§ 5. Sir HENRY CRAIKasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is prepared to grant any extension of the age limit for entry to the staff college, in view of the fact that many officers have been prevented by service in the War from entering the college at the usual time?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIn order to provide for officers who have served with special distinction on the staff or in command during the recent War, and who have not hitherto had the opportunity of graduating at the staff college, two courses, each consisting of about 110 officers, specially selected by the Army Council, have 200 already been assembled at the staff college in 1919 and 1920. Entrance to the third post-War course, which commences next January, will again be by direct nomination by the Army Council. This course will be divided into two categories; first, a senior division consisting of officers nominated for one year's course of instruction, and secondly, a junior division consisting of officers nominated for two years. The age limit for nomination to the senior division will be 40 years, and for nomination to the junior division 35 years, though in special cases these limits may be extended by the Army Council. As regards the course commencing January, 1922, and subsequent courses, to which entrance will be by examination, the Army Council have decided, in order to provide for officers who have been prevented by service in the War from entering the College at the usual time, to relax the pre-War restrictions with regard to age as follows: The maximum age at which an officer will be permitted to attend the examination in 1921 (for the course commencing January, 1922) will be 38 years at the date of the examination; to attend the examination in 1922 (for the 1923 course) 37 years at the date of the examination; in 1923, 36 at the date of the examination, in 1924 and subsequent years, 35 years at the date of the examination.