Evening star., 1940-02-18
Naval Reseryists
EIated Over Hiqh
Marks for Cruise
Department Reports
Local Unit Highest
On Troinins List

Coming on the eve of the annual
inspection, members Of the 1st Bat
talon, District Naval Reserves, were
considerably elated over the fact
that the Navy Department an
nounced that this organization was
the top unit of the country In its
annual cruise training and that the
Sd Division lead all of the rest of
the divisions Of the country in tar
get practice. a.
With such standing given them
for the actual work of sea training,
the members OF the battalion believe
they stand a better chance than ever
before of capturing one or both of
the trophies awarded each year for
the battalion and division, respec-
lively, having the highest figure of
merit as a result of the inspections.
Oficers of the battalion point out
that the marks received on the an
nual cruises are given considerable
weight by the Inspection Board in
compiling its figures from which the
final inspection rating is given, and
that with the cruise report it ought
to make their standing very high.
They are now awaiting anXiously
for the results of the inspections
which were held last week before
one of the largest battalions, numer-
ical strength, in the country.
On the other hand, officers point
out that it is what they do at sea
aboard one of the active ships of
the fleet which really counts, be-
cause their whole training is for the
purpose of fitting them for service
aboard combatant ships in time Of
a national emergency. This, 1t was
added, also raises again the question
that is burning one through the
Reserve units, and that is to the
effect that the annual inspections
do not really show what an organi-
cation can do under actual service
conditions as do the annual cruises.
There has been some discussion
among Reserve officials, not only
here, but throughout the country, of
urging the abandonment Of the an
nual inspection by board of officers
from the Navy Department and have
each organization marked on the
efficiency and proficiency with which
Its members perform their duties
aboard ship while at sea.
1t was pointed out that the only
proper way to Judge the qualiflca-
tions of the officers and men of any
Reserve unit is the manner in which
they perform the duties of their
particular specialties under actual
service conditions. Furthermore, it
has been the plant of petty
officers of the battalion here that
the written examinations which are
given them by the board of officers
during the annual inspections are
not quite fair, as some of the ques-
tions, particularly in the engineering
department, deal with the details
OF engine operation of a type with
which the local men are not ia
niliar. They deal with modern
naval developments in which the
men have had no previous train
ing. But, it was added, if they are
examined on cruise on the equip
ment aboard the particular ship in
which they are taking a training
cruise, they can answer these ques-
tions readily. They believe that
the cruise markings. are a more
efficient way Of judging the qualifi-
cations Of the men than score of
annual inspections.
Although there is little more than
instruction to perform during the
weekly drills of the battalion. the
organization has ready to minister