Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-29
D. c. NAVAL RESERVES

The I'd Fleet Division Of the United
States Naval Reserve Battalion of the
District Of Columbia is making prepa-
ration for its annual cruise aboard the
u. S. destroyer Abel P. UpshuT, now at
sea on two-Week training cruise
with the LIST Fleet Division aboard. OFF,
GERS in charge of this division are con-
fining most of their efforts to training
the men at the drill gun at the armory
and at the loading machine Quick
loading Of the gun is as important as
quick firing and helps materially in
raising the score, which Is based on
the time to put out a certain number
of shells, as well as on the number
of hits.
This division, perhaps, will be better
trained to put In the finest score Of
the season. it was pointed out, because
of the fact that it has had six weeks
longer to train than the other divisions.
The gun training this year was held
back to some extent, any way, because
OF the fact that there was a trans
fer of training vessels, resulting in
the replacement Of the Allen by the
present ship Of later type. But despite
this drawback, officers and men who
made the previous cruises reported that
the gun crews and firing parties made
better scores this year than ever be-
fore
The I'd Fleet Division win have
another week of drilling In the armory,
and as the Upsl1ur Is scheduled to re-
turn next Saturday from the second Of
her two weeks cruises, the training
then win be transferred from the arm
DRY to the ship, as the vessel win re-
| main in port for one week before
departing on the third and last voyage
Of the year.
The Sd Fleet Division, which made
the first Of the cruises this year.
| has taken up the regular armory drill
training for the year. but is devoting
| much OF It's time to rife practice IN
i the small bore range which has been
constructed under the armory IN the
| Washington Navy Yard. This range
was Just completed in the Spring, but
| sAe men had little opportunity to make
| use of 1t. because of the fact that il
| was necessary to make ready for the
/ annual inspections, and following them
| it became necessary to devote all of
the time to preparation for the annual
| cruises and the target practice.
However, Lieut.. Comdr Harry j
| Nichols, executive officer of the local
| battalion. said that the men Of the
Sd Division are indicating a great
/ amount of interest IN the small arms
| practice, and there is a hope that a
number of nlarksmen, at least, win be
| qualified during the next few months
The range VIII be used more and mere
| during the Winter months, when all "
the divisions have completed their an
nual cruises.
| There will be formulated within a
short time the composition Of a board
| of Reserve officers, who viii begin the
examinations Of enlisted men who have
been recommended for promotion as a
result Of the efficiency with which they
performed their duties while on their
annual cruises. The board viii begin
its work as soon as the last of the di-
visions to make cruises has returned.
and the battalion settles down for its
Winters work in the arnory.
1t was said that an unusually large
number of men have been recommended
by the Sd Division, and there is hope
that all OF then viii be able to pass the
requisite examinations. II was pointed
out that there is to be made this year
every effort to divide the various rat
| ingS OF the battalion in conformity With
| the complement for a destroyer AT
the present time, 1t was said. the or
ganization is heavy with men of the
lower ratings-seamen. second class.
and firemen. third class. The result is
that there are number of vacancies
in the petty officer and chief petty Of
| ficer ratings, which the officers are
anxious to AL with qualified men, so
that each fleet division viii be proper
| " balanced In accordance with the rat
| ings required by a destroyer, which is
the type ship which the local reServists
would be sent aboard in the event Of
national emergency. which would call
for an increase in the number OF YES
sells of the Navy in commission.
All OF the officers Of the battalion, IL
was added further. recognize that TO
sustain interest In the Reserve and its
work there must be no Stagnation
| in promotions. as the majority of the
enlisted men at the present time are
youths. who did not participate in the
last war. and they ell want TO get
ahead, II they have any interest IN the
Navy at all. Therefore, they are going
to try TO promote every man who shows
by his actions and knowledge of the
naval work that he Is proper material
for promotion
There Is the hope also that some of
the men will reach the commissioned
grade. for, since the war, there have
pSC1 klO l1O4ilUtAo1lS lE0ttl VIC EatlhS Oh
the Reserve to the commission as en-
sign. except In the aviation branch of
the service. where men may go from
Seamen, second class. 10 the grade of
ensign, upon completing two courses OF
training at naval Reserve and naval
aviation schools. However. the intri-
cacies Of surface ship operation, Il was
pointed out. are 50 great that II Is prac-
tically impossible to train men for the
offlcershipS In as short time as Is per-
mitted ir the aviation branch.
However. there Is belief that this
year will find the opportunity for some
Of the young men Of the local battalion
TO try for commissions in the organixa-
ton, and the present officers indicate
that they are ready to provide the
schools necessary to educate the pro-
Spective officers 10 the point where they
can pass the requisite examinations.