Evening star., 1936-08-23

It's student pilots who do not win col
missions In the Air Reserve, extended
active duty as Reserve officers and
discharges from active duty with cash
bonuses Of $500 each and training
sufiicient to qualify them for Com
merce Department transport licenses
and scheduled air transport ratings.
The last two classes Of students en-
tering the Air Corps Training Center
at Randolph Field. Tex, have been
below the authorized quotas. AL
though the center is authorized to
take in $50 qualified candidates for
training each four months. the March
class numbered only go men and
the July / class just little more
than 100. Efforts now are being made
to build up future classes to the
full quota of $50 so that full flow
of trained pilots into the military
squadrons may be assured.
The new legislation is expected
to correct two of the outstanding con-
ditions which contributed to the short
age. The first of these was rule
requiring flying cadet to serve an
additional year after graduating from
the Training Center as a flying cadet
with a tactical unit Of the Air Corps
before he became eligible for his COM
mission as a second lieutenant in the
Air Reserve. The second was that
under the previous training program
hundreds Of qualified candidates could
not be accommodated.
The new legislation provided that
Training Center graduates shall be
given reserve commissions Immediately
upon qualifying as airplane pilots, At
the close Of their year Of training.
It provides for three years Of active
| duty with Air Corps tactical units as
a second lieutenant. After completing
these three years Of active duty the
Reserve oficer has the option OF ac-
cepting his discharge and bonus OF
$500, in addition to all accrued pay
and allowances, or of continuing on
active duty for another two years in
the grade of first lieutenant. provided
sufficient vacancies exist. Upon ter
mination OF this additional two years
Of duty the officer receives his $500
bonus.
The new law also provides for an
increase from 500 to $50 in the num-
Der of Reserve officers who may be
detailed to active flying duty at one
time.
Second lieutenantS who retire at the
end of their year of training and
three years Of active duty do so with
the Necessary 1900 hours Of day and
night flying time and the required
instrument flight training to qualify
them not only for the civil transport
license of the Commerce Department,
but also for the even more rigid sched-
uled air transport rating necessary
before they can qualify for air trans
port service.
Funds for carrying the new legis-
lative program into full operation are
expected to be provided by Congress
for the next fiscal year, beginning
next July /, and will apply in the case
Of students now enrolling for the
Training Center.
The Training Center Is the avenue
to commissions in the Regular Army
for many graduates. From the ranks
of the graduates have come 327 Of
ficers Of the Regular Army Air Corps.
Fifty-two of these officers received
their permanent commissions during
the last year. New legislation pro-
vides for the commissioning in the
Regular Army of so Reserve officers
each year, the Air Corps getting its
snare of these new officers.
Candidates for Army aviation train
ing should apply to the commanding
general Of the corps area in which
they live or directly to the chief Of the
Army Air Corps in Washington. Cam
didates must be unmarried and be-
tween the ages Of 20 and 27 years at
the date of enlistment. The applicant
must either present a certificate from
the registrar of a recognized college
or university showing that he has re-
ceived one-half or more of the neces-
sary credits for a degree which nor
mally requires four years Of work. cor
he must pass an examination to DEM
onstrate that he possesses the educa-
tional equivalent of this requirement.
He must be able to pass the rigid
physical examination for flight train
ing.
While undergoing training as a n.y.
ing cadet at Randolph Field the stu
dent receives SIS a month pay and a
ration allowance of 81 per day. Uni
forms and equipment are supplied by
the Government without cost to the
student. Transportation is paid by the
Government from point Of enlistment
to the training center and back to
point of enlistment upon discharge
from active duty.
The course at the training center
includes a thorough ground course in
airplane engines, theory of flight,
radio, gunnery, air navigation, meteor
ology, airplane maintenance and al
lied subjects, military indoctrination
and military training to equip the stu
dent for his place as an officer in the
Army. The ground and flight courses
are rated as among the finest in the
world and trained and experienced
Army pilots are acceptable to COM
mercial aviation.
The physical plant at Randolph
Field is one of the finest in the world,
with the most up-to-date facilities
Of all kinds. Recreational and sports
facilities also are unusually complete.
The cadets have their own club in
San Antonio, through aff1liation with
one of the best clubs in the city.
While the Army is striving to build
up its military aviation personnel, it
also Is confronted with the urgent
necessity of building up its combat
airplane strength. The shortage OF
military airplanes for the Air Corps,
long recognized in aviation circles as
a major problem in national defense.
is the subject Of strongly worded
editorial in the August issue OF the
National Aeronautic Magazine, house
organ of the National Aeronautic
| Association.
Utter indifference characterizes
the Nations air defense" it Is stated.