Japanese Pvt Purchase Field Cap

[FightenIrish35]

I contemplated on posting this field cap because of the language used by the US veteran who wrote inside of it but decided id share and hope you guys don't mind.

The veteran wrote a message inside the field cap and sent it back to his son. Shows you how grizzly the mist of war can be.

I believe the cap star was a double layer,with a separate yellow star stitched onto the background you see now. This field cap would have been a private purchase field cap. Material is better quality and there is no manufacture stamp. Under the fathers message is a date of 5?/20/1944.

Could anybody help out with the translation of the Japanese large characthers inside the cap or is it to faded? Greatly appreciated if it can be read.

Thanks for taking a look .

Regards,
Michael S

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[GHP]

Apprentice Officer Motomatsu

元松見習士官
Motomatsu Minarai Shikan

[FightenIrish35]

Thank you Guy San!

I wonder if the meaning apprentice officer would be the same as an officer cadet? Maybe this soldier was a new officer out of the academy?

[GHP]

...I wonder if the meaning apprentice officer would be the same as an officer cadet? Maybe this soldier was a new officer out of the academy?

Here's what Japanese wiki says, after Google Translate:

Those who have completed the education appropriate to a army officer , is appointed as apprentice officer before stage of commissioned second lieutenant . The case of the Pacific War ( Pacific War ) period , the following persons are qualified person primarily .

Military Academy , Army accounting school graduates or military air force academy as a cadet .
A person who has completed the education of the same level or Army Reserve Academy graduate , as a first class cadet .
Institutions of higher education graduates that have been adopted in various parts officer personnel Health Department , Engineering Department , and Ministry of Justice .
Army special handling apprentice officer .

In one example of the active branch of the army officer cadet from , experienced Corps Supplementary worked as a cadet in ( referred to as the home unit this) troops to learn in the army preparatory academy , stated , Military Academy to ( Undergraduate ) When you graduate from this to proceed , will be commissioned ( in the form on the last ) to Ensign received a recommendation by the home unit officer corps is supposedly the tradition after a period of work returns to the home unit was appointed to apprentice officer . Several months [2 ] , the real role of apprentice officer retirement age [1 ] was to be reduced by the war situation basically.

Class itself is a master sergeant , but is independent existence as an apprentice officer in the curriculum on . There is no difference and almost Ensign occupational - responsibility and treatment , he served as instructor in weapon and education week numbers officer as an apprentice officer exactly , was also able to lead the small forces in wartime and exercises when troops was assigned [3 ] . In the clothing system , military uniform is a government issue which does not change the non-commissioned officer of the general , but ( since '18 Showa ) with the officer workers chapter to elbow , Seisho special emblem [4 ] The collar , it was differentiated by having to Haiyo the officer saber , tightening the positive band of sword for company officer from the top of the military uniform .
Footnote

^ Service period minimum required to proceed to the next class . There is a provision in the army .
^ Cadet graduates can be promoted to second lieutenant in a short period of time than first class cadet . Short military career , special handling apprentice officer is placed in this position for one year because it is in the presence of a " special " exactly .
^ Was also if you received Class B student education of weeks or months in the implementation of various school Army Infantry School , Army Engineer School and Army flight school in troops assigned before .
^ ☆ design and is different in the ○, first class cadet graduates seen one step lower than cadets design of a simple emblem ☆, the person other cadet graduates of the Seisho collar there was also from being ridiculed as " washer " ...

--Guy

[FightenIrish35]

Thank you Guy San.

So if I understand correctly, it seems that the term Apprentice Officer would refer to a Master Sgt or NCO. Is that correct?

-Michael

[GHP]

Michael,

Let's wait for someone who really understands the rank structure to explain it. I think it means his rank & pay grade would be that of Master Sergeant while fulfilling obligations as Apprentice Officer. After a successful apprenticeship, he then is promoted to 2nd lieutenant.

When I read the description it reminded me a bit of the US Army Officer's Candidate School -- those candidates who entered OCS less than sergeant (e.g., Specialist 4 which is E4; or those with college degrees who enlisted as "College Option" went to basic training then OCS) were paid as sergeants (E5); those who were more advanced NCO grades (e.g., Sergeant First Class, E7) retained their NCO pay. After commissioning, all are advanced to 2nd lieutenant rank & pay (more pay if prior enlisted).

--Guy