Evening star., 1934-07-08

THROUGH the ESTABLISHMENT Oh
new policy by the Naval
Examining Board, officers Of
Il the United States Naval Re-
serve who are ordered up for
promotion may escape examinations IN
navigation and engineering provided
they have successfully passed certain
correspondence courses provided by
the Navy Department. Generally, the
officers must have completed the eX
aminationS within two years of the
date they are ordered up for promo
ton. but the board will take each in
dividual case into consideration. and
may, if it sees fit, extend the period
longer than two years.
,-iie Bureau OF Navigation some time
ago provided that the satisfactory
completion. in present grade, of the
Naval Reserve correspondence courses
in any subject, may be accepted by the
Examining Board as establishing the
candidates qualification therein with
out further questions on the subject.
The most recent circular letter on the
subject fixes the limits during which
examinations will be passed over on
certain subjects, and specifies the
courses for each grade.
The letter says that the satisfactory
completion Of the navigation B. cor
respondence course by candidates for
the grades of ensign and lieutenant,
Junior grade. and the satisfactory COM
pletion of navigation "A and b
courses by candidates for the grades
u ,nNNln n
er, may be considered as establishing
such Naval Reserve officers qualifica-
ton in navigation in lieu OF eXamlna-
ton for appointment, promotion or
transfer; provided that the individual
has completed the course or courses
with a final mark of not less than 3.4
and within two years prior to this
date of examination for such appoint
ment. promotion or transfer.
The satisfactory completion in pres
ent grade of the Naval Reserve cor
respondence course in engineering with
n mark of not less than "a and within
a period of two years prior to the date
of examination for appointment, pro-
motion or transfer may be accepted
bv the Examining Board as establish
ing the candidates qualification there
in without further questions on the
subject.
1t is pointed out in the letter that
although the president of the Naval
Examining Board is of the opinion
that a period of two years should be
the limit of time subsequent to COM
pletion of such courses, during Whlch
they would be accepted in lieu of eX-
animation for promotion or transfer
the board may, in the cases OF those
already having completed one or both
courses more than two years prior to
their examination, be disposed to con-
slider them qualified, depending on the
circumstances in each individual case
The only courses which the Naval
Examining Board will consider giving
credit for are the navigation and en-
eineering courses, as they are consid-
cred sufficiently comprehensive to
cover the requirements of an exami-
nation.
The letter says that when notified
that he is due for examination for the
above purpose by certain date. each
officer who has met the foregoing re-
quirements will be advised whether or
not he may expect to be examined in
navigation and engineering within the
specified time limit
1t is expected that the departments
most recent order will have the effect
of encouraging more officers to take
advantage of the NaVy's correspond
ence system of education. The COM
pletion of a course successfully will
save an officer considerable time in
examination at the time he is ordered
up for promotion. The new system is
expected to materially aid volunteer
Reserve officers who are not constant
ly working with the matters which
are subject of examination, and will
serve to keep them in high state of
training at all times if they take the
courses.
All divisions of the battalion we're
modified last Monday night for the
purpose of passing through the quar-
terly inspection by Lieut.. Comdr. F.
w. Benson, U. S. N, officer in charge
of Naval Reserve affairs here Drills
for the divisions which usually meet
on Tuesdays and Wednesdays were
suspended.
1t was the first time that the bat
talon was inspected as a unit by
Comdr. Benson since his arrival here.
Under orders Just issued by the
Navy Department, squadron COM
nanders of Naval Reserve aviation