Evening star., 1938-10-23

ments in the unit,
up to his present
detail as bat
talon comman- ,.
der.
About five years ago. when the eff
cheney of the organization was at
low ebb and consideration was being
given by the Navy Department to
abolition of the local battalion for
that reason, 1t. Sullivan was ordered
to command. Since assuming this
duty, he formulated system of train
ing and recruiting which developed
the efficiency Of the command, and
he has lead it on from year to year
until it reached its present high state
Of efficiency, near the top of the list
Of battalionS throughout the country.
During the years in which he has
been in command the organization
has advanced and he has repeatedly
diSclaimed any personal credit for
the work of the organization. He
attributes it to the work and support
Of both the men with whom he has
served during this period. Without
their whole-hearted cooperation, he
said, the organization would never
have been able to reach its present
state of efficiency.
1t. Sullivan, if relieved in accordance
with his request to the commandant
of the Washington Navy Yard, it is
understood. does not plan to sever
himself from the Reserve, but plans
to ask for transfer from the organized
unit to the volunteer branch. In the
latter, he would not be required to
participate in the weekly drills and
would not be compelled to take a
cruise each year in order to maintain
efficiency.
In the absence of an indication from
! the Navy Yard as to whether the
request of 1t. Sullivan will be favor
ably acted upon, it is not known who
| will be the new commanding officer.
| However, it might be said that in the
case of Reserve officers, commandants
and the Navy Department take cogni-
zance of the fact that Reserve officers
must earn their livelihoods in civil
life, and when a request for relief
is predicated on this fact, favorable
action follows as matter of course
With the departure of 1t. Sullivan,
1t. w. c. Jennings would become the
senior officer. and it is probable that
he will succeed to the command,
it was indicated
Those seeking entrance to the United
States Naval Academy by way of the
enlisted ranks of the Naval Reserve
here were told last week by 1t. Sulli-
van that they must show by their
work during the next few weeks that
they are deeply interested in the naval
service and must show some aptitude
in order to even get chance at taking
the competitive test.
He inspected the more than 100
candidates. The number this year is
so large that the battalion commander
massed them into one organization
so as not to interfere with the train
ing work of the three permanent
divisions of the outfit.
1t will be known shortly after the
first OF the month how many of the
men have made the grade in this
respect. However, the separate division
will be kept going until the time of
the announcement of the results of
the competitive tests, it is expected.
Those who fail to make the grade in
these competitive tests, if they remain
within the age limits, can continue
throughout the next term and try the
examination again. but the competi-
ton each year is becoming keener
Up until this year the Reserve had
25 appointments to the academy each
year, but the new Naval Reserve Act
which went into effect in July doubled
this number. However in the past
the local battalion had captured the
majority of the appointments.
For the first time since the bat
talon was reorganized several years
ago, two divisions turned 100 per cent
attendance in their drill reports for
last week. They were the first and
third divisions, while the second was
close behind with SO per cent at
tendance.
Schools in various subjects have
been inaugurated for the Naval Com
munications Division, including radio
design, elementary radio, navigation
and code work. Several of the men,
bers of this division are candidates
for two vacancies in the aviation
division for two radio men. They will
become part of the Fleet Reserve,
which gets pay for its drills. The
communications unit is in the volun-
teer class, which does not receive
drill pay.
; While the communications division
is striving to increase its strength
through the medium of recruiting. it
was announced that in the future
no physical waivers will be granted
Likewise, there will be no radio men
enlisted above the rating of seaman
first class. However, it was explained
that men holding Federal Communi-
cations Commission operators licenses
of any grade may, after enlistment
be examined for ratings up to radio
man, second class The examinations
: will be on the same subjects as those
given candidates for promotion in the
regular establishment.