 % reduction be made in the value instead of the daily ration. The recommendations of the board were adopted and complaints were reduced to a minimum.

   During October 1943, the Overseas Replacement Training Center General Mess operated a total of 11 mess halls. 7 Halls were used by the center and 4 by the 2nd Air Force. The cost of serving 67,641 meals in the 31 days was $124,357.02.

   7 mess halls were operated by the department in November 1943 and 47,914 meals were served at a cost of $86,702.53. The same number of halls was used in December and $77,316.91 was the cost of serving 40,209 meals.

   Chaplains played an important part in upholding morale during the first 3 months of operation. Sex morality lectures were given to incoming men together with a welcoming talk. Final orientation and farewell talks were given to men on shipments. Hospital and guardhouse visitations and personal interviews were aids in building morale.

   7 Chaplains were assigned or attached to the center in October 4 in November and 8 in December, a total of 19 Chaplains for the base.

   Church services were conducted in two chapels and one theater. In October a total of 5611 enlisted men attended those services. Attendance for November was 3550 and 7741 in December.