Evening star., 1933-07-16
y. c.. Naval Reserve

Authority has been received from the
Navy Department by the commandant
of the Washington Navy Yard to give
the 1st Battalion, United States Naval
Reserves of the District of Columbia,
10 paid drills, up to the north of De-
cember. While it is believed that the
local citizen sailors will receive more
paid drills than this during the fiscal
year. it is probable that the Navy De-
partment is awaiting a further ex-
animation CT its appropriations to de-
ternine just how the money is to be
given out in drills.
The Naval ReserviS1s, it was said,
have been led to understand that they
will receive as many paid drills during
the year as the National Guard, and
for that reason are very hopeful that
these will be increased as the year goss
on. The War Department has an
nounced that the land Militia will re-
ceive 36 drills during the year, as
against the usual 48 On the other
hand. the Militia officers have decided
that 48 drills are essential to proper
maintenance of fitness of the National
Guard and therefore they will con-
tribute the other II drills free.
Since the order WIS issued several
months ago suSpendIng drills and
even before it was known that funds
would be available for any paid drills,
the members of the local battalion have
shown keen interest i'll their training
work, turning out for drill in as large
numbers as when they were paid for
each nights work. Every effort is be-
ing made by the Reserve officers not
only in this city, but in the country as
a whole, to keep up the morale of the
organization in the face of cuts in
funds
The letter from the Navy Depart
ment said that there would be no paid
drills this month; two paid drills il
both August and September, and three
such in October and November. The
Reserve usually drills once a week and
this practice will be kept up, the men
volunteering their services on two
nights of each month.
In connection with the cruises, which
again have been authorized, the Navy
Department has issued instructions that
all members of fleet divisions shall per-
form their required annual training
duty with the division to which at
tached, except that medical and sup
ply officers, who should net, ss a rule,
the department says, be sent on de-
stroyer cruises unless there is no other
suitable duty available for them and
their presence on board will Lot deprive
any line officer of an opportunity to
cruise on board destroyer.
Members of the battalion staff should,
wherever practicable, be cruised with
those fleet divisions of the battalion
with which they can be accommodated,
except that line officers above the rank
of lieutenant, not attached to feet di-
. visions, should preferably be given
training duty afloat on vessels other
than deStroyerS, or at periods other
than during the division cruises.
The department announced that it is
not desired to cruise recently culisted
recruits nor other enlisted Reservists
who have failed to maintain active in
terest in the organization to which at
tached. AS rule, it was explained, no
enlisted man should be permitted to
cruise unless he has attended a mini
mum of IL drills during the six months
Immediately preceding the cruise. Each
division is to be in charge of an Of
ficer form the time of leaving the
armory until the time of reporting on
BOARD and from the time of debarking
until the division is dismissed at its
armory. at the end of the cruise.
The department said that it is desired
that the examinations of enlisted men
for advancements in rating be cen
Quoted during the last few days Of each
cruise. Only tnOSe men, IL was eA-
planned should be examined who are
due for advancement. or who will be-
come due during the next six months
and for whom there are vacancies in
the pay-grade quotas Of the divisions
and who have completed the prescribed
rating course.
For the information of the Bureau
of Navigation and to aid the Naval Re-
serve Inspection Board in determining
the efficiency of the various fleet units
each vessel will be required to submit
comprehensive report cn each unit. In
order that the information may be
available to the Naval Reserve Inspec-
ton Board before the annual inspec-
tions are started in the Fall these re-
ports are to be made out as soon as
practicable after the completion of the
Summer cruise.
In order that proper marks can be
given the department said that it IS
desired that Reserve members be re-
quired to stand regular watches and
perform regular duties and not merely
be assigned as observers to watch how
members Of the regular crews perform
their cuties.