Evening star., 1938-10-30
RESERVE CHANGE
ST|RS INTEREST
Selection of New Head Of
Naval Battalion Is
Watched.

Considerable interest has been
shown in the announcement of the
present commander Of the lst Bat
talon, District Naval Reserves, 1t.
James E. Sullivan, that he plans to re-
linquish his command and transfer to
the volunteer branch. There is much
speculation as to who will be the new
commanding oflicer The appointment
rests with the commandant of the
United States Navy Yard, under whose
Jurisdiction the training Of the local
Reserve comes.
1t. w. c. Jennings is the senior
division commander and, 1t was ex-
planned, In the ordinary course of
events would be the man selected. He
has been closely associated with 1t.
Sullivan and many would like to
see him elevated to the command.
Although it will mean increased re-
sponsibilities, the detail does not auto
matically carry with 1t increased rank.
However, there has been feeling here
for long time that the commander
OF the local battalion should be at
least lieutenant commander, as it is
one Of the largest organiza tons in the
country, to say nothing of the fact that
1t is located at the Capital City. At
one time, subsequent to the World
War. the local outfit was commanded
by lieutenant commander, and later
by commander, when it was much
smaller than 1t is at the present time,
and when the work and responsibility
was not as great.
Under the present system of a single
line of promotion for the organized
Reserves. lieutenant in command
here could not expect promotion until
he came to the top OF the list of
heutenants, and this is composed of
lieutenants in the Reserve throughout
the country.
The battalion will soon assemble to
honor one of its outstanding enlisted
men, Chief Boatswain's Mate Berry,
hill. He has been selected by a boa I'd
consisting Of Its w. c. Jennings.
w. F. Brown and F. S. Kirk, all
division commanders, as the outstand-
ing enlisted man OF the battalion for
the past year, and will be awarded the
medal which was contributed to the
battalion by the local department of
veterans Of Foreign Wars. The de-
cision of the board, it was said, was
unanimous.
The drill schedule was deferred last
week from Tuesday night until Thurs
day on account of the Navy Day cele-
oratlon, when the orga anization held
open house. Scores Of friends and rela-
yves OF the men were jammed into
the small drill hall, while the organiza-
ton went through various emergency
drills and battle assignments to show
Just what kind Of work is done by the
citizen sailors during the armory
drill period. At the conclusion of the
formal ceremonies the men gave q
dance to which all the visitors were
invited. the music being furnished by
the United States Navy Band Orches-
ira.
The trend from wood to metal in
the construction of airplanes has de-
Veloped the necessity of eliminating
the rating OF aviation carpenters mate
from the Naval Reserve, it was an
nounced by the Bureau of Navigation
OF the Navy Department. The depart
ment said that no promotions into or
within this rating group are now au-
thorized. Qualified men in the erouu
may BE- transferred to equivalent nay
grades in the rating groups Of aviation
metalsmith or carpenters mate for
general service.
The bureau, 1t was said, will con-
slider recommendations for advance
ment of first-class aviation carpen-
ters mates to any chief petty officer
rate in the aviation branch for which
qualified.
Special instructions have been issued
by the Secretary OF the Navy, under
the terms OF the new Naval Reserve
Act Of 1888, regarding military leave
for civilian employees. The instructions
say that the Naval Reserve Act of
1888 grants TO all officers and en-
ployes Of the United States who are
members of the Naval Reserve. includ-
ing Fleet Reserve. Organized Reserve,
Merchant Marine Reserve and Volun-
teer Reserve, leave Of absence from
their respective duties without loss of
pay, time or efficiency rating on all
days during which they may be en-
ployed with or without pay under
orders or authorization of competent
authority on training duty for periods
not to exceed IS days in any one CAL
endar year, q except that members of
the Volunteer Reserve are not entitled
to such privileges when ordered to
perform, with or without pay, active
duty the same as performed in civil
status.
1t was pointed out that the acting
controller general holds that perform
ance Of duties under an appointment
in civilian position and the perform
ance of active duties as a member Of
the Volunteer Reserve under orders
during the same period of time is not
compatible.
A warning has been sounded by the
Navy Department concerning appli-
cants for enlistment in the Naval Re-
serve in filling out the application
form. 1t was pointed out that fire.
quently the questions concerning prior
arrest or conviction of crime are not
filled out or enormously filed out by
the candidates for enlistment.
The department added that the
fingerprints of all men enlisted are
sent to the Federal Bureau of Investi-
CATION for check with its fingerprint
files. In many cases. it was added,
men who have claimed no prior police
record are identified by the Federal
Bureau Of Investigation as having such
a record. The failure of a candidate
IN state his ,revio,,s orrAefe or wall.