Evening star., 1938-12-25

Other Divisions to Have
Tests for Activities
Later in Year
With the regular drills suspended
during the holiday period, members
OF the 1st Battalion, District Naval
Reserves, will concentrate on their
preparations for the annual inspec-
ton on February 7, somewhat earlier
than usual. While this is more than
month away, in drill time for the
Reservists 1t is only five nights
during January, or 10 hours of drill
time.
The battalion finished so close
to the top last year and has been
making such continuous improve
ment under the leadership of 1t,
James E. Sullivan, battalion COM
mander, that the men would like to
see 1t In top place this year as a
tribute to the commander, who plans ,
TO relinquish the command sub
sequent to the inspection.
Special attention is being given
to training the divisions in the
battle problem requirements, which
is the focal point for all naval train
ing, the preparation for battle. Each
OF the divisions will have to be
thoroughly trained in this important
detail, because of the fact that if
the board decides to only witness
one division the marks made by that
division will be for the entire bat
talon. Each division is trained as
the nucleus of destroyer crew for
duty IN time OF war. Furthermore,
the petty officers will be given
special attention to ascertain that
each man knows his particular
specially thoroughly. The board has
formed the practice of selecting
men from each branch at random
and giving them special examina-
tlons, marking the entire outfit on
the results of the test of one man in
each group.
While the organization Reserve
Battalion is getting its inspection
early this year, the Aviation and
Communications will not have theirs
until much later in the year. The
| Communications Reserve Division,
made up largely of radio amateurs,
will be inspected by an officer from
| the Office of the director of naval
communications at the Navy De-
partment in May. The Aviation
Division. which is quartered at the
Naval Air Station at Anacostia, will
have its inspection on June 2.
| The Naval Academy candidates
division, a provisional division, COM
/ posed of enlisted men of the bat
talon, who contemplate taking the
examinations for entrance to the
| United States Naval Academy is
scheduled now to have its examina-
tlons on April 10. The tests will be
conducted by the United States Civil
Service Commission with questions
prepared by the Naval Academy
Board. The local battalion this year
has the greatest number of candi-
dates in its history, more than a
hundred young men having indi-
Gated their intention of trying for
the appointments. Under the law
/ passed this year. the number of men
allowed to enter from the reserve
has been increased from Is to so,
and 1t is the hope of the local off,
GERS that the local battalion will
capture the greater number of ap-
pointments as they have in the past.
Last year the members of the local
battalion took 13 of the IS appoint
ments.
The overhauling of the training
vessel which is to be assigned to
the Reserve Battalion here, has ad-
Vanced to such state that q re-
quest has been received for q Re-
serve enlisted man to go to Charles
ton. s. c., where the ship is in the
Navy yard to stay with her during,
the period of fitting out and remain
until she comes to Washington. The
vessel Is one of the 75-foot patrol
boats formerly used by the Coast
Guard, is gasoline engine driven
with twin screws. Upon completion
OF the overhaul period. in the early
spring, the vessel is to be cruised to
Washington. Shortly before she is
ready to depart, a crew from the
local battalion will be sent to man
her and bring her to Washington
Upon her arrival here it is eX-
pected that the local battalion will
have two boats. as, under the pres
ent plans, the training launch which
has been used for several years is
to remain here.
In connection with week end
cruising, the Navy Department has
been informed by the inspection
board that the denial of subsistence
to crews on such vessels reduces the
value Of the boats. While the re-
quirement that officers and men
making these cruises furnish their
own subsistence has not affected the
demand here, nevertheless members
OF the units would like to see the
practice of providing subsistence re-
turned. They had it for several
years. The board pointed out that
many reservists cannot afford, or do
not care to make week end cruises
for which they must provide their
own food. They added that Re-
serve commanders are not able to
carry out rigid training curriculum
under these circumstances, ana e. .,
pressed belief that it is important
that the week end training ration
be Immediately restored ana SO
recommended it.
The men who make these cruises,
according to Reserve officers, are
willing to give their time to perfect
themselves in their naval duties, and
while they do not receive any pay
for the service, they pointed out, it
is but fair that the Government
provide for the small amount of
food which is required to carry on
this work. The Inspection Board
| has rocouni1oJ flo;e