Greetings:

When a country needs defending, everyone gets a job, and during WWI the jobs for men of the right age just happened to involve uniforms, marching, and being yelled at before breakfast.

A letter from the Selective Service System, Springfield Illinois

 "A Message to Selectees  (circa World War II)

When in times of grave emergency, it becomes necessary for this nation to ask its people to share in the common defense, it is imperative that each man does his part. Every one of us has a task to perform. Yours is the part of a soldier – a service upon which tradition imposes a high honor.

You have received your notice to report for training. In a few days, you will go to your local board headquarters in proceed from there for induction into the United States Army. As you go, bear in mind that upon your shoulders rests the fate of your neighbors, whose chosen representative you are.

It is a new life to which you are going and in order that your road to it and through it may be made smoother the following suggestions are made:

1. Go to it cheerfully, soberly, and alertly.

2. If you are employed, remind your employer that there is a possibility that you may be rejected when you report for induction into the Army. Ask him to hold your job for you until you are certain of induction. If accepted, notify him at once by mail. If you sell your car or your business before you leave, sell it on a contingent basis so that if you are not taken by the Army, you can reclaim it when you return home.

3. If you are unemployed, register with your state employment service before you leave. It will help you to get a job when this national task of yours is completed.

4. Travel light. If you wish, take a small bag with a few clean clothes, a few handkerchiefs, socks, soap, towel, and necessary toilet articles. These are not essential as you will be issued necessary equipment by the Army but they may come in handy should there be any delay in your induction into the service. Soldiers are permitted to wear civilian clothing while off-duty outside of the post, and in some commands, they are permitted to wear a white shirt with the uniform for dress purposes although such a shirt is not furnished by the Army. Therefore, you may take such articles with you but they are not necessary. Leave jewelry, large sums of money and other valuables at home for they may easily be lost. If possible, take a little spending money for such needs as you may have before your first payday. Take some postal cards or stationary and stamps, a fountain pen, and an inexpensive watch if you have them.

5.Leave your automobile or motorcycle at home. If you are accepted, your commanding officer will tell you whether you may have it at the post and, if so, you may have an opportunity to get it.

6. It takes time for the Army to assign you to a permanent military unit. Keep in touch with your friends and family but ask them not to write to you until you have a definite and complete address to which mail will be delivered. As soon as you are inducted into the Army, your nearest relative will be advised as to your whereabouts, so don't worry about being out of touch with your family in the event of an emergency. They will know where to call.

7. At the reception center, the Army will classify you, that is, try to find the type of job in the Army which you can do best, in which you will be happiest and do the best for yourself and for your country. Before you go to the classifier, think back over all the jobs you've had, how long you worked at them and exactly what you yourself did in them. Give all the information asked for honestly and completely. It will be for your best interest.

8.Go to the Army with an open mind and forget any ideas which you now have unless you know they are correct. Keep your ears and eyes open. Obey orders in the best way you know how and you will succeed.

Your country need your help, otherwise you would not have been called. Some of us will not have the privilege of serving as you serve. Our work will be in other fields – but fields of related endeavor. With your assistance all of us will achieve our common goal – the maintenance of the free heritage to which we were born.

 Paul G Armstrong, State Director"