Evening star., 1936-08-30
Naval Reserve Officers
Fete Commander Crouter
Naval Inspector-Instructo Ordered to Air
plane Carrier Enterprise as Chief
Engineer.

talon commander, Lieut.. James Z.
Sullivan, includes o formal review on
Tuesday evening, September l, at
which Rear Admiral George Petten-
gill, U. 8. Navy. commandant Of the
Washington Navy Yard, will be the
inspecting officer and guest Of honor.
The review will be the first meeting
Of the battalion with their new COM
mandant since Admiral Pettengill re-
lieved Rear Admiral Joseph Defrees.
The drill schedule also includes .
new set-up Of class room instruction
for the Reserves, which will begin
operation next month. On compile
ton Of the plans the Washington
units expect to have the finest type
Of instruction in the country. This,
1t was said, will be made possible by
using many Of the volunteer Reserve
officers now drilling regularly with
the battalion staff.
1t Is expected that many Of these
officers will be used to instruct the
local Rcservists in their special lines
Volunteer Reserve officers, for the
most part. are commissioned In this
branch OF the service, not for sea
duty. but because their civilian occu-
pations peculiarly fit them for use
by the Navy in time Of war. How
ever. unlike these fleet officers, these
volunteer officers do not receive one
cent Of pay for the hours they put
in for this instruction Of others. or
any instruction they might seek to
Mt themselves to become better ofncers
In time Of war. Neither do they re-
ceive any encouragement In the way
Of allowing them to participate in the
annual cruises. to which the Fleet Re-
servists look forward each year with
pleasure.
The Navy Department fully realizes
the plight of these officers, but 1t
cannot aid them or give them the
duty with pay unless Congress pro-
vides suficient funds. At the same
time it realizes that they should re-
ceive At least some indoctrination
training. and has urged many Of them
to participate in the drills and exer-
cises of the fleet battalions and di-
visions in their respective areas. Many
of these officers, too, are graduates of
the Naval Academy and have been
enlisted for line duty, but they must
remain on the volunteer list until q
Fleet Reserve officers Is limited to
those authorized by the pay allow
ances Of Congress.
1t Is probable that the United
States Naval Reserve Officers Asso-
citation will make strong representa-
tions to the next Congress to make
some provision for paying these Of
ficers, and providing them with oppor-
tunities for sea duty. Not only are
these officers denied these opportuni-
ties, but also officers of the Merchant
Marine Naval Reserve The latter
are officers serving regularly on mer-
chant ships flying the United States
Flag. While they are familiar with
ordinary ship maneuvering and han
ding, it was pointed out that in time
OF war when these ships travel in
formation and under intricate sig
mailing the marine officers would be
handicapped without long course Of
training soon after they were called
into the regular service.
1t was said that a tour Of duty at
minimum of two weeks once in four
years would provide some training
but that 1t should be provided in
greater quantities. Otherwise, it was
said, the manning of the ships with
oncer personnel at the outbreak of
a war would be slowed down while
these officers were given a so-called
forced draft" training.