Supervision of War Department Civilian Protection Schools

Prior to the reorganization of the War Department in March 1942, civilian defense matters were handled by the Qvil Defense Branch, OflSce of the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3. After the creation of the Services of Supply, these functions were transferred to the Gvil Defense Section of the Office of Chief of Administrative Services (SOS). The latter organization thereafter co-ordinated all War Department activities in this field, including conduct of schools. Since the training was essentially technical in nature, its supervision was left with the CWS— the principal concern of the Services of Supply being that the schools met the requirements of OCD and that they were efficiently conducted. 

Close liaison had to be maintained between the Office of the Chief, CWS, and the Office of Gvilian Defense in training and related activities. The general operating procedure was for the OCD to indicate what teaching was desirable, the War Department then determining how the instructional aim would be attained. Army relations with the OCD were handled through the 

Board of Civilian Protection. The OCD Training Division was an important agency of the Board of Civilian Protection and its activities were directed by the Army member of that board. In addition to continuous development of the curriculum, which was a joint CWS-OCD project, the Training Division was solely responsible for the allotting to regional directors of quotas for civilian students. 

At the end of a year of wartime operation, the OCD formally requested that the WDCP schools be continued. In approving this proposal, the U.S. Director of Civilian Defense was advised  

The War Department is agreeable to the continuation of these schools during the calendar year 1943, provided it is your judgment they are serving an essential purpose. 

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