Terrain Exercises

The smooth working and success of the Terrain Exercise depends almost entirely on the ability and tactical knowledge of the Director, the care he devotes to the selection of the ground, the preparation of the problem, and his own personal preparation for the conduct of the Terrain Exercise. To this end a study should be made of the tactical training it is desired to impart. A problem designed to bring out these points should be drawn up and fitted to the ground. The successive special situations must follow in logical sequence. The Director must have in his mind a solution of the various situations of the problem and must familiarize himself with all of its phases to the extent that he will be able to make reasonable answer to any question that may be propounded. He must receive all the ideas presented by the members of the class; take out the good and tactfully discard the poor and indifferent. He must take care that he does not unduly criticize the members of the class when they make mistakes and faulty dispositions. Above all, he must never hold up a solution to ridicule.