Evening star., 1933-09-24

A new system has been inaugurated
to keep the petty oh1cer personne! OF
the Naval Reserve up to ngn state
of efficiency, and this consists OF
periodical examinations of these en-
listed men to determine whether they
are thoroughly familiar with the outles
of their particular ratings.
While officer personnel Is required 10
submit to periodical examinations on
professional subjects in connection with
their naval work, the petty officers
have usually been free from such ex-
aminations after they were promoted
except in cases of further promotion.
Their knowledge of their duties has
been taken az matter Of course. How
ever. this has all been changed, and the
Navy Department has issued instruc-
tions that all petty officers in each
organization must be examined quar-
terly by the regular Navy Inspector
instructor assigned to the organization.
A portion of the examination will be
written, while another portion will con-
sist of practical demonstration of his
knowledge of his duties by each petty
officer.
The first of these quarterly exami
nations now is being conducted in the
1st Battalion of the local Reserves.
later just what the results of the first
examination have shown, but it was
indicated that no man will be disrated
by his failure to come up to the de-
partment's standard as result of this
first examination The first tests will
serve to show to the men now rated
what the department expects Of them
and they will have three months to
study their various duties before the
next examination. However. it is be-
Ieved that it, on subsequent eXamina-
tions, any particular man shows that
he cannot maintain the standard he
will be disrated and his place filled by
another who is able to keep up to the
requirements.
Schools are provided for the petty
officers, but it was pointed out that
in some cases many of them have held
their rates for years and before the re-
u,nrementS became so severe, and they
have spent little time In trying to keep
up with the duties. However, 1t was
pointed out that those In this class
must give more time to their naval
work in study and school work.
In additional to the regular classes
held on drill nights. 1t was pointed out
that the Navy Department provides
correspondence courses both for Of
expected to aid materially in improv-
ing the abilities of the men who are
sufficiently interested in the naval
training to give their time to it. If
they do not take the time to study for
the examinations, then they are likely
to find themselves without a rate or
transferred to the volunteer class.
The new order is understood 70
have been the result of written tests
conducted of petty officer personnel
during the annual inspections through
out the country last year. The tests
were declared by the board to be any
thing but satisfactory, and it was
determined to have periodical tests
conducted by the inspectors instructors.
However. the Regular Navy Inspec-
tion Board will conduct written tests
during the coming inspections, but it
was indicated that all petty officers
will not be examined. They will pick
officers at random from the ranks Ct
the Reserve and the result will depend
on the ability of the men picked 20
uphold the marking for the entire bat
TALON Therefore, it was pointed cut
that it is necessary for every petty
officer to know his duties and work
thoroughly, as the picking of laggard