Out of Step

This book, first published in 1952, is a careful analysis of the aims and results of the new experimental Special Training Units which were set up to achieve retraining of troublesome soldiers through education and not punishment.

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In the early years of the War the Army was burdened with a great number of troublesome soldiers who would not take to the discipline. They were not only useless as fighting men, but were also likely to be a bad influence on others. Normal methods of punishment were tried repeatedly, to little effect, and as the expanding Army began to run short of manpower new methods were tried to deal with the delinquents. In September 1941 new experimental Special Training Units were established with the aim of converting them into good soldiers through careful individual treatment and retraining. The units aimed to achieve retraining through education and not punishment, and this book, first published in 1952, is a careful analysis of the aims and results of the programme.