Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-09-22

HClC 10 Ilctui however, 10 raise L1e
level of efficiency Of part of the officer
personnel through indoctrination,
cruise and armory training. cor
respondence courses and assistance of
instructors and the Naval District per-
sonnet.
"A general improvement in armory
facilities continues. During the past
year several units have acquired ex-
cellent armories, in most cases by the
use Of local relief funds acquired as
a result Of the initiative Of members
Of the Reserve. There are still many
units. however, housed in crowded and
| otherwise inadequate and unsuitable
buildings. 1t l. believed that, with
the proper degree Of energy and mi
tiative Oh the part Of the senior Re-
servists in these localities, local relief
| funds might be procured Tor the cree
| ton Of suitable armorieS at most Of
| these places. 1t is TO be regretted
that the present golden opportunity
is not being grasped in all cases. This
| is but another instance of the value
of local connections with civic in
terests on the part of Reservists.
Much ingenuity has been shown
| in providing material for drill and
instruction purposes. Many units are,
| however, still inadequately supplied
The vessels assigned for train
ing duty on the Great Lakes are not
suitable in that none of them are
equipped with turbine drive or up-to-
date boiler installations. No guns are
on board, hence no actual firing takes
| place.
'Forty-one divisions failed to main
tain efficiency, in that less than rs
per cent of the division made the
cruise. Four divisions failed to main
tain efficiency as prescribed in that
average drill attendance for the year
was less than rs per cent. OF the
above, two divisions we're below re-
quirementS in both number making
the cruise and drill attendance. One
division had less than the required
40 FL men at inspection.
Naval Reserve aviation has bene-
flied considerably by the restoration
of a 45-hour annual syllabus of flight
training. The manner of carrying out
the prescribed flight syllabus and the
flight demonstrations which made up
a part of each inspection program in
dicates high order Of proficiency
( The Reserve aviators demonstrated
that, within mandatory lmita tons,
they are exceptionally well trained in
the naval use Of aircraft.
In the past year there has been
noticeable improvement in the or
/ ganized ground training of both Off
/ GERS and men in theory and practice
( This condition has been reflected Dy
the higher marks made by the officers
upon practical examination in aerial
navigation and radio and by the
men upon examination in the techni-
cal duties of their ratings. A highe!
percentage Of officers is now enrolled
+ in the Bureau of Navigation CORE
spondence courses than ever before
Similarly, a higher percentage Of men
is taking the Bureau of Navigation
training courses. There still is OPP
portunity for improvement along this
line.
Many material Improvements have
been accomplished at the N.,rious
Naval Reserve aviation bases. These
/ Improvements have been the result of
/ initiative. intelligent imagination, and
constructive planning on the part OF
/ permanent personnel, in most cases
assisted by the local relief labor One
{ h1n inc ct
Reserve Aviation Base. Squantum.
Mass, where, with the assistance of
relief labor and LEGAL support, an un-
suitable, small field has been enlarged
/ seaWal constructed to prevent wash
out and excessive flooding. buildings
improved and enlarged to meet pres
ent needs and more nearly meet pro-
jected potential requirements. SINH
larly, at other bases many material
Improvements have been effected
which contribute toward safety in
operation. facility of overhaul and
maintenance of aircraft, and progress
Sive training.
Naval Reserve aviation is an eff
cient organization and the board con-
ours with the findings of the Federal
Aviation: Commission in respect to this
element of the national defense:
The Navy Aviation Reserve has
what seems to us an admirable organ
ization of such a Reserve in its 81
Fleet Reserve Squadrons. numbering
Isl officer pilots, and organized to fly
as a unit for some As hours year in
the fulfillment of a syllabus of mill
tary exercises drawn up by the Navy
Department and to put in a sub
Stantial amount of additional practice
under the direction of the unit COM
mander. These organizations seem to
be close to the ideal of military readi-
ness. The specific need here seems to
be for additional funds for Reserve
purposes.
The aviation cadet program now
being undertaken will in four years
begin to provide the inactive Reserve
with suitable numbers of we'll trained
officers to bring the officer strength
of the Aviation Reserve up to re-
quirements. This group of officers is
the most important component of an
expanded organization. But il is als0
important that Reserve enlisted men.
in numbers commensurate with the
numbers of Reserve Aviation officers
now undergoing training or to be
trained, be secured. drilled and
trained in aviation duties so that the
training of both officers and men will
go forward in an orderly manner and
in appropriate numerical ratio. 1t is
suggested that the best results will
obtain if the enlisted strength re-
quired, say 10 years hence, be built
up by equal annual increments. The
first increment of increase should be
authorized as soon as practicable in
order to be Selective and to encourage
W. men to attend drills voluntarily
and compete for selection"