Evening star., 1940-06-16
Guard Told to Eliminate
Personnel Unfit for Field Service
Filling of All Vacancies in Ranks
Prior to June 30 Also Ordered

Local brigade, regimental and sep
arate unit commanders In the Dis
trict National Guard have begun a
study of their personnel to ascertain
whether there are any in the or
CARNATIONS who are not physically
qualified for rigorous field service.
, Brigade headquarters received a
communication from the War De-
partment last week directing it to
make survey of all personnel with
a view to revitalizing the forces.
The department made it plain that
1t wanted in the guard only per-
sonnel that is in the prime of con-
dition and which would not have to
be relieved in the event that the
forces were called into the regular
service either for field duty for
training and hardening or for de-
tense purposes, as proposed in q
measure now before Congress.
The War Department reminded
the militia authorities that it was
incumbent on it to make this survey
with the least delay possible. The
letter is not confined to officer per-
sonnel, but includes the enlisted
members. There are many men in
the guard who have spent long
years of service there. While it is
presumed that on each enlistment
they were given thorough physical
tests, examinations by the War De-
partment in certain cases where
officers and enlisted men have been
sent to service schools, it has been
discovered that in some of the or
CARNATIONS throughout the country
the personnel has not been given a
thorough physical examination and
the Army surgeons found defects
which made it necessary to send
prospective National Guard students
of these schools back home without
permitting them to begin their
courses.
The War Department wants all
such personnel eliminated at once.
1t told the National Guard that it
should particularly examine all off,
GERS and enlisted men who had been
given physical waivers on their last
appointments or examinations, and
that no waivers of physical defects
should be granted in the future. OF
course, 1t was explained. that when
such waivers were granted, particu-
larly to the officers, they had to be
approved by the War Department.
The War Department instructed
the guard officials to make survey
of all men who had been trans
ferred to the inactive lists to see
also that they were fit for imme-
diate field service. 1t explained that
this branch of the guard should
be revitalized so that the personnel
there could, if necessity arises, fur
nish 25 per cent addition to the
present active forces, which would
bring all of the units up to peace
time strength
The guard officials also were told
by the War Department to bring all
of their units up to the peace-time
strength authorized. and said that
it desired this action to take place
by June 30
The local guard has put renewed
vigor into its campaign to fill its
present allotments of troops Blu,
it was pointed out that it is facing
real problem in getting the neces-
sary number of men. During the
past year, it was explained. a num-
ber of new units have been orga-
nized which has drawn heavily or
the available personnel, and tina,
the increased allccations have ralsec
further problems. 1t was said that
some of the units have more thar
their allocated strength.
Figures just made public by bri.
gade headquarters show that the
260th Regiment of Coast Artillery
has an allotment of 1887 men, anc
$50 actually in service. The Specia
Troops. 29th Division. has 207 al
located. and $50 in service. Tht
l2lst Regiment of Engineers has 55l
men and 400 in service, the 1st Bat
talon. l04th Quartermaster Regi
ment. has an allotment of l4l mer
! and $50 in service Company A
372d Infantry, has its quota Of 8;
enlisted men.
The rifle team of the local guart
was defeated by a team represent
( ing the Maryland National Guart
in its annual 29th Division Gallery
Pistol Team match, held here. Tht
trophy, donated by Maj. Gen. Mil
ton A. Rockford, commanding the
| 29th National Guard Division anc
the National Guard of Maryland
was presented to the Maryland
team, which finished with score
of 1886 as against the score of the
local team of 1,248.
High man on the local team was
Sergt. H. Parsons, with score OF
264, the other scores being as fol-
lows: Capt. w. Mushake, 25l; Maj
j. C. Jensen, $50; Capt. E. Nc
Mahon, 244, and Maj. C. S. Shields
239
On the Maryland team, Pvt. r
Boykin scored 264 for high: 1t. j
Handy, 257: Capt. j. Patrick, 25l;
Corpl R. Darby, 251. and Master
Sergt. E. Winterling, 243.
Capt. Hugh Everett, jr.. has been
graduated from the Command and
General Staff School at Fort Leav-
enworth. Kans., and is expected to
return to duty here in short time
as commanding officer of the 29th
Division Special Troops.
Another officer who graduated is
1t. Col. Cary Jarman, who is the
chemical warfare officer on the staff
of Gen. Reckord and executive Off
Ger of the Maryland National Guard
Officers at brigade headquarters
are whipping into shape the plans
for sending all units, with the ex-
ception of Company A, 372d Infan-
try, into the field for some of the
greatest maneuvers in its history
For the local troons and their com