Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-03
Army dNavyNews
Navy.

Navy.
According to Rear Admiral r. II
Leigh, chief Of the Bureau Of Naviga.
ton, there Is at the present time q
shortage In essential ofiicer and enlisted
pilots Of about 10, which will increase
to about 12C by July /. This shortage
will continue indefinitely unless more
officers. especially in the classes of 1921
to 1926, volunteer for aviation training
The average number of officers commits
stoned in the line Of the Navy from
age of 36.5 officers from each class quail
ifled as aviation pilots, ranging from g.
or 2 per cent, for the class of 1925, to
46, or IL per cent, for the class of 1923,
the average percentage being 8.6. An
average Of SO officers from each class
are now on aviation duty. there being
total Of 1877 officers from the six
organizations.
Admiral Leigh has advised the men,
bers of these six classes of the great
range of duty available for officers after
qualification at Pensacola, and he has
emphasized the fact that no officer may
expect to efficiently command in the
Navy as 1t exists today, and particularly
as indications point that 1t will be ex-
panded; who Is not familiar with the
principles of aircraft operation. In or
der to secure additional candidates for
aviation training. the Bureau Of Navi-
CATION has sent QUESTIONABLE to each
| member Of the six classes mentioned
above. A class Of 40 officers was con-
| vened at Pensacola on January 3, and
so selected officers will be convened at
that place on March %, 1929. If the
requirements Of the naval service are to
be met, 1t will be necessary to assign
| about 152 additional officers to duty at
, Pensacola under instruction in aviation
during the remainder of the year, and
this does not appear to be possible I'M
| less there Is a higher percentage of
volunteers from eligible officers, partlc-
ularly from the classes above named.
Practically the only promotions to the
| grade of lieutenant during the current
year will be to I'LL those vacancies Gre
ated by lieutenants leaving the grade on
account Of promotion, retirement, etc
The allowed number of lieutenants Is
a figure equal to 325 per cent of the
total line and equaled LISA In June,
| 1928. It is estimated that after the
graduation Of midshipmen in June the
total line strength viii be approximately
5,410 officers, and the 32.5 per cent ap-
piled % that total will fix the allowed
number Of lieutenants at about 1,758, an
increase of four over the present allow
ance. This increase combined with the
normal rate of separations from the
list would indicate that some IS lieu
tenants (junior grade) will, under the
present law, be promoted by July and
that probably an additional IS will be
due for promotion during the remainder
Of the year.
In connection with this estimate
however, another factor must be con-
sidered, and that is the probable enact
ment of the line personnel proposal
during this session of Congress. This
proposal increases the allowed number
manders, while decreasing the numbers
in the three lower grades. At present
the allowed number Of commanders and
lieutenant commanders Is 378 and 1856
respectively. These numbers will be in
creased to about 421 and 789. respec-
lively, Immediately upon the enactment
Of this personnel BILL and the number
in the lieutenant grade will be de-
creased to the extent Of about 176 num-
berS, and this excess must then be alb
sorbed before further promotions may
be made. The distribution fixing these
numbers will be based upon the total
number of officers in the line at the
date of approval Of the bill. a much
smaller number than was the case last
June. The 1929 Naval Academy gradu-
ating class viii then provide for a fur
Their increase of commanders and lieu
| tenant commanders to the extent Of,
approximately, IL and %, respectively.
and will absorb about IS OF the excess
number Of lieutenants. .....
Based upon the personnel bill, this
estimate indicates, then, the immediate
promotion of AZ lieutenant command
ers and rs lieutenants. with no promo
lions of lieutenants (junior grade). A
few additional promotions will be made
only to the two higher grades prior to
the June distribution, and at that time
II additional lieutenant commanders,
| "a additional lieutenantS and 5 lieuten-
ants (junior grade) will be promoted.
As this is being written, the Britten
perconnel bill has not been enacted into
law. but If it is placed on the statute
books, this estimate indicates q prob
able promotion Of some so lieutenants
Gunior grade) during the year.
Two classes of officers, each averag-
ing 40 and IS members, will be author
lied by the Navy Department to UNDER
60 the courses in submarine training.
each of which will be in operation for
about six months, and the instruction
in which will begin at the submarine
base, New London. Conn, in July OF
this year and in January, 1880. Only
those officers who have completed two
years of sea duty on July !, 1929 will
be eligible for this instruction, which
includes those graduates of the Naval
| Academy, class of 1927. Of1cers who
complete this course of instruction will
be assigned duty aboard submarines.
Those officers who will be selected to
undergo the July course in submarine
training will be detached from their
present assignments in June, while
those selected for the January class will
be designated in June, providing there
are suficient acceptable applicants at
that time. The latter group will be de-
tached from their present assignments
| during tho r,ariod frnn1 August tn he.