Evening star., 1936-08-16

" " minds after two weeks OF
active cruising at sea,
members of the Fleet Naval Reserve
have returned to their armory, and
last week actively began the armory
training which will lead to the an
nual inspections, to be held soon
after the first Of the year. These
men of the active Naval Reserve
have had full opportunity to get first
hand knowledge of what their duties
require in time of q national emer-
gency which might call them to the
colors. All of them. upon their re-
turn, expressed themselves as having
enjoyed the training cruise. The
cruise is considered one of the bene-
fits of being active with the Fleet Re-
serve, within the scope of the limited
complement allowed by the Navy
Department.
But here and throughout the coun-
try there are officers and men who
drill actively with the Fleet Reservists
who get all Of the work and study
requirements. but get none Of the
benefits, such as pay for drills or
even an opportunity to take an an
nual cruise with pay.
These are the members Of the
Volunteer Naval Reserve, officers and
men who would be subject to the
same orders to colors as the Fleet
Reservists in time of emergency.
This large corps of officers and men
is made up of specialists, men whose
civil duties fit them to certain eX-
tent to fill need in the Navy in time
of war. But all they get is the honor
of the appointment and the privilege
of paying their own expenses if an
opportunity affords itself for them
to 60 to sea. Yet, it was pointed out
that the Navy Department expects
them to put in long hours of study on
naval correspondence courses to ac-
quaint themselves with naval pro-
cedure, although they may never,
prior to being called into the service.
have an opportunity to practically
test out their theories by service with
| the feet.
Many of these officers and men
voluntarily drill each week with the
members of the Fleet Reserve, in the
hope that vacancy might occur in
the commissioned or enlisted ranks
which they will be given the oppor-
| tunity to fill. Sometimes the oppor-
tunity arrives, but it is not often.
Although the Fleet Reservists receive
pay for this service, the volunteers
receive nothing.
1t is probable that the status of
these men will be pressed during the
coming year by the United States
Naval Reserve Officers Association,
with a view to having Congress pro-
vide funds with which they might
be given a tour of duty at sea, which
would materially improve their tlain-
ing. Many of them would like to
| take advantage of opportunities which
are offered from time r. time. by
the Navy Department for Them to
| take cruises, but the offer has a
! string to it. The men must not only
pay their transportation expenses to
and from the port of embarkation,
but must pay their mess expenses
aboard ship. 1t was poin ed out
that many Of them are those who
must make living and cannot afford
to bear this expense for the benefit
Of the Government.
The members Of the Fleet Reserve
received the pay Of their respective
ranks and ratings while on active
duty, and efforts have been made in
the past to have Congress provide
funds to give these officers and men
cruise with pay at least Cnce every
four years-that would be one cruise
per enrolment. Some of the officers,
of course, it was pointed out, would
not benefit by a voyage at sea aboard
an active ship of the feet, as their
special duties would be largely on
shore in time of war. This would
include such specialists as lawyers
assigned to the Judge Advocate Gen
erals Department, newspaper men as
signed to the Intelligence Bureau,
civil engineers, etc. However. 1t was
asserted that even these officers should
be given tour of duty either in
the department here or in the head
quarters of the naval districts WLere
they would receive practical nstruc-
ton in the duties which they would
be expected to perform in time of war.
1t was added that many officers in
this class are so situated tnat they
can afford to take voyages offered
them under the present conditions.
That is, they can afford to lose the
pay of their civilian employment for
the period they are away and also
pay their expenses. In The case Of