The midland journal., 1917-05-11
WHAT THE "UNITED STATES
NAVAL RESERVE FORCE"
STANDS FOR.

In August, 1916, Congress passed
an act creating the United States
Naval Reserve Force. of which the
Naval Coast Defense Reserve is a
branch.
Object of Act
The object of the act is simple in
theory. The idea is to have reserve
of men, trained and unframed, to
supplement the ranks of those who
serve in the regular army. When
in time of national emergency, the
ranks Of some branch of the naval
service are not sufficiently filled so as
to bear the burden that will be put
on them, the requisite number cf
reservists of that branch wrc calico
out to fill the gaps.
The machinery for carrying out
this plan is a little more complex
The country is divided into what are
called naval districts, and each dis
trict commandant supervises the en-
rollment of men in the Navel Re-
serve for his jurisdiction.
Appointments
The application is given a provis-
ional appointment; if his specia!
qualifications are sufficient for
commission or petty officer rating he
will be given the rank or rate which
he is qualified to maintain. If at
the beginning his special knowledge
is not of a nature to qualify him to
become some sort of an officer he
will be taken on as a seaman. AS
soon as he acquires sufficient knoWl'
edge to qualify as an officer he has
the privilege Of taking an examin-
alton for promotion.
The above applies to his mental
ability and the examination to deter
mine it. There remains the necessity
of physical fitness. Each man en-
rolled must pass physical examln
alton to the satisfaction of the ex
amfning surgeon.
The Pay Is Good
Members of the Naval Auxiliar7
Reserve who enroll for term Of
four years, within four months from
the date of termination of their las
term of enrolment shall, for eacf
such enrolment receive an increase
of 25 Per Cent, of their base retainer
pay.
If the reservist takes three
months active service during his ell
iistment and qualities for permanen
rank or rating, he receives as retain
er pay Tin lieu of the $12 yearly
mentioned above) two months bas'
pay, at the regular navy rate, Of hi
rank or rate. This means that fol
doing three weeks work year il
order to perfect himself in the dutie:
of his position, the reservist is givef
two months pay, equal to the pay O.
the corresponding rank or rate IL
the navy; and besides he is also pait
for the three weeks of active service
at the pay of his grade.
In addition to the pay, the re
servist after going into active service
is entitled to a uniform gratuit!
which in time of peace IS $50 fol
men and $50 for officers; in time o
war the uniform gratuity is $50 FOL
men and $3.50 for officers.
Duties
From the above it is obvious tina
the privileges of a member of the
Naval Reserve are such as to make
it peculiarly attractive branch o.
the service.
When a man joins the militia o.
the regular army or navy he does 81
for a specified term of years. In the
case of the militia, he is required x
drill once week during the term o.
his enlistment. In the case of the
regular army or navy, he makes
soldering or sailoring; as the case
may be his profession for the term
of his enlistment.
Resignation When Country Is A
Peace
This is not true of the Naval Re
serve. The law creating the reserve
gives each reservist the absolute
right to resign in time of peace; his
discharge does not lie within the
discretion of his commanding officer
but the reservist can demand it, anG
his officers have no choice. They
must give it. For further infor
nation write
SWEPSON EARLE, Ensign,
U. s. Naval Reserve Force,
512 Munsey Building,