Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-04-26

~ FFICERs and men Of the LIST
1 Battalion, United States
I Naval Reserve In the Dis
~ trict Of Columbia, have un-
dertaken q rigid training program
aboard the United States destroyer
Leary, which is at the Washington
Navy Yard to remain for approx
mately six weeks. During this period
the various divisions, under a program
outlined by Lieut.. James z. Sullivan,
commander Of the local battalion,
each division will be given one night
q week during which all of the usual
naval drills will be held aboard the
vessel to prena,a aneH for their an
nual Sup.y@s ,cruise. when the local
citizen -4iiors will 60 to a foreign
port.
While the first periods aboard the
ship were given over to the work of
familiaridng the men with the ship,
beginning tomorrow night the di-
visions will be grouped according to
ratings and will be required to per-
form all of the usual duties that
would be expected of them If they
were permanently attached to the
vessel. While the regular training
will be turned over to the division
members. members of the recruit class
will be taken aboard the vessel at
frequent intervals, so that these new
men will become familiar with life
aboard ship and be ready to 60 with
the divisions at the time the de-
stroyers sail on their annual training
cruises.
In arguing for the change in the
administrative plan at the Navy De-
partment looking to placing Reserve
activities under an Assistant Secre-
tary Of the Navy for Reserve, Capt.
Leo w. Hesselman, president Of the
United States Naval Reserve Officers
Association, gave some of the history
back Of the present Reserve plan.
I'm 1915, after the naval militia
had been in operation for q years,
the Navy Department took steps look
ing toward the liberalization Of the
naval militias of such States as pos
sessed them. A force of approx
mately $4,000 officers and men was
then provided in anticipation Of our
participation in the World War. This
force was Federalized and known as
the National Naval Volunteers-and
for which force the department pre-
scribed the professional and physical
requirements. Between 1868
naval reserve force Of about $4,000
officers and men was created, equip
ped and mobilized-demobilized after
the World War and in 1921 was prac-
tically extinguished. We are told the
Regular Navy acquired approximately
$4,000, 900 by it. In 1925 the present
Naval Reserve act was passed by Con-
gress, creating a Naval Reserve con-
sisting of three general classes, viz:
Fleet, volunteer and merchant ma
rine, but Of no designated strength.
This law is very brief and delegates
much power to the Secretary Of the
Navy. The civilian components Of the
Fleet Reserve are organized into
divisions and aviation squadrons Of
about 5000 men and 1900 oficers in
all. All other classes Of the Reserves
get practically no training duty,
practical instruction or compensation,
and, by limitation of rank, promotion
is stagrated and much desirable ofiicer
material Is thereby excluded. There is
almost no promotion under existing
law beyond the grade Of Lieutenant
commander.
AS a matter of information. the
existing Naval Reserve of the United
States is administered by a captain
of the Navy attached to one of the
bureaus of the department. The
tenure Of office of this director of
Naval Reserve personnel is usually an
uncertain. indefinite, and generally
speaking a very short period Of time
As q matter of fact, in the 10 years
under which this law has been efiec-
tive the average period of duty in this
dictatorship has averaged little more
than q year; hence there are many
changes in policy due to personal
idiosyncracies, and there is not that
continuity Of administrative policy
which Is desirable and which Is OBJ
tanned under the Army policy. As an
illustration Of the thought desired to
convey, we would say that the director
of the Naval Reserve personnel would
be largely instrumental in the forlnu-
lating Of plans and advising his
superiors and Congress in connection
with fixing the number, compensation
and classes of the Naval Reserve.
"Of course, one of the most essen
tial matters in the administration of
the Reserve force is the procurement
of funds from Congress, and in this
connection it is respectfully submitted
that the existing system. which pro-
vides no official of sufficient legal au-
thority to properly present financial
needs Of the Reserve to the proper
budget authorities. it is exceedingly
unsatisfactory. 1t goes without say
ing that until this situation is cor
rected there is bound to be a sacri-
fetal goat. when the assignment of
priority of limited funds is under con-
sideration.
1T may be said that the United
States naval policy advocates in its
first item of general policy, the crea-
ton. maintenance, and operation of
a Navy second to none in conformity
with treaty provisions, to maintain
definite system of progressive edu-
cation and training for Navy person.
mel. and to encourage civil industries
and activities useful in war. AS a
matter of fleet operating policy. it
declares-to maintain vessels assigned
reserves in condition for active serv-
ice and also to assign suitable YES
sells for training naval reseryists.' I'm