Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Infantry – Official U.S. Army Training Guide for World War I (1917)

Front Cover, Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Infantry. War Department, United States Army – Washington, Government Printing Office, 1917. This 350-page handbook prepared America’s soldiers for World War I. Covering drill, discipline, hygiene, first aid, field service, and even an English–French vocabulary, it was carried by noncommissioned officers and privates alike. Beyond training, its appendix included a form for a Last Will and Testament—a stark reminder of the risks of service. 📚 Public Domain, War Department Document No. 574. | GGA Image ID # 231b91f509

📖 Review and Summary

Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Infantry of the Army of the United States (1917) War Department, Washington: Government Printing Office, 350 pages.

⭐ Overview

This 1917 Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Infantry was a cornerstone of U.S. Army instruction during World War I. Issued just as America entered the conflict, the manual guided soldiers in everything from discipline to battlefield survival. It was not only used by Infantry troops but also adapted for Engineer (dismounted) and Coast Artillery companies, making it one of the most broadly applicable military handbooks of its time.

Today, this manual is invaluable for:

Teachers & Students 🎓 – Provides a primary source for studying military life in WWI.

Genealogists 🧬 – Offers context for ancestors who trained with or carried this book into service.

Historians 📚 – Preserves doctrine, customs, and daily practices of the U.S. Army in 1917.

Veterans & Military Archives 🪖 – A tribute to the standards, training, and sacrifices of enlisted men and NCOs in the Great War.

Book Synopsis

Explore the 1917 Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Infantry, the official World War I U.S. Army handbook. Covers discipline, hygiene, drill, first aid, codes, and even an English–French vocabulary. A vital public domain resource for teachers, students, genealogists, and military historians.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Chapter I. Military discipline and courtesy Section

• Section 1. Oath of enlistment
• Section 2. Obedience
• Section 3. Loyalty
• Section 4. Discipline
• Section 5.Military courtesy
• Section 6. Saluting
• Section 7. Rules governing saluting
• Section 8. Courtesies in conversation

Chapter II. Arms, uniforms, and equipment

• Section 1. The rifle
• Section 2. Care of the rifle
• Section 3. Cleaning the rifle
• Section 4. Uniforms
• Section 5. The service kit
• Section 6. The surplus kit
• Section 7. Assembling infantry equipment

Chapter III. Rations and forage

• Section 1. The ration
• Section 2. Individual cooking
• Section 3. The forage ration

Chapter IV. Personal hygiene and care of the feet.

Chapter V. Extracts from Infantry Drill Regulations, 1911

• Section 1. Definitions
• Section 2. Introduction
• Section 3. Orders, commands, and signals
• Section 4. School of the soldier
• Section 5. School of the squad
• Section 6. School of the company,
• Section 7. Company inspection
• Section 8. Manual of tent pitching
• Section 9. Manual of the bayonet

VI. Field service

• Section 1. Principles of Infantry training
• Section 2. Combat
• Section 3. Patrolling
• Section 4. Advance guards
• Section 5. Rear guards
• Section 6. Flank guards
• Section 7. Outposts
• Section 8. Rifle trenches

VI. Marching and camping

• Section 1. Breaking camp and preparation for a march
• Section 2. Marching
• Section 3.. Making camp
• Section 4. Camp service and duties

VII. Target practice

• Section 1. Preliminary training in marksmanship
• Section 2. Sight adjustment
• Section 3. Table of sight corrections
• Section 4. Aiming
• Section 5. Battle sight
• Section 6. Trigger squeeze
• Section 7. Firing positions
• Section 8. Calling the shot
• Section 9. Coordination
• Section 10. Advice to riflemen
• Section 11. The course in small-arms firing
• Section 12. Targets
• Section 13. Pistol and revolver practice

Chapter IX. Extracts from Manual of Interior Guard Duty, 1914

• Section 1. Introduction
• Section 2. Classification of interior guards
• Section 3. Details and rosters
• Section 4. Commander of the guard
• Section 5. Sergeant of the guard
• Section 6. Corporal of the guard
• Section 7. Musicians of the guard
• Section 8. Orderlies and color sentinels
• Section 9. Privates of the guard
• Section 10. Orders for sentinels
• Section 11. Countersigns and paroles
• Section 12. Guard patrols
• Section 13. Watchmen
• Section 14. Compliments from guards
• Section 15. Prisoners
• Section 16. Guarding prisoners
• Section 17. Flags
• Section 18. Reveille and retreat gun
• Section 19. Guard mounting
• Section 20. Formal guard mounting for Infantry
• Section 21. Informal guard mounting for Infantry
• Section 22. Relieving the old guard

X. Map reading and sketching

• Section 1. Military map reading
• Section 2. Sketching

XI. Message blanks

XII. Signals and codes

XIII. First-aid rules

XIV. Laws and regulations

• Section 1. General provisions
• Section 2. The Army of the United States
• Section 3. Rank and precedence of officers and noncommissioned officers
• Section 4. Insignia of officers and noncommissioned officers
• Section 5. Extracts from the Articles of War

XV. English-French vocabulary

Appendix. Form for last will and testament

📚 Engaging Content & Key Themes

The manual covers far more than marching drills—it is a window into the soldier’s world in 1917. Some of the most engaging sections include:

Military Discipline and Courtesy – Rules that governed respect, saluting, and the soldier’s code of honor.

Personal Hygiene and Care of the Feet 🥾 – A fascinating section that emphasizes how critical healthy feet were to a marching army.

Marching and Camping ⛺ – Guidelines that reveal how entire companies lived, ate, and rested while on campaign.

Target Practice & Arms Instruction 🎯 – Practical training with the rifle, highlighting the shift from black-powder tactics to modern firepower.

Map Reading and Sketching 🗺️ – Essential for both NCOs and privates, reflecting the new importance of individual initiative in modern war.

Signals and Codes 📡 – Early forms of battlefield communication, including hand signals and coded messages.

First Aid Rules 🚑 – Soldier-level medical knowledge, a necessity in an era before widespread battlefield evacuation.

English–French Vocabulary 🇫🇷 – Included because so many U.S. soldiers deployed to France—an immediate practical tool for interaction with allies.

Appendix: Last Will and Testament ✍️ – Perhaps the most sobering feature, a reminder of the mortal risks these young men faced.

Title Page, Manual for NCOs and Privates of Infantry of the Army of the United States, 1917. | GGA Image ID #

Map Reading and Sketching: Field Maps and Sketches includes Abbreviations, Signs-Field Maps and Sketches (Telegraphic Line, Railroads, Roads, Fences). Manual for NCOs and Privates of Infantry of the Army of the United States, 1917. | GGA Image ID # 231ba4f91e

Field Maps and Sketches: Bridge, Streams, House, Church, Schools, Woods, Orchards, Cultivated Land, Cemetery, Isolated Trees, Cut and Fill. Manual for NCOs and Privates of Infantry of the Army of the United States, 1917. | GGA Image ID # 231bf664c6

Sample Map 93512°-17 to Train Soldiers How to Read Maps. Manual for NCOs and Privates of Infantry of the Army of the United States, 1917. | GGA Image ID # 231c305100. Click to View a Larger Image.

Message Blanks for Sending Messages Between Combat Units and Command Centers. The heading "From" is filled in with the name of the detachment sending the information; as "Officer’s Patrol, 7th Cav.” Messages sent on the same day from the same source to the same person are numbered consecutively. The address is written briefly, thus: “Commanding officer. Outpost, 1st Brigade." In the signature the writer’s surname only and rank are given. This blank is four and a half by six and three quarters-inches, including the margin on the left for binding. The back is ruled in squares, the side of each square representing 100 yards on a scale of 3 inches to one mile, for use in making simple sketches explanatory of the message. It is issued by the Signal Corps in blocks of forty with duplicating sheets. The regulation envelope is three by five and one- fourth inches... Manual for NCOs and Privates of Infantry of the Army of the United States, 1917. | GGA Image ID # 231cadc086

Sample Page, English-French Vocabulary, Trench Warfare Terminology. NOTE.—In addressing an officer of grade superior to his own, an officer, must, use the possessive adjective; a senior addressing a junior uses the title, of the grade only. Thus: A major to a colonel says "Mon colonel," but the colonel to the major would say "Commandant.” Manual for NCOs and Privates of Infantry of the Army of the United States, 1917. | GGA Image ID # 231cb3c1f0

Appendix: Solder's Form for Last Will and Testiment, Part 1. Manual for NCOs and Privates of Infantry of the Army of the United States, 1917. | GGA Image ID # 231d177101

Appendix: Solder's Form for Last Will and Testiment, Part 2. Manual for NCOs and Privates of Infantry of the Army of the United States, 1917. | GGA Image ID # 231d13a3c1

📸 Noteworthy Images

Although published as a government document, the manual included illustrations, plates, and foldout diagrams:

• Infantry Drill Diagrams – Visual aids for movement and battlefield formations.
• Interior Guard Duty Diagrams (1914 extract) – Showcasing how posts were manned and patrolled.
• Marching Formations – Essential for understanding the logistics of troop movement in WWI.

These visuals bring structure and clarity to the text, making it more than just a dry manual.

✨ Engaging Historical Relevance

Cultural Snapshot: The sections on hygiene, discipline, and courtesy provide a mirror of early 20th-century military values.

Educational Utility: Students writing about WWI can quote directly from this manual to demonstrate how U.S. soldiers were trained and what daily expectations were.

Genealogical Insight: If an ancestor served in WWI Infantry, this was very likely the book they studied. It contextualizes their letters, diaries, and service records.

💡 Encouragement to Students: When writing essays about WWI, use the GG Archives’ digitized primary sources like this manual to add authenticity and detail.

📘 Availability

Library Holdings: The book is cataloged in the Library of Congress (LC Control No. war17000133, Call Number UD153 .A4 1917) and found in many military collections.

Out of Print: The original 1917 Government Printing Office edition is out of print, though digital scans and reprints exist.

Public Domain: Because it was published by the U.S. Government in 1917, it is in the public domain, allowing free reproduction and use.

Public Domain Book Reviews: Contemporary reviews praised its practicality and accessibility for enlisted men, with emphasis on its French vocabulary and practical advice for soldiers unaccustomed to field life.

Viewability

• University of California: Full view
• University of Michigan: Full view

🎓 Essay Prompts for Students

🪖 Military Training & Daily Life

“Feet First: Why Did the Army Emphasize Foot Care in 1917?”
– Analyze the manual’s instructions on hygiene and care of feet. How does this reflect the realities of trench warfare and long marches in World War I?

“Discipline, Courtesy, and the Soldier’s Identity”
– Discuss how the manual defined military discipline and courtesy. How did these practices shape soldiers’ behavior and identity within the Army?

“From Drill Field to Battlefield”
– Compare the manual’s sections on drill, marching, and camping with historical accounts of actual WWI combat conditions. Did training prepare soldiers adequately?

📡 Technology, Communication & Modern Warfare

“Signals, Codes, and the Changing Face of Warfare”
– Explore the manual’s section on communication. How did the need for hand signals, message blanks, and codes highlight the challenges of WWI battlefields?

“From the Rifle Range to the Trenches”
– Evaluate how the manual emphasized marksmanship. How important was individual rifle training in a war increasingly dominated by artillery and machine guns?

🌍 Cultural & Historical Context

“Learning French at the Front”
– Why did the manual include an English–French vocabulary? Discuss how language was a practical necessity for U.S. soldiers serving alongside Allied forces in France.

“The Will and Testament: A Sobering Appendix”
– Consider the inclusion of a will form in the manual. What does this reveal about Army expectations, mortality, and preparation for war?

🧬 Genealogy & Social History

“Connecting the Past: What This Manual Tells Us About Our Ancestors”
– For students researching family members who served in WWI, how can this manual help interpret their experiences?

“From Civilian to Soldier: The Transformation of the 1917 Recruit”
– Examine how the manual framed the transition from civilian life to military duty. How might this have shaped a young man’s worldview?

💡 Higher-Level Research / Comparative

“A Soldier’s Handbook Across Generations”
– Compare the 1917 manual to a modern U.S. Army soldier’s handbook. What has changed in training, priorities, and values—and what has remained constant?

“Preparedness vs. Reality: Did Manuals Reflect the True Nature of War?”
– Using the 1917 manual and accounts from WWI veterans, evaluate whether the manual realistically prepared soldiers for the psychological and physical realities of combat.

✨ Why These Prompts Work

Engaging: They tie everyday details (hygiene, courtesy, language) to broader historical themes.

Accessible: Suitable for middle/high school as well as undergrad.

Research-Friendly: Encourages use of GG Archives as a primary source.

Comparative Potential: Invites connections between WWI and modern military life.

Sample 2-Page Essay: The Importance of Personal Hygiene in World War I Military Readiness (Docx)

🎯 Final Thoughts

The Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Infantry, 1917 is far more than a dry government handbook—it is a living artifact of World War I America. It captures the discipline, hardship, and preparation of soldiers as they entered one of the deadliest conflicts in modern history.

For teachers, it sparks classroom discussion. For students, it offers direct quotes for essays. For genealogists, it gives life to ancestors’ service records. And for veterans, it preserves the proud traditions of the U.S. Army.

For Further Reference

Training Camps

• Camp Devens
• Camp Dix
• Camp Dodge
• Camp Funston
• Camp Grant
• Camp Pike
• Camp Zachary Taylor

Soldier Records

• Soldier's Individual Pay Record Book-1918
• Leave Permit For American Soldiers In France-1918
• Soldier's Diary Extracts-1918-1919

WWI Cultural Context

• French Currency Used By WWI Soldiers

Comparative Manuals

• Manual For Soldiers In France
• Field Service Regulations-US Army-1914
• Infantry Drill Regulations-US Army-1911
• Infantry Soldier's Handbook

Pictorials

• Collier's Photographic History of the European War
• Pictorial History of the World’s Greatest War-1919
• The First World War - an Illustrated History

Library of Congress Catalog Listing

• LC Control No.: war17000133
• Type of Material: Book (Print, Microform, Electronic, etc.)
• Corporate Name: United States. War Dept.
• Main Title: Manual for noncommissioned officers and privates of infantry of the army of the United States.
• Published/Created: Washington, Govt. print. off., 1917.
• Description: 350 p. illus., pl., 2 fold. diagr. 14 cm.
• Subjects: United States. Army. Infantry --Drill and tactics. | United States. Army --Handbooks, manuals, etc. | United States. Army --Non-commissioned officers’ handbooks.
• LC Classification: UD153 .A4 1917
• Geographic Area Code: n-us---