Evening star., 1933-12-31
INSPECTION DATE
FOR RESERVE SET
Citizen Sailors to Have An.
nuaI Tests Before u. S.
Board February II.

Every effort Of the divisions compos-
ing the lst Battalion, United States
Naval Reserves Of the District Of Co.
lumbia, will be bent during the next six
weeks toward making outstanding
marks at the annual inspection OF the
units to be conducted by the board Of
regular officers from the Navy Depart
ment here.
The commanding officer of the local
battalion received notice last week that
the inspection board would be here on
the night of February II. While the
various divisions drill on separate nights,
it was said that for the purpose OF the
inspection all units would be called in
on the night of February II.
It is probable this year, as last, that
the examinations will be required to go
through their PAGES with the equipment
available in the armory, in view OF the
fact that the training ships OF the neet
are still engaged on special service IN
connection with the Cuban dlfncultleS.
Prior to this, it had been the practlce
to order the destroyer Hamilton mere
for the inspections, so that the person.
mel could go through their drills aboard
ship. However it is probable that they
will make a better showing in the
armory this year. as all of their train
ing has been with the equipment there.
The vessel, it is said, is of little use Tor
INSPECTION purposes, unless it is ordered
here some weeks ahead OF the date set
for the tests, SO that the men may De-
come thoroughly familiar with the ap-
paratus aboard ship.
Furthermore, the personnel has not
had any shipboard training for more
than two years now, one time on &C
count of the governmental economy
program and last year on account OF
the development Of the troubles IN
Cuba, which resulted in call OF the
ships from the planned cruises, money
for which had been allowed by the
President.
However, there is a strong hope that
there will be ships available for the
cruises this Summer. There has been
some discussion of having the entire
fleet steam around to the Atlantic from
the west Coast next Summer Tor a
grand display. in which event the
Vessels probably will be kept here
during the training period. In that
event. it was indicated, enough shlpS
would be left on the West Coast Tor
the training of the reservists in that
area.
Detailed instructions for the annual
inspections have been received mere.
and It was said there is but little
change in those Of the previous year
However. the local battalion officers are
striving hard in their training WORK 10
overcome the unfavorable report which
was received last year and which re-
suited in a general shake-up IN the
officer personnel The report OF that
inspection is being closely examined
and special emphasis will be placed on
those training features with which the
board found fault last year.
There will be a comprehensive oalue
problem laid out for each olVlslon, ana
the officers and men are expected to
he so well trained that there will not be
a hitch from the time general quarters
is sounded until the order for cease
firing. ;. ..,,n
The petty officer personnel is being
piven special attention because ot. Ine
boards insistence on written examina-
tions for these men. Each petty ofncer
of each branch must know his duties
so well that he can pass satisfactory
examination for the others in the same
proup. The men to be examined WILL
be picked at random from each group.
Because of the shortage OF time lor
the inspection, it would be Impossible
for the board to give each a written
examination, so that 1t was determlneo
that a general idea OF the ethclency OF
the unit might be obtained by picking
certain men to take the written tests
If the man selected fails TO pass tle
examination the others Will be SO
marked, so that the local officers are
striving to have each man so well
trained that he can keep up the
standard for the organization.
The Infantry drill work will be sand
wiched in between the other drills, as
the inspection board requires certain
amount of this, which also lncluoes
wall scaling.
While no regular drill was scheduled
last week for the Communication he
serve Division, in order to MAINTAIN tne
percentage of intra- district contacts
Short informal drill over the air was
held Thursday evening.
The following message from Rear
Naval Bureau of Navigation, was plckeo
I'M bv the local reserve radio statlon
last week:
"The seasons greetings to all mem
hers of the Naval Reserve with WlSneS
for successful service in the national
defense in the new as in the present
The following message also was re-
ceived from Can't. John DoWneS, U. o.
NAVY. director of Naval Reserve person.
mel at the Navy Department:
Il wish you all Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year and trust the
Naval Reserve will prosper in 1884.
From the director of Naval Com
nunications came the following mes
sage:
"The director of Naval Communica,,
tions is greatly pleased to extend 10 al
members of the U. S. Naval Communl-
cation Reserve his very best wishes 1or
a Merry Christmas and a HAPPY new
Year. He further hopes that tne coH-
ing year will see general improvement
in business and employment conditions,
which will result in greater prosperity
for the officers and men VINO are oe-
voting their time so generously on a
voluntary basis to the activities OF the
Communication Reserve"
Some idea of the methods used by
reserve divisions in other parts OF the
country is given by statement pup
lished in the reserve bulletin from tne
division at Oakland, Calf.
mo time is wasted during drill nights
by division officers doing paper WORK,
the statement says. In one division
it is handled entirely by volunteer OIL
GERS. During the past year one d.
vision was repeatedly delinquent IN It's
paper work. For this and other reasons
the commanding officer and executive
officer were tra1 sferred to volunteer
status.
"All divisions have progressive course
of instruction prepared a year IN ad,
vance, The Engineers of the Oakland
division do not use note books The en-
tire division of Santa Cruz uses note
books, and the difference In results op-
tanned bv these two divisions is very
noticeable. The instruction of the men
of engineering ratings is divided into
1Cfr