Evening star., 1939-02-26
D. T.. Naval Reserve
Gets First Place.
In Ship Efficiency
LocoI Battalion Given
Perfect Mark for
Cruising Duty

TeIIeCt mark TOR
Cruising Duty
There was considerable rejoicing
among members of the 1st Battalion,
District of Columbia Naval Reserves,
at their armory in the Washington
Navy Yard last week, when word
came from the Navy Department
that this local organization had
taken first place among the battal-
ions of the country in general cruise
efficiency and also in gunnery. The
men give much of the credit for the
marks attained to the instruction
and training system mapped out for
them by their commander, 1t. James
E. Sullivan.
With the markings received as q
result of their performance aboard
the battleship Wyoming last sum
mer. the local ReServists are ex-
pectant of reaching the top place
among the organizations of the
country, a goal for. which they have
been working for several years. The
report just received was an indica-
ton to them that they are receiving
results. Under the new system of
marking Naval Reserve units for
their performance of duty through
out the year, the cruise work is given
weight of so per cent, armory drill
attendance Is per cent, while the
general inspection by a board of
officers from the Navy Department
is given only IS per cent. While the
inspection has just been completed
here, and the marks have not vet
been received, the officers believe
that under the present marking
system, even if the local battalion
receives only an average mark, it
will be at the top of the list in the
final reckoning, or at least very
close to the top. Since it Is the
first time in history that the Navy
Department has marked the organi-
cations in this matter, the local
Reservists are very much elated that
they had the distinction of winning
first place.
In the past it has been the prac-
tice to rate the Reserve units on
the manner in which they per-
formed before the Inspection Board
at the annual tests. Local officers
have contended for years that this
did not give a real picture of the
organizations, whether here or any
part of the country where others
are located. They did not believe
it possible for board of three naval
officers, no matter how well trained
they were, to arrive at an accurate
determination of the efficiency of
an organization during the course
Of two or three hours inspection at
the armory each year, where they
observed simulated drills
1t was their belief that the real
evidence of proficiency in an organi-
cation could only be found during
the two-Week training cruise, when
they devoted their time to opera
ton and manning the ship to which
they were assigned for training, and
where they learned to live and work
in harmony with the regulars as
signed to the vessel. They pointed
out that the regulars there had
better opportunity to ascertain how
they would perform in time of war
than any inspection board could
determine in a few hours at the
armory wifi makesfhft training
gear. The change in policy is
taken as indication to them that
they were sound in their reasoning
Among the significant statements
contained in the cruise report is the
following: ut is worthy to note
that in the District of Columbia
divisions that the average years
on present duty of officers is by
far the least. whereas their pro-
ficiency was by far the greatest" "
1t was further noted that the
local battalion was judged for the
mark given, as compared with other
Reserve units throughout the coun-
try, on the following points: Num-
ber of men cruised, cruise prepa-
ration, the proficiency of the men
and target practice performance.
AS between the three divisions
forming the local battalion, it was
asserted that in gunnery they stood
among the other 149 divisions in
the country. as follows: I'd Division
ninth: 1st Division, thirteenth, and
Sd Division, twenty-first.
1t was pointed out that the local
battalion has experienced during
the year an extremely high drill
attendance record. which is given
a weight Of Is IL the final marking
for relative merit for the year, and
this will boost it toward the goal
for which it has been working for
several years.
With these results before it, both
officers and men are anxiously
awaiting the reports of the Board
of Inspection, which will give the
relative standing of all of the
battalions and divisions throughout
VIC COuI1C1y. LII VACW VI VIC 1dC.
that the board has to make a tour
of the entire country to make the
inspections on which the figures
will be based, it is not expected
that the local Reservists will hear
the final report until after July l
But whatever the final report will
be. they are happy over the fact
that they have convinced the off,
GERS of the ship on which they
cruised that they will be a strong
addition to any fighting unit at
sea should 1t ever be necessary to
call them into active service at any
time during the course of an
emergency.
Coincident with the receipt of the
report on cruise efficiency, the local
Reservists have heard with regret
that they are about to lose the serv-
ices of two of its officers who ma
terially assisted in the work OF
bringing them to their present high
state of efficiency. 1t. Sullivan, the
battalion commander, announced
that 1t. w. B. Armstrong and En-