Evening star., 1937-01-03
RESERVE AWAITS
RESULT OF TESTS
Winning Division Expected
to Be Announced
This Week.

OmcerS ana men OF the tnree 0l-
visions composing the LIST Battalion Of
the United States Naval Reserves in
the District Of Columbia are await
ing with considerable anxiety the re-
suits of the two inspections, the final
Of which was held last week, to deter
mine the winning division of the local
organization, that is the one with the
highest figure of merit for the end
Of the six months period. Lieut..
Comdr. Charles B. McVay, jr.. United
States Navy, inspector instructor as
signed to the local battalion, and
Lieut.. James E. Sullivan, commanding
the local Reservists. are expediting the
study reports so that the final figures
will be ready by Tuesday nights
drill.
The winning division will have a
signal honor as top-notcher in the local
outfit. When the winning division Is
announced, the colors will be formally
presented to that division, which will
carry them in the inaugural process
sion when President Roosevelt takes
ONCE for his second term. The en-
tire battalion, under Lieut.. Sullivan, Is
expected to take part in the parade.
The tests during the two inspection
periods were made as rigid as they
are during the annual inspection, when
q board Of regular officers Of the
Navy Department conducts them each
year to determine which is the best
division and battalion in the coun-
try. These preliminary tests which
were conducted by the local organiza-
tion on its own initiative were, as a
matter Of fact, a step in preparation
for the annual inspection, the tenta-
tive date for which has been set for
the coming April. Any faults which
were found during the local inspection
will be Immediately reported to the
division commanders with a view to
their arranging their training sched-
ules between now and April to cor
rect these defects. 1t is the hope Of
Lieut.. Sullivan and the other officers
Of the organization that the battalion's S
training will be so perfected by the
time the regular Navy Inspection
Board comes here that one of the di-
visions and the battalion will capture
one or both of the trophies awarded
each year to the battalion and division
In the country having the highest fig
ure Of merit as result of the tests.
These trophies we're donated some
years ago by the United States Naval
Reserve Off1cers' Association and are
keenly sought for each year by the
battalions and divisions throughout
the country.
During the inspections just COM
pleted each detail of the training was
rigidly examined in order that the
inspection officers might catch each
defect which might be discovered by
the departmental inspectors when they
make their annual visit. The battle
problem and personnel inspections
were conducted by Lieut.. Comdr. Nc
Way and were on the same rigid plane
as they are when conducted aboard
vessels Of the Navy each week. No
allowance was made because of the
fact that Naval Reservists were being
inspected. They we're required to
meet the full naval tests.
The other features of the inspection,
including emergency drills, such as
fire, collision and general quarters,
were conducted by Lieut.. Sullivan, who
was aided in this part of the drill by
Lieut.. c. H. williams and Lieut. j. M.
Fewell, both Of the battalion staff.
With these tests out Of the way, and
as soon as the results are announced,
the battalion will settle down to its
preparation for the annual inspection.
All Of the drills and exercises to be
started with the new year will have
for their purpose the preparation for
this important function.
Rigid attendance requirements, it Is
are to be placed in effect
in the local battalion as one of the
features of the training during the new
year. While it is said that the attend
ance in the three local divisions has
been unusually good, nevertheless, the
demand for places in the Fleet Reserve
are 50 great and the interest Of the
young enlisted men has reached such
heights that only the very active men
are to be kept in the Fleet Reserve.
There are a number of men in the
Volunteer Reserve now drilling with
the battalion and they are anxious to
get place in the feet contingent. The
Fleet Reservists receive a days pay of
their grade for each drill they attend,
but the Volunteers receive nothing but
he training. The number of Fleet Re-
,ervists in each division is limited by
he amount Of funds Congress appro-
oriates with which to pay them.
Although it was said that the Navy
Department. requires each Reservist in
he feet contingent to attend only a
minimum Of 36 drills a year and to
in one annual cruise. the
ocal officers, because of the conditions
mere, plan to insist on an attendance
1t a larger number of drills. Not only
will the drill attendance be counted,
out those who participate in the week
md cruises are to be given better
marks than those who attend only the
minimum departmental requirements
of course, with only a small launch
here, which has to be hauled out Of
he water during the Winter months,
the week end cruise feature will have
10 be suspended until the arrival Of
the Spring months.
The drill scheduled Is to be resumed
Tuesday and will be held each Tuesday
night up until the time Of inspection,
except that perhaps a special drill or
Two might be thrown in Just prior to
he time the inspection board Is due
10 arrive in order to make a final
:heck up on the progress of the di-
visions of the battalion since the tests
Just completed.
Some new ratings are likely to be
made prior to the annual inspection
md men in the several divisions are
icing urged to study up on the vari-
,us duties Of these respective ratings
With . view to being prepared to take
he tests when ordered before the
,oard. The board, it is said, has be-
yun the examination of records Of