The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-05-27
COLLEGE men TO
HAVE CHANCE IN
NAVAL RESERVE
Reserve Officers Corps to be
Built up by Navy Through
Schools.

WASHINGTON, May ~ Every
university and college in the country
will be given an opportunity to CO
operate with the navy department in
building up naval reserve officers
corps under plan now being devel-
oped by Assistant Secretary Of the
Navy Roosevelt, details of which were
made public today. Mr.. Roosevelt and
naval officers for some time have
been working out a scheme whereby
college men may win commissions as
ensigns in the great reserve sea force
to be permanently maintained. A
four year course In nautical subjects,
augmented by several months of post
graduate work at the naval academy
will be offered by the government if
the proposed plan Is adopted.
The United States now has an ade-
quate naval reserve force, numbering
about 100000 officers and enlisted
men, highly efficient as the result of
two years Of war service. Every eff
fort will be made, 1t was said, at the
navy department, to keep the perma-
nent reserve force strength around the
150, 900 mark an dthe reserve will be
made attractive enough to bring the
best class OF men into 1t.
Enroll as Freshmen.
AS proposed the plan is to enroll
college freshmen who desire to take
the course, for period Of four years.
Durin gthe first school year the navy
department would recommend a course
of study along naval lines in connec-
ton with the regular college work, in
Guiding physical training. The work
would be under the direct supervision
of the college authorities and the
commandant of the naval district. At
the end Of the freshman term, mem
bers of the training corps would go
to naval training camp for six or
eight weeks where they would be given
! rigid course of practical instructions
in marine subjects, military drill and
physical exercise. They would be
furnished with clothing, food and
lodging and nominal pay during that
period. During the second school
year an advanced course Of navigation
| higher mathematics and astronomy
| international law and naval strategy,
! would be studied and at the end OF
that and the third school year the
embryo officers would be taken aboard
warships for a cruise Of six or eight
weeks duration.
Upon graduation from college, mem,
bers of the corps who had completed
the course satisfactorily. would be
sent to the naval academy for two
months OF post graduate work along
general lines, the government paying
! all expenses and a salary. Thai
course completed, the successful can
| didate would be commissioned as en-
sign in the reserve corps and sent
to civil life under no obligation to
the government except a pledge tc
serve as officer in event of emergency
and to keep in touch with naval de
velopments.
In order to make the course at
tractive, the tentative plan is to SEND
the training squadron abroad eact
summer SO the students may have al
opportunity to study foreign navies
During their cruises, the reservist:
would be taken into the reserve a:
seamen, second class, would be giveI
an opportunity to advance through the
various non-commissioned grades anc
would be paid accordingly.