NEW PROGRAM FOR PREMILITARY TRAINING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00418R006900280001-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 19, 2007
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: November 6, 1956
• Content Type: REPORT

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3016933
III !! ZHA
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title
18, U.S.C. Secs. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
New Program for Premilitary Training DATE DISTR.
NO. PAGES
REQUIREMENT
NO.
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE &
DATE ACQ.
6 November 1956
This is UNEVALUATED
SOURCE EVALUATIONS ARE DEFINITIVE. AP IrlformatlorlQNTENT l4 TFV ATIVE.
training in Czechoslovak
January 1956.
a report on a new program for premilitary
schools which allegedly went into effect in
25X1
STATE I X (ARMY I X INAVY I X AIR FBI
(Note: Washington distribution indicated by "X"; Field distribution by "#".)
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4e
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Background Data
Between the end of October and the end of November 1955, there took
place in Prague a conference of a mixed commission composed of experts from
the National Defense and Public Education ministries which was to work out
new study plans for pre-military training in Czechoslovak schools. 25X1
According to these new plans, pre-military training was to be given
as a regular and compulsory subject in the ninth through the eleventh grade
in the general education schools ,and during the first three years in teachers
colleges and vocational schools.
The pre-military training program has been developed in a truly ex-
ceptional manner and this training has been classified as a compulsory sub-
ject within the regular school program, along with the other subjects taught
and classified.
The preamble to the new program, which bears the designation 62530/55-A
I/1 and goes into effect as of 1 January 1956, reads as follows:
"The Ministry of Public Education in conjunction with the Ministry of
National Defense, establishes herewith the following study program for pre-
military training to be given in the ninth through the eleventh grade in
general education schools and during the first through the third year in
teachers colleges and vocational schools, with a view to give this training
at once along with the other subjects.
"The study program for pre-military training now in effect, published
on page 232 of the 1945 official bulletin of the Ministry of Public Education,
is considered to be abrogated as of now."
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This preamble was signed by Mucha, Deputy Minister of Public Education,
and Lt Gen Cenek 8ruska, Deputy Minister of National Defense.
The new study program for pre-military training is divided into two
major parts: (1) purposes of pre-military training; and (2) organization of
pre-military training.
Purposes of Pre-Military Training
Pre-military training has the following purposes:
a. To instill in students a love for the army and for military ser-
vice; to explain to them the difference existing between the capitalistic
armies and that of a people's democracy, and to insist on making them under-
stand why service in the army of a people's democracy is the highest honor
for a citizen; to acquaint students with the significance and importance of
military honor and traditions.
b. To acquaint students with the military traditions of the Czecho-
slovak people.
c. To acquaint students with the duties and rights of soldiers, as
well as with military conscription procedures.
d. To acquaint students with the fundamentals of military life; to
explain to then the necessity for outward expression and manifestation of
discipline, thus making felt the need for discipline in schools, places of
study, and youth centers.
e. To instruct students in the fundamentals of military topography.
f. To explain to students defense against chemical warfare and the
significance of antiaircraft civil defense.
g. To acquaint students with the essentials of trench construction
and camouflaging.
h. To acquaint students with weapons (compressed-air weapons, small-
caliber weapons, machine pistols, and other weapons and instruct them in the
use of weapons.
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i. To familiarize students with fundamental auxiliary instruments
and with firing rules concerning compressed-air weapons, small-caliber
weapons, small machineguns, and other weapons; to teach students hand-
grenade throwing and the essential principles of dispersion and decentra-
lization.
J. To carry out firing exercises with compressed-air weapons, small-
caliber weapons, machine pistols, and other weapons.
Organization of Pre-Military Training
General directives and basic principles pertaining to the organization
of pre-military training:
1. Pre-military training must be conducted in accordance with the
following things:
a. The study and instruction program for pre-military training.
b. The directives of the Ministry of National Defense and of the
ministries which have jurisdiction over schools and other educational
institutions concerned.
c. Instructions derived from ruling principles.
2. The study program for pre-military training covers the 10-month
school year. As a rule, each year there should be 34 hours of pre-military
training, and between 90 and 102 hours over a 3-school-year period.
3. Pre-military training is directed as follows: in Zo-rdinarj7
schools by the Ministry of Public Education in cooperation with the Ministry
of National Defense; in vocational schools by the Manpower Ministry in
cooperation with the Ministry of National Defense; in apprenticeship schools
by other central authorities, which may conduct pre-military training either
directly or through their central administration, or through the regional,
provincial and district authorities, but in arq ease in cooperation with the
military authorities.
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4. The main factor in pre-military training is its instruction 25X1
program, which includes elements of ballistics and anti-chemical warfare
in 2-hour lessons; the other subjects are taught in one-hour lessons. As
a rule, 4-hour lessons are not approved of.
5. Students are graded for pre-military training subjects according
to the same system as for other subjects. They are to be.graded not only
on practical training, especially on tactical and anti-chemical warfare
exercises, but also on their state of health and application toward attain-
ment of their planned results. Instructors must also take into consideration
the students political maturity.
6. To raise teaching standards in pre-military training, the district-
level military authorities will set up so-called courses in methodology for
pre-military training instructors and directors, to be given every 4 years;
meanwhile, the military authorities at the regional level each year will
give 4-day courses in which all the subjects included in the pre-military
training program will be discussed.
7. The basic elements and metkods of pre-military training mist be
preceded by a general, comprehensive outline of the subject matter and a brief
clarification of the tasks to be carried out.
8. The preparation of training exercises must be carried out by all
the students, with the cooperation of all other necessary personnel.
9?
training:
The following instruction materials should be used in pre-military
a. Pre-military textbooks and manuals for instructors.
b. Pre-military textbooks and manuals for students (they are to
be issued in the near future by the Ministry of National Defense). Schools
will receive these materials through the regional and district military
com words .
c. Instruction materials provided by the army.
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Pre-Military Training Program
1. Military Traditions of the Czechoslovak People (]A hours)
a. Purpose -- To familiarize students with the military traditions
of the Czechoslovak people and thoroughly instill in them the idea that
defense of the fatherland is the highest duty of a citizen.
b. Subjects
i. Military traditions of our people since the pre-Hussite
era and during the Hussite revolutionary movement.
ii. Causes of the Hussites' victory; tactics and armament of
the Hussite army.
iii. The peasants' uprising.
iv. "Near Madrid we defend Prague."
v. Military traditions of our people in the struggle against
the Austro-Hungarian Empire and in the imperialistic world war.
vi. Military traditions of our people since the time of World
War Ii.
2. Branches and Specialties of the Czechoslovak Army (8 hours)
a. Purpose -- To familiarize students with the tasks assigned to
the individual branches and specialties of the army, and with the significance
of those tasks and the need for cooperation.
b. Subjects
i. Importance of the infantry and armored force.
ii. Importance of the artillery.
iii. Importance of the air force and paratroops.
iv. Importance of signal troops, chemical warfare troops, etc.
v. Importance of the installations and personnel of military
units in rear areas.
vi. Importance and significance of the flag.
vii. Significance of military orders and decorations.
viii. Importance and significance of antiaircraft civil defense.
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3. Organization and Deployment of the Armed Forces (10 hours)
a. Purpose -- To familiarize students with the significance and
importance of military discipline, with the duties- and rights of the Czech- 25X1
oslovak soldier, with the identification of the various types of military
units, and with the army's organizational principles; also, to insist on
the need for surveillance and sentry duty and to familiarize students with
the fundamentals of guard duty and company inspection.
b. Subjects
I. Significance and tasks of the army; difference between a
bourgeois army and one of a people's democracy.
ii. The military oath, its significance and the obligations
which it entails.
iii. Importance of military organization and of relations
among soldiers.
Czechoslovak army ranks.
v. Organization of company routine; the soldier and the order
of the day, internal barracks arrangements, liberty, etc.
vi. Daily schedule.
vii. Military discipline and subordination.
viii. Guard duty exercises; sentries and guards; rights and
duties of sentries and guards.
ix. Internal organization of guard posts.
4+. Drill (6 hours)
a. Purpose -- To explain to students the need for outward mani-
festation of discipline on an individual as well as on a collective basis;
to teach students impeccable and prompt discipline. Students must learn the
various drills quickly and precisely.
b. Subjects
I. Individual drill: basic position, execution of commands
(attention, rest, about-face, etc.)
H_
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ii. Execution of commands while moving (about-face, double
time, etc.).
iii. Formation drill (lining up, executing various commands
while in stationary posit4on).
iv. Marching formation drill.
5. Engineer Corps-Type Training Exercises (3 hours)
a. Purpose -- To explain to students the need for trenches and
camouflage, and show them various types of well-built trenches for riflemen
firing from prone, kneeling, and standing positions.
b. Subjects
i. Purpose of trenches and camouflage; methods pertaining
ii. Indications on the basis of which it is possible to dis-
cover what is camouflaged.
iii. Adaptation to terrain features through means available on
the spot.
iv. Basic principles of the construction of trenches for
riflemen firing from prone, kneeling, and standing positions.
v. Trench trace.
6. Preparations Against Chemical Agents and Atomic Weapons (7 hours)
a. Purpose -- To teach to students the use of gas masks and
familiarize them with other means of protection against gas; to familiarize
students with the effects of atomic weapons and with means of defense against
them.
b. Subjects
i. Employment of means of individual defense against gas.
ii. What to do following the explosion of an atomic bomb.
iii. Haw to proceed in certain areas, on the basis of the
direction of the wind, in order to avoid atomic radiation.
iv. Use of protective equipment in given planes.
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v. Partial disinfection of clothing and equipment and personal
hygiene. (Note: this subject must beiaught by military command and admin-
istration heads.)
vi. Brief description of the gas mask and its operation; re-
view of instruction on chemical agents.
vii. Technical training in the use of gas masks and other means
of protection.
viii. Brief coverage of atomic weapons and their effectiveness
and range.
ix. Basic elements of defense against the effects of atomic
warfare and nuclear weapons; importance of ground defenses provided by
engineer troops.
x. Measures to be taken following an atomic alarm; what to
do in case of an atomic explosion in an open area.
xi. What to do in an area infested with radioactive materials;
purpose of disinfection.
xii. Organizational measures to wash objects and bodies for
partial disinfection.
7. Military Topography (6 hours)
a. Purpose -- To teach students how to orient themselves and
train them in the use of maps and of the compass.
b. Subjects
I. Mapping of terrain.
ii. Map reading.
iii. Locating positions on maps.
iv. Direction of marches; azimuth; use of maps while on march
and orientation through the azimuth.
8. Tactics (18 hours)
a. Purpose -- To familiarize students with military offensive
and defensive actions, as well as with the main tasks of observers, messengers,
and scouts to give practical application to this training in field exercises.
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b. Subjects
i. Activities of the observer during an attack.
ii. Observation of the enemy's acticities; search for indi-
cations leading to the enemy's discovery; reporting the data obtained by the
observer.
iii. Activities of the messenger; route covered by the messenger
with a written or oral order; activities of the messenger under the threat
of enemy action; delivery of orders; return routes; report on accomplishment
of the messenger's mission.
iv. Soldiers in attack action; familiarization with the
principles pertaining to the movement of troops preparatory to combat.
v. Techniques pertaining to troop movements on the battle-
field and practical training therein.
vi. Attack action and explanation of its individual phases
vii. Showing of the film, "Soldiers on the Attack," with related
commentary.
viii. Activities of reconnaissance troops; tasks of the scout.
ix. Types of movement of reconnaissaince troops; observations
while on march; reconnoitering of terrain and targets, with practical exercises.
x. Protection of troops on reconnaissance; determination of
tasks, approach march, contact with the enemy, preparation of reconnaissance
report, dispatching of enemy prisoners to the rear (all this executed as a
field exercise).
9. Weapons and Target Practice (28 hours)
a. Purpose -- To familiarize students with the basic principles
of the employment of compressed-air weapons, small-caliber weapons, machine
pistols, and other weapons; to teach students to be very conscious of the
value of weapons and familiarize themselves with them, use them in the most
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appropriate way, and keep them in good condition and ready for combat
training; to train students in target practice and hand-grenade thhawing.
b. Subjects
2,1
i. Firing range; deviation.
ii. Description of compressed-air rifle.
iii. Description, operation, and use of rifle.
iv. Gun sight and target practice; firing from prone position,
with and without target; operation of the various types of gun sight; training
in the use of the gun sight, loading, and firing.
v. Description and use of hand grenade.
vi. Positions for hand-grenade throwing: stationary, mobile,
and at a distance of 20 meters.
vii. Firing practice with normal and compressed-air rifle.
viii. Protection through dispersion, decentralization, etc.
ix. Firing: initial velocity of projectile, impact, recoil,
safety rules to be observed while firing, interferences which affect accuracy,
etc.
x. Fundamentals of the employment of weapons, their maintenance;
materials for their employment, cleanliness.
xi. Machine pistols: description, operation, and employment
thereof.
xii. Throwing of hand grenades while moving, at a distance of
25 meters from the target.
xiii. 56-mm weapon and its projectiles: description, useful-
ness, and employment thereof.
xiv. Competitions in target practice and hand-grenade throwing.
xv. Gathering of cartridges, their conservation and use;
safety measures and precautions for their best maintenance and storage.
xvi. Target practice with compressed-air rifles, small-caliber
rifles, machine pistols, and rifles used by the Czechoslovak Army; mass com-
petitions in firing these weapons and in hand-grenade throwing.
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