Evening star., 1939-01-29
Naval Reserve
Battalion Strivinq
For First Place
Only One More Drill
Remuins Before
Annual Inspection

Remoins Before
Annual Inspection
With next Tuesday night The ANAL
drill period before the Board Of In
spectors from the Navy Department
comes here to determine its general
efficiency and readiness for service
with the fleet in time of national
emergency. members Of the Ist Bat
talon, District Naval Reserve, are
striving to make it the best inspec-
ton in the history of the battalion.
1t is expected to be the final inspec-
ton of the present commander, 1t.
James e. Sullivan, who some time
ago announced he would relinquish
command Of the unit In order to 90
into the volunteer branch Of the
Reserve.
The members believe that as an
organization they are In as flne a
shape as ever. The only handicap
which they have Is the inadequate
armory, wherein 1t is dificult to
carry out the various maneuvers
which the board will require, and 1t
is believed that the board will take
this feature into consideration in
putting the organization through Its
work one week from next Tuesday
night.
The standards Of performance
which are to act as a guide for the
board as set up by the Navy Depart
ment are as follows: For organized
divisions the standard Of perform
ance shall be based on the mobiliza-
ton requirements for the crew Of a
destroyer; for squadron the stand
ard Of performance shall be based
on the mobilization requirements for
the crew Of scouting squadron. No
division or squadron shall be con-
sidered as maintaining efficiency re.
quirements unless its personnel av-
erages an attendance of at least 36
drills in fiscal year and at least rs
per cent Of its personnel performs
annual training duty as unit, or in
groups performing syllabus flying in
accordance with instructions. For
the purpose Of computing drill at.
tendance, 1t was explained, credits
may be taken for those members Of
| the division who are absent from
regularly prescribed drills on &C
count Of the performance Of active
duty or training duty. In special
cases. when authorized by the Bu-
reau of Navigation, credits may be
given for cruise absentees who are
on active duty elsewhere.
Divisions or squadrons falling to
maintain a minimum of efficiency
are not to be given a standing in
the annual competition, but will be
listed separately in the order of
merit Oh those disqualified divisions
or squadrons.
The board will find that with the
division recruited up to full strength
and with about 100 super numer-
aries in another division, composed
OF young men planning to take the
coming examinations for appoint
ment to the Naval Academy, the
local organization is considerably
cramped for space. The drill hall
is too small for the proper maneuv.
ering of division and a battalion
IN fantry drill is out of the cues.
ton. AS a matter of fact, each
year the drill hall space gets smaller
and smaller as additional equip.
ment, used for training, is installed.
In one section of the hall now,
there is simulated destroyer bridge,
together with a large drill gun,
while in another section Is a ma.
chine shop used In training the
men in the engineer branch. They
had to be installed here, as there
is no place or room in other parts
OF the building, which formerly
served as a commercial store be.
fore this section Of the Navy Yard
was taken into the reservation dur
ing the World War. 1t. Sullivan
and other officers of the battalion
have been striving for a number
of years to have funds provided
for the construction of new build
ing which not only would house the
organized reserve battalion, but also
the regiment of Marine Corps Re-
serves which is housed under as
bad conditions in another part Of
the city.
While the local officers have been
unsuccessful in getting the funds
provided, they hope that the recon-
mendations of the board, which will
inspect them this year, will be so
strong as to start proceedings in
the department which will result
in a prompt remedying Of the con-
ditions. But despite all Of this han
dicap, it is the hope that they will
finish at the top Of the list this
year.
After the inspection, and while
awaiting the announcement of the
plans for the annual training cruises
to be provided this summer, the
members will turn their attention
to getting the new training ship,
which is being overhauled and fitted
out for them at the Charleston.
S. c., Navy Yard. In addition
to a crew Of officers and men which
must be picked to 60 to the South
ern naval station to bring the ship
here, one enlisted man soon is to
be selected to proceed to Charles
ton to remain with the ship dur
ing its fitting out period. 1t will
be his duty to see that all the
equipment is aboard, and generally
get the ship ready for the trip to
Washington, where it will supple
ment the small training launch,
which has been here for several
years and which has proven made
quate to meet the large demand
for training which faces the diu-
sion commanders each week end
when the vessel goes out. The new
vessel, it is said, is much larger,
and will provide more opportunity
for broader training than can be
given on the present small boat.
1t is the desire of the officers to
get the boat here as soon as pos
u r. =