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(medical attention, hospital care, healthcare aids and medicine) The peacetime provision of 700 Reichs Marks for first-time officer equipment as well as the private subsidy are not necessary during wartime. B. Reserve Officers (War Officers) In wartime there is no direct enlistment for the reserve officer career path (war officers). Junior officers for the war officer career path are selected from the soldier ranks. This also applies to the wartime medical officer career path. Those already accepted into the career path may be summoned to active armed forces service or placed into medical service and contracted as dentists. Replacement officers for the flight and ground troops and aviation construction units are supplemented only from ranks of war officer candidates. 1. Conditions Soldiers being considered for war officer status are to be selected based on their character and soldierly temperament with regard to behavior just as any career officer. A particular schooling or scientific education is not required and one cannot be passed over due to insufficient general knowledge. Appointment to war officer candidate occurs after successful participation in a predetermined course of instruction for junior officer candidates and war officer candidates*). Earliest appointment after 9 months total service time. Age limit not to exceed 37 years. *) War officer candidate course of instruction not required for flight personnel. |
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The following declarations must be presented at the personal interview:
2. Applying Applications from soldiers should be submitted through military service channels. (Inquiries assessed at the next disciplinary hearing.) The enlistment center for officer candidates of the Air Force does not handle such inquiries. 3. Training Training for wartime officers consists of:
Wartime Medical Officer Candidates: Military Basic Training, Training in the Medical Service, appointment as a doctor on the front lines after 3 months total service time. 4. Promotion Promotion to lieutenant (Wartime Officer) upon completion of a minimum of 2 years of training. Upon evaluation promotion into the active officer corps (Troop Officer Career Path) may follow. Promotion of Wartime Medical Officers requires special approval. 5. Salary While completing two years of active service soldiers receive service pay but no incremental increases even upon promotion and even if they have entered into a longer period of service. Only career officer candidates are exempted. |
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Career Development of Volunteers for the Career Officer and Medical Officer Career Paths in the Air Force. 1. General Information The total training and development of officer candidates in all branchs of the Air Force are dependent upon the requirements and conditions of the war. Individual training units and promotion periods in all branches of service are for the most part similar. They are based solely upon performance. The career development of individual candidates is based on the needs of the candidate himself. A more stingent measure of the officer is made upon the determination of his qualifications. Along with the assessment by the troop unit and the candidate's overall standing, his performance in officer training at the Air Force War College is of critical importance. The results of the officer's examination at the end of the instructional period determines his ranking within the range of lieutenants who have graduated. This is decided according to the following numeric system plus the assessment of personal characteristics:
A few qualifications lacking due to insufficient physical development or a few missing scholastic requirements which can be achieved through diligence are of lesser importance than |
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Caption to the right of photograph reads: Our Flak Artillery |
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a lack of certain character traits or lesser personal qualities. In the first case a postponement of a junior officer's year of course completion is possible. Those selected early in the process to become officer candidates will be given time to mature before their qualifications are assessed for officer training. 2. Flight Troops After appointment to a flight training regiment the officer candidate receives basic military training in an officer candidate batallion. A course of instruction at an air combat school follows with seaplane and junior officer training which includes flight training in motorized planes and officer training. After successful completion of air combat training these junior non-commissioned officers (OA = Officer Candidate) are ordered to pilot training and weapons school. Promotion to lieutenant occurs after many months of probation on the front lines. 3. Aviation Engineering Officers Volunteers for the Engineering Officer career path receive until the rank of lieutenant the same training, including flight training, as volunteers for the Flight Troops. After promotion to officer and after a tour of duty as a pilot the lieutenant enters into a new training unit which is primarily devoted to engineer training. The actual technical instruction entails 3 years of workplace experience in aviation and aircraft weaponry. During the time of technical instruction there are preliminary and primary examinations. Training is free of charge. After successful completion the student becomes a technical officer with a technical company, staff, group, squadron, etc. or assigned to a specific military |
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position (probational.) The technical probationary period coincides with commando training in troop leadership. 4. Flak Artillery Officer candidates for Flak Artillery are assigned to flak training and reserve regiments where they receive basic military training. Completion of junior officer training with instruction in munitions leadership and appointment as an officer candidate follows. Due to the many operational possibilities within Flak Artillery units with its various highly-developed equipment, the officer candidate must choose early on between heavy or light artillery in flak skylight units. After the period of instruction a corresponding assignment to front line troop service follows whereby the young junior officer, later promoted to technical sergeant, receives many opportunities to assess his accumulated practical knowledge, prove himself in the face of the enemy and distinguish himself. Upon successful completion of instruction in artillery weaponry at a flak artillery school and instruction at an air combat school commando experience on the front lines follows. Promotion to lieutenant follows after front line assessment in an officer position. 5. Communications Troops After receiving military basic training in an Air Force Communications regiment the candidate for the officer career path is assigned to trooper training (in the telephone communications unit) on the front lines. Junior officer training follows front line service with appointment to officer candidate status, radio and motor vehicle training. From there come many months service in a front line command unit with troop training in a radio unit. Midway through the officer candidate is promoted to staff sergeant and participates in officer training at a communications school. |
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Promotion to officer within the communications troops occurs after a probational period as platoon sergeant in a front line unit. Until promotion to lieutenant the instructional courses are the same for all officer candidates in Communications. Upon completion of courses comes specialized training according to the unique characteristics of aviation radio communications. 6. Paratroopers Training of officer candidates for the Paratroopers consists of military basic training, junior officer instruction and selection as an officer candidate. At paratrooper school officer candidates receive instruction in the specialized field of parachute jumping. Then the candidate goes to a front line unit. The candidate receives officer training as a staff sergeant at the war college. After an additional probation period as platoon sergeant on the front lines the candidate is promoted to lieutenant and given command training at an ground combat school. 7. Hermann Göring Tank division The career path for an officer candidate in the Hermann Göring Tank Division is basically the same as the other branchs of service in the Air Force. Once within the division the course of instruction is determined by the unit's specialty. 8. Medical Officer In order to fulfill the required skills of other units, candidates for active officer status in the medical units receive military basic training. From there they go to a medical unit of the Air Force. Upon enlistment the candidate is assigned to an Air Force medical academy where training commences. After taking pre-qualification tests the candidate becomes a staff sergeant, then he is promoted to officer candidate and |
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assigned to a war college. To the extent that background in weaponry is needed for future medical officers, they are assigned to tactical units in the variouss branches of service. Once the required training is completed the candidate spends many months probation on the front lines. Studies are completed and the candidate takes the State Medical Board exam, after successful passing of which he becomes a physician's assistant with the rank of master sergeant, then promoted to assistant physician and then to medical officer. In general the time of training lasts 5 ½ years (Details are available in the pamphlet "The career path of the medical officer in the Air Force," which can be obtained at all Armed Forces Command Centers and Air Force District Medical Centers.) Career Path for the Combat Officer Candidates 1. Flight Troops After many month of training with the troops in military basic training and junior officer candidate training comes flight training. As a staff sergeant (17 months at the earliest) one is assigned as combat officer to the appropriate war officer curriculum. Upon completion one is commissioned as a war officer candidate. Probation in a front line troop unit leads to promotion as a lieutenant. 2. Air Force Ground Troops and Construction Units. Only the career path of combat officers is appropriate for appointment to the Air Force Ground Troops and the Construction Units. Candidates for the Career Officer path will not be assigned. Combat Officer candidates receive military basic training during their many months with the Flight Troops along with subordinate officer training. During a brief combat officer evaluation period candidates must demonstrate their aptitude and suitability for this career path. |
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Upon completion of this course work one is appointed a Combat Officer Candidate. Then follows an infantry assignment at the front with an Air Force unit. Technical training lasts a few months and the candidate graduates to an Air Combat School. This concludes the course work to become a master sergeant. At the earliest, promotion to lieuteant is possible after two years. 3. Flak Artillery Many months of troop training is required in the Flak Artillery. One commences junior officer training during this time. A combat officer prequalification test is administered to assess the aptitude of the candidate to become a combat officer. Upon successful evaluation one is appointed a combat officer candidate. He then goes to the front as a gunnery chief. Successful completion of gunnery instruction at a flak artillery school is required for promotion to technical sergeant. Appointment is made to a combat officer curriculum at an Air Force combat school. After many months of probation in an officer capacity at the front the candidate can be promoted to lieutenant. 4.Communications Troops Career path and training to become a combat officer candidate with the Communications Troops are nearly identical with those of the Flak Artillery. The subject of instruction depends upon the branch of service. Marksmanship training is not required. Instead the combat officer in the Communications career path takes instruction in the Air Force Communications School. 5. Paratroopers Candidates for the Paratroops experince similar training. While in the combat officer curriculum the candidate receives training in parachute jumping at the Parachute School. Technical sergeant training at a ground combat school comes after combat officer training. |
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6. Hermann Göring Tank Division Curriculum varies according to branch of service. The duration of individual training sessions are in keeping with those previously stated. 7. Medical Officer See Pamphlet II/B for information on the curriculm for medical officer candidates, especially with regard to promotion based on specific regulations. Cost of Training and Payscale until Promotion to Officer Status With the exception of training as a medical officer there is no cost for officer candidate training. The peacetime provision of 700 Reichs Marks for the first-time officer equipment costs is not provided as a private supplement during wartime. Payscale for officer candidates during training time until promotion to officer status amounts on average: As Officer Candidate: .50 Reichs Marks daily
As Junior Officer: 140 Reichs Marks monthly
The officer candidate may also receive reimbursement for economical restaurant fare. Payscales during wartime are regulated by the individual units of the Armed Forces. Volunteers with the rank of crewman only receive a weapons allowance. Upon promotion the junior office will be paid approximately the amount of the career soldier during peacetime. |
Imaging and translation by Susan Kriegbaum-Hanks