Evening star., 1935-02-24
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

Proposal to change the method Of
appointing young men to the United
States Military Academy at West Point
and the Naval Academy at Annapolis,
so as to require one years service as
an enlisted man before any youth
would be eligible for appointment, re-
ceived very serious consideration dur
ing the past week by the Military AZ
fairs Committee Of the House. It was
disclosed that both Chairman Vinson
of the Naval Affairs Committee and
Chairman McSwain of the Military At
fairs Committee are In favor OF the
proposed change Several members OF
the latter committee complained that
all that candidates for these two serv-
ice academies want Is q free education
in engineering and that they will take
either branch Of the service they can
make and have no intention Of max
ing a career in either the Army or
Navy.
The suggestion was voiced by Repre-
sentative John H. Hoeppel Of Califor-
mia, who claims to be graduate OF
the university Of hard knocks" and
who served In the Army 20 years as an
enlisted man and 20 months as an
officer. He saw service both in the
Spanish American and World wars
Rather than burden the retired list oi
the service with large number OF
officers. the possibilities should be con-
sidered, Hoeppel said, OF obtaining aoe-
quate national defense without unoue
taxation. He argued that at least 81
per cent. If not all. Of the appoint
mentS to West Point and Annapolis be
made from selections within the en-
listed ranks. Designation for appoint
ments, he said, could be made by mem
bers Of Congress from selected group
of 10 to 20 candidates whom eacn
CONGRESSMAN would be called upon tc
nominate for one-year enlistment II
the Army or Navy. At the end OF each
year competitive examinations could
be held of each Of these groups, with
selection from the three highest for
appointment to Annapolis or West
Point.
with a procedure Of this kind, Mr.
Hoeppel urged, only the most deserv-
ing and apt would be eligible for a
subsequent four years training at the
service academies, from which they
should emerge as unusually qualifled
officers, with an experience Of ines
tin,able value based on their previous
enlistment. This would democratize
and popularize the Army and Navy,
he told his colleagues. Every high
school, college and university in each
congressional district would gladly fur
nish a list Of qualified applicants for
such enlisted training and subsequent
consideration for entry to West Point
or Annapolis. Enlisted men failing to
secure appointment to the academies,
might be re-enlisted for an additional
year for special training along the
lines Of the Plattsburg officers train
ing course. to qualify these young men
for commission In the Reserve Corps.
As an incentive for graduates OF
high schools, colleges and universities
to remain in the enlisted service for q
second year for this special reserve
training, a substantial increase in
compensation was suggested.
Only the most virile, apt and quail
fed young men would thus be selected
for appointment to the service acad-
em;es, Mr.. Hoeppel pointed out. The
1000 or more outstanding American
youths In this category, each year ab-
sorbing a special one-years course of
training to qualify them as Reserve
officers, would add to the efficiency
of the officer personnel and would
give to the service q constantly re-
curing officer personnel whose activi-
ties In the interest of defense could
be anticipated over period Of at least
80 years, without subjecting the coun-
try to an inordinate retirement burden
as would occur If additional officer
personnel is absorbed into the regular
establishments.