Evening star., 1939-09-03

National Guard units must bs
ready at all times for tests and
inspections from officers of the
regular establishment, as q new
policy Of checking the militia units
to determine their readiness for field
service has been outlined by the
War Department. When the annual
inspections are to be held only about
. months notice will be given the
ofhcers Of the commands concerned,
whereas in the past they were given
from six to eight months.
It was held that because of the
time spent by the organizations In
getting their personnel and prop
erty ready for the Regular Army
inspection officers the more impor-
tant objective Of being constantly
prepared for field service was placed
In the background. Under the new
order Of operation the commanding
ofhcers will have to formulate their
drill schedules with the more i'm
portant function Of training the 9TH
ers to be ready at all times.
The first organization to be cov-
cred within this new order Is Com
pany A, 372d Infantry, which has
received notice that it will have its
annual inspection on September l8,
after one months notice.
In the past the annual inspections
have been made by officers OF the
regular establishments who have
either been assigned to other militia
units as instructors or were serving
with the regular units in the field.
However, under the change the in
spections will be made by officers
Of the inspector generals depart
ment.
As with the inspections Of person.
mel the annual inventory OF the
property Of the United States held
by the various units is also to be
made on short notice. This will re-
quire that ofncers keep their store
rooms in tip-top shape at all times,
as there would not be sufncient time
to overhaul them after the notice
OF inspection was received, it was
claimed. Issue and transfer of
clothing will have to be handled
as a current matter in order to
keep the books and records in shape
at all times for prompt inspection
from the ofncers of the inspector
generals department.
Details Of how the various units
will be inspected have not been re-
ceived at Guard headquarters. 1t is
possible that the whole regiment
will not be inspected at one time
because of the shortness of the time
on drill nights. But under the new
system, one or two companies may
be inspected and then others may
come at later intervals.
National Guard officials are plan
ming to make a determined effort
during the next session Of Congress
to have removed a pay discrimina-
ton against members of the Guard
employed in private establishments,
over their comrades who are en-
ployed by the Federal Government
establishments here. Up until 1884,
non-Government employees who are
members of the Guard received, in
addition to their regular Army pay
for field duty, 81 a day. Govern
ment employees received and still do
get service pay for the time of
which is not taken from their an
nual leave.
1t was pointed out that this Is con-
sidered unfair to the non n-Govern-
ment employees. many Of whom have
to take their annual vacations for
the field service. while others have
to lose pay, particularly those who
have per diem jobs. The payment
was cut out as an economy measure
during the early part Of the depres-
sion, but 1t was indicated that some
Of the members OF the Guard regard
this As a discrimination.
While omcials of the Guard as
serted that they cannot say that