Evening star., 1936-01-05
Naval Reserve Battalion
To Drill as Unit This Year
Board of Officers Appointed by Lieut.. ]. E.
Sullivan to Study Plans
for Expansion.

limited capacity and men each week
end during the Summer have TO be
turned away because of the limita-
tions. 1t was pointed out that II q
destroyer or other vessel of similar
size were assigned here there would
be enough volunteers each week end
to man her for a cruise and con-
siderable more training experience
could be obtained aboard a vessel of
this type than aboard the launch.
The engine room forces would profit
considerably from this practical work
as there are many details to be
mastered in the operation of a de.
stroyer below decks.
Even after the withdrawal of the
destroyer assigned here several years
ago the Navy formulated a plan Of
sending one of the training squadron
destroyers here for a period of sew.
eral weeks each year so that the off,
GERS and men could use her for drill
purposes, but this practice has been
withdrawn and the only training the
men now receive is in the armory.
Furthermore. the launch assigned
here has to be hauled out of the water
each Fall to protect it from the ice
in the Anacostia River. This would
not have to be done in the case of a
destroyer assigned here, and a vessel
OF this type could make weekend
trips throughout the Winter armory
season, the same as ships of the Reg
ular establishment in full commission
are operated.
Although the Navy has many de-
stroyers tied up in various navy yards,
1t was pointed out that for many of
the Reserve units it would be better to
construct a special type of vessel,
which would be more economical to
operate and which would be a real
investment by providing better train
ing facilities for the Reserves at
smaller cost.
OF course, the assignment of ves-
sells involves a considerable outlay of
funds as they would have to have a
skeleton crew Of shipkeepers to stay
aboard the vessel for maintenance and
protection purposes when the Reserves
were not actually using her. There
would be fuel consumption during the
Winter months, even while tied along
side the dock, as the water lines would
have to be protected from freezing.
If Congress could be prevailed upon
to provide additional funds for the
training and drilling of the Reserves,
it was said, the Navy very likely would
be willing to assign ships. They are
liability now, as crews of men have
to be kept at the navy yards to be
constantly going over them to main.
tain them in condition and to lessen
as much as possible the deterioration
forced on them by time and the ele.
mentS.
However. if Congress could be pre-
vailed upon to provide the funds for
the Reserves, it would relieve the
naval appropriations to some extent
and at the same time keep the vessel
in better condition for service than
as they are out of commission. 1t
was pointed out by those familiar with
the operation of naval vessels that
incorporation deteriorates a vessel
faster than when operating even on
part-time service.
Reports of educational activities Of
the battalion for the quarter ended
December 81, reveal that the number
Of men taking educational courses has
increased. The educational training
Of the unit now is following a new
program which was introduced some
weeks ago.
The feet officers of the battalion
and the volunteer officers actively as
sociated with the battalion and their
ladies were guests Of Capt. and Mrs.
John A. Scof1eld at their residence
last Sunday afternoon. Capt. Scofield.
who at one time commanded the bat
talon here. now is on active duty in
the Bureau of Navigation, Navy De-
partment.
With the coming of the new year
the officers and men of the local bat
talon are directing their drills and
other preparations for the annual in
spection by board of officers from
the Navy Department.
The inspection is to be held in the
Spring and, while it is three or four
months distant, nevertheless the fact
that there is only one drill night each
week leaves but little time to make
preparations. Every effort is being
made to perfect the drills and training
facilities so that each of the three di-
visions and the battalion as a whole
will receive higher marks this year
than ever before, but the competition
throughout the country is likely to be
very keen.
Considerable attention is to be given
to classroom instruction and to the
petty officer training, as the board
has inaugurated a policy Of giving
written examinations to petty officers
to ascertain how well they know the
special line which they have selected
for their naval duties. 1t means that
every petty officer must be trained to
top-notch. as the board does not un-
dertake to examine each man. It
takes one Of group Of specialists and
gives him the written examination, so
that the marks received by that man
gives the whole group its mark The
selection Of the man from the group
is made by the board and not by the
battalion officers Thus the latter
cannot pick their best man to repre-
sent the battalion in the written tests.
KNIGHTS 0E pVTuTAc