Instructors | U.S. Citizens Defense Corps

Identifying device

Inverted equilateral triangle, centred above which is a falling bomb, to the left of which is a chemical retort, and to the right of which is a flame. Letters Patent: D-129590.

Civil Defence instructors' emblem featuring a red downward triangle, a red flame, a red bomb, and a red chemical retort.

Duties

  • train volunteers for other units

Special Civilian Defense Schools were established by the Office of Civilian Defense to train volunteers of the Citizens Defense Corps. Courses on managing gas attacks and methods to extinguish incendiary bomb assaults were taught. The first school was founded at Edgewood Arsenal, Md., in June 1941.

Civilian Defense Schools

War Department Civilian Protection Schools (WDCPS)

Special Civilian Defense Schools were established by the Office of Civilian Defense to train volunteers of the Citizens Defense Corps. Courses on managing gas attacks and methods to extinguish incendiary bomb assaults were taught. The first school was founded at Edgewood Arsenal, Md., in June 1941.

OCD Regulations No. 2, amended in August 1942, mentions instructors trained at War Department Civilian Protection Schools. An instructor who had completed training at one of these schools could wear the instructor’s insignia positioned above a silver ribbon inscribed with “W.D.C.P.S.”. I have yet to see an original example of this ribbon. However, a lapel pin badge with “W.D.C.P.S.” is known to exist (shown below).

An instructor's badge with a blue circle, a white triangle inside and red inverted triangle in the center, and various icons around it, with the letters 'W.D.C.P.S.' at the bottom.

Instructor Photos

Period photographs of Civilian Defense instructors

Five men in military uniforms standing outside next to a sign that reads 'War Department Civilian Protection School Purdue University'.