Evening star., 1938-05-29
TRAINING
:. {: !: : BOAT TOO SMALL
is.i
Rough Weather Makes 1t
Impossible to Get Full
d.
Benefits.


a District Naval Reservists who made
the training trip aboard the launch
recently are convinced that the local
organization is in need of a larger
vessel if the fullest amount of train
ing is to be obtained. The little
launch usually heads as far as Co.
lonial Beach, but the open water
there made it practically impossible,
and probably unsafe, for it to anchor
there for a long period. After being
buffeted by the heavy winds and seas.
the outfit put up the river to Chapel
Point, and there remained until it was
time to return to Washington on Sun
day.
The boat was buffeted about so much
1t was practically impossible to give
any training instructions aboard, ex-
cept that of how to handle a boat in
a heavy sea- On the other hand, the
waves were not high enough to bother
a larger vessel. The local units are
interested in one of the 100-foot Coast
Guard boats. Some of these have been
turned over to the Navy. but it is
understood that none is available at
this time.
A new Naval Reserve organic act
has been prepared by the Navy De-
partment, following advice from Presi-
dent Roosevelt While the Budget
Bureau has authorized the department
to submit the bill to Congress, it did
not approve it as coming within the
Presidents economy program. That
question will have to be faced later
In the progress of the legislation.
The proposed new legislation sets
up four classes of Reserve: The Fleet
Reserve. the Special Reserve, the Mer-
chant Marine Reserve and the Volun-
teer Reserve. Furthermore, it asserts
that the Reserve shall consist of male
citizens, which would appear to pre-
clude a repetition of the act of the
World War, when large numbers OF
women were taken into the Navy
under the rating of yeoman Cemale).
and were used in various shore jobs
requiring naval personnel.
1t also provides that any officer or
man who may have been placed on
the honorary retired list of the Re-
serve may be recalled to active duty
in time of war or national emergency
and provides that in time OF peace a
Reservist may be called to active duty
only with his consent, except in the
case of aviation cadets, who may be
required to serve four years from the
date of appointment. However, au-
thority is given the Secretary of the
Navy to release any member of the
Reserve from active duty either in
time of war or peace.
In the case of officers who might
be ordered discharged for cause. the
new legislation contains a provision
that they be given an opportunity to
be heard by the Secretary of the Navy.
It further provides those transferred
be subject to the laws and regula-
tions relating to the Navy, and shall
not be discharged therefrom, without
their consent, except by sentence of a
court-martial, or, in the discretion
of the Secretary of the Navy to con-
fnement in a State or Federal peni-
ary as result of a conviction
felony.
II also provides that in the case
of officers called to active duty or on
training duty with pay, they shall be
deemed to have been confirmed in
grade and shall receive all of the pay
and allowances of that grade. 1t also
provides that Reservists in the avi-
alton branch when assigned to duty
which involves flying in aircraft shall
receive the same extra compensation
as is given to personnel of the Regu-
lar Establishment.
The bill would authorize the use
of funds allocated to the various bu-
reaus of the Navy Department for
part-time or intermittent employ
ment of scientists, technicists and
other personnel in connection with
the work of such bureaus and Offices
for active duty pay for Naval Re-
servists as may be placed on active
duty for the preservation of such
work.
Reservists who are employed either
by the United States or the District
of Columbia would be entitled, as a
matter of right. to leave with pay and
without affecting their efficiency
ratings, for time they take for train
ing duty, for period not to exceed
Is days in any one calendar year.
1t sets up a 10-year program for
building up the Reserve strength to
Its maximum as set by the Secretary
OF the Navy, and specifies that it
shall be done by equal annual in
crements. a
The Fleet Reserve would consist only
OF those who have served in the
Regular establishment, and would per-
nit the appointment or enlistment of
those OF the Regular establishment who
nave been honorably discharged there
from and In the. same ranks or ratings
which they held in the Regular estab-
nshment, provided they had had at
least four years service with the
Regular units. It provides that men
may be transferred to this class after
10 years OF service and receive one
third pay, and at 20 years, one-half
pay. These men are to be retired
upon the completion of 80 years
service.
It authorizes the Secretary of the
Navy to require, in the future, men
who enlist for four years in the Regular
establishment. to serve four years in
the Reserve upon completion of their
enlistment. During their period in
the Reserve they would not be re-
quired to drill or take training duty,
and would be paid $25 per annum.
The 16 and 20 year men, who trans
ferred to the Reserve, would be required
to take four months of training duty,
during each four period and to be
examined physically. In the case of
the l6-year men, If found physically
disqualified upon any examination
they. shall be transferred to the re-
tired list. at the pay they are then
receiving, but in the case of the 30