Phoenix tribune., 1922-11-11
SHORTAGE in ARMY
OF NON-COMMISSIONED
OFFICERS REPORTED

Wnen the National DEFENSE Act was
amended in 1920, Congress provided
that the non-commissioned officer
strength of the Army should be deter
mined on a percentage basis, which
was arrived at after a careful consid-
Grafton of the missions of the Army
and the requirements of the service
as dictated by the experiences of the
World War which latter were then
fresh in the minds of the legislators.
At that time an enlisted strength of
100000 men was provided for and on
this strength the percentages for each
grade were sufficient for all the then
known requirements.
Since 1920, however, the Army has
suffered three reductions, the first to
175,000 then to 10000 and finally the
strength was fixed in the last Appro-
priation Bill at a meagre 125, 600 Each
reduction has necessitated a complete
reorganization and redistribution Of
the Army which in turn produced a
certain degree of Reorganization.
Each reduction has further carried
with it a proportionate reduction in
the total number of non-commissioned
officers and the point has been reach
ed where the total will be wholly un-
adequate for the requirements of the
service. Due consideration has not
been given the non-commissioned Of
ficer and the part he Is expected to
play in the scheme of National De-
tense.
At the time of the passage of the
National Defense Act the requirements
of the National Guard, the Organized
Reserve, and the R. o. T. G. was not
and could not have been known and
provided for All of these activities
were passing through an organization
al period, and no man could predict
with any degree of accuracy what the
future held in store for them. Hun
dreds Of the non-commissioned Off
GERS of the Army are today scheduled
for duty with these activities, and in
order to make them available they will
have to be taken from troops and
other activities from which they can
not possibly be spared. The alterna-
tive of the War Department is to cur
tail these special details down below
the absolute minimum requirements.
In order to provide for all the es-
sential activities of the Army, the War
Department should have available ap'
proximately 1900 non-commissioned
officers of the first three grades. I'm
der the terms of the existing law only
about $500 will be available, a short
age of some 2,3OO men.
After careful consideration of the
question it has been determined that
the grade of Staff Sergeant should be
provided for these non-commissioned
officers who are scheduled for duty
with the National Guard and Organ
lied Reserves. This grade will pro
vide the type of soldiers required fol
this class of duty; it will give him suf
ficient pay to maintain himself suit
ably in the community where his duty
takes him and is fair to the Govern
ment.
A study Of the situation develops
the fact that there are today some
e0n eopior s,oooo,,o,,,ic Siorad Offi.
GERS Of the Army surplus in their
grades. These men will have to be
denoted on December 31st unless
legislation is enacted to provide the
necessary increase in their numbers
These men as a rule have had long
periods of service in the Army Many
of them were officers during the
World War and rendered meritoriouS
and in many cases distinguished ser
vice. They have been rendered sur
plus through no fault Of their own
it has been due to the big reduction
in the strength of the Army. They
are deserving of every consideration
at the hands of Congress.
The War Department has asked
Congress to amend the National De
fense Act by increasing the percent
ages of the first three grades of non.
commissioned officers as provided for
in Section (b) so that the require
ments of the service may be more
nearly provided for
This is an entirely reasonable re
quest, and no time should be lost ir
placing the necessary legislation or
the statute books.
Furnished by U. S. Inf. Assn.