Evening star., 1939-08-27

eeCOnQ IN COM &gs
mand during ssSSs ssSS$ ssK
most of the pc $3$ a&M
fiod that it was 'ssssSs eSSS& 2ss|Ss&
headed by 1t. ga
Nicholson.
In assuming 1t. Weinstock.
command of the division, 1t. Wein-
stock paid a high tribute to what
he said were the splendid achieve
ments of 1t. Nicholson. Under his
command, he said, the District of
Columbia Naval Communications
Reserve Division grew in numbers
and efficiency. In 1886, he added,
1t received the coveted national COM
petition cup for being the best"
division in the United States. The
excellent marks received by both
officers and enlisted men while on
active duty, he continued, further
attest to his efforts.
Although not on drill pay status,
as are the three divisions of the
Organized Reserve Battalion, this
is one of the most active drilling
units of the local Reserve setup.
It mans the regular station in the
local armory and at regular in
tervals participates in the national
network drills which cover the
country 1t is made up largely of
amateur radio operators. most of
whom have their own private sets
In their homes. 1t also will man
the radio equipment on the YP boat
which has been assigned here as
training ship.
At last clearance has been re-
ceived at the Norfolk Navy Yard
for the overhaul of the YP Al, the
launch recently sent here from the
Charleston Navy Yard to serve as
training ship for members of the
local Reserve The ship is sched
uled to leave here with a Reserve
crew on the afternoon of Septem-
ber 2 for the Norfolk yard. The
vessel is scheduled to return to
Washington by October 10, when
1t is expected to be put on regular
schedule of week end training cruises
to continue throughout the winter.
According to present plans, 1t.
l..
vessel on the trip to Norfolk. He
will be accompanied by Ensign H,
Arthur Lamar as executive officer.
It is probable also that 1t. A. j.
Benz. u S. N, officer in charge
of Naval Reserve affairs in the
District, will accompany them. The
vessel will be manned entirely by
q Reserve crew of enlisted men.
Chief Boatswain's Mate Joseph A.
6lattery will be aboard the vessel,
and is to remain with her during the
time that she is in the yard to su-
pervise and check on the repairs.
When the vessel is in all respects
ready to return here another Re-
serve crew will be made up to bring
her back.
1t. A. j. Benz inspected the bat
talon last week and expressed him.
self as much pleased with the show
ing made. Following the formal
ceremony of inspection the organ
ization was put through a series Of
drills.
According to information received
at the local headquarters, it is un-
derstood that the Naval Reserve In
spection Board plans to inspect the
local battalion some time in Feb
fuary. 1t had been anticipated that
the annual tests would be held ear
(ier than usual this year. However,
no definite date has been set, and it
Is possible that it may be advanced.
In the meantime the battalion
commander, Lit W. Croft Jennings,
and the three division commanders
are formulating their drill schedules
with the idea of making prepara-
tions for the annual tests, during
which the local outfit hopes to make
top place this year.
Details of the conditions under
which members of the Naval Re-
serve will be awarded one of the
Naval Reserve service medals, just
authorized by the Navy Department.,
have been received here 1t was
announced that the medal will be
issued on request by the Bureau of
Navigation of the Navy Department
to members of the Organized Re-
serve, the Volunteer Reserve and
the Merchant Marine Reserve, who,
after 10 years or more of continuous
inactive service, including periods of
active Naining duty, have fulfilled
certain conditions during that time.
The rules contain a provision that
active duty other than training duty
will not be construed as breaking the
continuity of inactive service re-
quired, and that not less than two
weeks of active duty in any year
will be accepted as training duty
for that year.
Among the conditions are one that
officers must have received no un-
satisfactory entries in their fitness
reports and must in addition, have
fulfilled other requirements. En-
listed men must have clear records,
no offense or disqualifying marks
entered in their service records, and
also must fulfill other requirements.
They must have performed not
less than 80 per cent of the training
cruises and drills, equivalent in
struction or duty or appropriate
duty periods prescribed for them or
for the organization to which they
are attached, except that those par-
forming the prescribed number of
drills for any year, without remu-
neration, will not be required to per-
form a training cruise that year. in
order to be eligible for the medal
In the case of those men for whom
no record of drills has been required
nor kept prior to July l, last, a certi-
fed statement of the commissioned
officer next higher in the chain of
command will be accepted.
In lieu of the requirements set
forth above, the announcement says
outstanding service over the required
period may be accepted upon the rec
ommendation of the bureau or Office
concerned. It was announced that
provision has been made for the pro-