The Plattsburg Manual | Page 2

The United States is divided geographically into military departments
with a general officer commanding each department. The departments
and their headquarters are as follows:
(1) The Northeastern Department, with headquarters at Boston,
Massachusetts.
(2) The Eastern Department, with headquarters at Governors Island,
New York.
(3) The Southeastern Department, with Headquarters at Charleston,
South Carolina.
(4) The Central Department, with Headquarters at Chicago, Illinois.
(5) The Southern Department, with Headquarters at Fort Sam Houston,
Texas.
(6) The Western Department, with Headquarters at San Francisco,
California.
Overseas { (7) The Philippine Department, with Headquarters at
Departments { Manila. { { (8) The Hawaiian Department, Departments
with { Headquarters at Honolulu, Hawaii.
(For States comprising each department, see Appendix)
If you are a civilian and desire any information in regard to the army,
any training camps, the officers' reserve corps, or any military
legislation or orders affecting you, write to the "Commanding General"
of the Department in which you live. Address your letter to him at his

headquarters.

MAIL
Mail is most often delayed because there is not sufficient information
for the Postmaster on the envelope. The delivery of your mail will be
delayed unless your letters are sent to the company and the regiment to
which you belong. Therefore, prepare, before you reach camp, several
stamped postal cards, addressed to your family and business associates,
containing directions to address all communications to you care of
Company----, Regiment----. As soon as you are assigned to a company
and regiment, fill in these data and mail these postal cards at once. This
should be done by wire in case important mail is expected during the
first week of camp. Mail is delivered to each company as soon as a
complete roll of the organizations can be made out and sent to the
post-office.

INOCULATIONS AND VACCINATION
As soon as you become a member of the army, whether as a private or
as an officer, you will receive the typhoid prophylaxis inoculation and
be vaccinated against smallpox.

WHAT TO BRING
1. Travel light. Bring only the bare necessities of life with you. Don't
bring a trunk. Enlisted men (not officers) will be supplied with all
necessary uniforms and underwear. This includes shoes.
2. Bring a pair of sneakers, or slippers. They will add greatly to your
comfort after a long march or hard day's work. A complete bathing suit
often comes in handy.
3. Report in uniform if you have one.

4. The Government will provide you with the necessary shoes.
However, if you can afford it, buy before you report for duty, a pair of
regulation tan shoes, larger than you ordinarily wear, and break them in
well before arrival. Rubber heels are recommended.
5. Bring your toilet articles (comb, brush, mirror shaving equipment,
etc.), and a good supply of handkerchiefs, and towels.

WHAT TO DO ON YOUR ARRIVAL
There is a general rule of procedure to follow in reporting for duty at
any post or training camp.
1. If you receive an order directing you to report for duty at a camp or
post at a certain specified time, read it carefully, put it in a secure place,
and, on the day that you are to report for duty at the camp or post,
present yourself in uniform, if you have one, with your order. Be
careful not to lose your order or leave it at home. Have it in your pocket
book.
2. Upon being assigned to a company, unless you receive orders to the
contrary, report at once with your baggage to your company
commander (captain), whom you can easily find when you reach your
barracks or company street. If you cannot locate your company
commander, report to the first sergeant.
3. It is a custom of the service to have an experienced soldier explain to
a new man exactly where he is to go and what he is to do. Feel no
embarrassment at being ignorant of your new duties and surroundings.
The Government does not expect anything of you except eagerness to
learn and willingness to obey.
4. After reporting to your company commander or first sergeant, you
will have a bed assigned to you and you will be issued the property and
uniforms necessary to your comfort and duties. Check your property
carefully as it is issued to you. You will have to sign for all of it. Look
after your property at all times.

5. After checking your property, make up your bed and arrange neatly
your personal and issued property on or under your bed or cot.
6. Spend all your spare time cleaning your rifle and bayonet until they
satisfy your company commander. Then keep them clean.
7. Don't leave the company street or barracks on the first day, except
with the permission of