Evening star., 1936-03-22
DUNG members OF the lst
Battalion, United States Naval

Reserve in the District of COL
umbia, who are seeking to
enter the United States Naval Academy
at Annapolis by way of the Naval
Reserve, which Is allowed Is appoint
mef1ts year, were the subject of
special address during the drill period
last week, by Lieut.. James e. Sullivan,
commanding the organization, and
q graduate of the naval school.
He pointed out the value Of hard
work, maximum Of courtesy and par
ticipation In extra-curricular activities
for those who receive the appoint
ments as midshipmen. Recalling his
own experience at the academy, the
battalion commander explained to the
candidates how their respective class
standing at the academy determines
the time Of their promotion to higher
rank after receiving commissions in
the regular service.
1t was pointed out the local bat
talon this year has had the largest
class Of candidates for appointment
in its history, the group numbering
more than 80 men. Many of them
who are Unlisted in the Naval Reserve
an apprentice seaman before July of
the year preceding the one in which
they plan to take the examinations,
are transfers from other naval dis
riots who have come to Washington
to round out their studies in the local
preparatory schools. Annually, the
Naval Reserve sends the 25 highest
ranking men in the examinations to
the academy as midshipmen. Candi-
dates are required to complete at
least 81 regular drills with their as
signed divisions, pass severe physical
test, and have the recommendation
Of their commanding officers in order
to be eligible in the competition A
number Of the candidates now drilling
with the local battalion have since
secured congressional or presidential
appointments to the academy. but are
continuing their drills in order to
magnify their experience before enter
ing the academy.
The three fleet divisions of the bat
talon are working at high pitch in
preparation for the annual inspection
on April l3. Since January. when the
three divisions began drilling as a
battalion on Tuesday nights, the bat
talon has presented a series of inspec-
tions, duplicating the annual inspec-
ton as prescribed by the Naval
Reserve Inspection Board at which
various naval officers and distinguished
citizens have been the ranking guests
and inspecting officers. The last of
these reviews before the inspection
will be held on March 81.
Rear Admiral Joseph r. Defrees.
commandant of the Washington Navy
Yard, will be inspecting officer at this
drill 1t is probable that this drill will
be the last which Admiral Defrees will
see in Washington since he has re-
ceived orders detaching him from
duty here early in June.
Following the inspection the U. S.
destroyer Leary will tie up at the
Washington Navy Yard TO be used for
training the three divisions prior to
the annual ira. g cruise late in July
Beginning April 20 the battalion will
again separate into divisions and hold
drills aboard the Leary on Monday,
Tuesday and Wednesday evenings of
each week. The First Fleet Division
will drill on Monday the second on
Tuesday and the third on Wednesday
The recruit detail will drill on Mon
day nights.
Battalion officers have revealed
there is very good chance that the
Navy Department will allol, the feet
divisions to cruise with either rs or
Sc men in place Of the 56 men now
allowed as division strength. This news
has created great amount OF interest
among the volunteer enlisted men OF
the battalion and also the recruits.
Orders issued by the battalion COM
mander indicate that limited num-
ber of recruits will be considered for
enlistment to fill the increase in
allowance expected for each division.
Interested men, who are more than
II years old and under %, should
report to the recruiting officer at
the Naval Reserve Armory on the
Eleventh street side of the Navy
Yard, on any Tuesday drill night
at O'Clock. Men under 81 years of
age will be required to furnish parental
consent in writing, if accepted for
enlistment.
The local Examining Board is work.
ing on advancement of ratings among
the enlisted personnel. Advancements
are being reviewed as the men are
qualified under the Bureau Of Navi-
CATION training courses and as vacan-
cies develop. Platoon officers are
anxious to complete as many ad-
vancementS as possible before the
training cruise, as they will mean in
creased pay and allowances for the
men. The training cruise this year is
scheduled to go to the West Indies.
Deck officers of the battalion were
tempted to order out the small boats
at the drill last week as the heavy
rains flowed through the roof of the
drill hall. The battalion has only a
small iean-to drill hall in which to
carry out its training activities. Heavy
SHOWS last Winter have broken
through a number of the timbers.
Ensign c. B. Weber has reported
for training duty with the battalion
and has been assigned to the I'd
Fleet Division, as assistant to the
engineering officer of that division.
Efforts are being made by the
Naval Communications Reserve Divi-
sion, commanded by Lieut.. j. H.
Nicholson, to recruit the division to
full strength. 1t will lose its standing
of second place in the national COM
netition this quarter unless five new