Evening star., 1940-07-23
U. 5. Army Problem
Seen in Shortage
Of Long-Term Force
Conscripts Serving But
Short Period Require
Soldiers Of Experience

The War Department is facing
the problem Of providing a long
term force of experienced enlisted
men to form the permanent nucleus
of a constantly changing, short
term, conscript Army.
The Regular Army enlistment
term is now three years. Should
compulsory military training be ap-
proved by Congress, the term for
conscripts probably would be one
year. Thus, high Army od1cials be-
lieve it will be difficult to obtain
recruits for the regular force with
three-year enlistments, and 1t may
be necessary to reduce the term 10
that provided for the draftees.
This method, however, will not
solve the vital necessity of keeping
soldiers in service for longer periods.
The need for a long-term force has
become greater in recent years than
ever before, with increased use OF
air power and mechanical troops.
officials doubt that tank crew can
become ready for battle with only
one wear of training. They know
that ground crews of aviation units
cannot reach effective battle en-
cheney in one year or even 10
months. Therefore some permanent
force with enlistment periods OF AZ
least three years Is needed.
Urxes Longer Term.
The Burke-Wadsworth compul-
sorv service bill provides for an ..
month term, but Gen. George Q.
Marshall, chief Of stan, recon,
mended that the term be extenoeo
to at least a year, and preferably
18 months. He also recommended
that they receive the same oase
pay, $21 q month; as the Regular
Amy.
The problem will not become
acute for at least two years. Inc
Army now has 100000 men. more
than 10000 Of whom enlisted wltnin
the past nine months. BY October
/. the date most frequently men
toned for the start OF conscrlpt
service, the Regular Army will have
about 100000 men serving three
wear enlistments. 1t expects 10
have $4,000 by December l. Thus
the number OF men whose enlist
ments expire will be comparatively
small in the next two years, tne
most critical in the country's de-
tense program.
Shorage Of Experts.
At the end of that period. the
turnover in experienced manpower
will become rapid, and the Army
will be faced with an increasing
drop in experts, although the size
of the conscript force will have IN
creased tremendously. Possibly o.
600 1000 conscripts will be under
arms in 1912, and the supply OF
tanks and planes will have IN
creased proportionately.
Although no official disclosures
have been made Of plans to solve
the problem, it was considered like
" by some informed persons that
a more highly paid force OF long.
term soldiers may be created. How
ever, the Army has oficially stressed
the temporary nature OF the arms
emergency and has been reluctant
to create any commitments which
would hamper returning the force
to its normal peacetime strength.
# this policy is adhered to, 1t Is un-
likely that pay for regular soldiers
will be raised.
The question may solve itself. In
creased promotion to higher grades
open to enlisted men Is anticipated.
should conscription be voted. This
may induce more Of the present
regular soldiers to make career OF
the Army and re-enlist. The Army
already has well over 10000 soldiers
who have served more than one
enlistment and are likely to con-
tinue re-enlisting until they retire
with pensions after 80 years OF
service. These men are the back
bone Of the present expansion, serv-
ing in many instances at duties
which ordinarily would be reserved
for officers.
French Had Too Few Experts.
In other conscript armies, care
has been taken to assure supply
of men who will remain during the
constant turnover Of short-term SOL
diers.
The French army, before the war,
had permanent force Of 100000 ex-
perts who received 50 per cent
higher pay than was given to con-
scripts. They served for enlistments
of Is years. Various sources have
declared one cause of the French
downfall was in having too few OF
them.
The problem of retaining expert
enced personnel will eventually be-
come more acute in the Navy, where
at present recruits are being added
to the force of 100000 at 6-year en-
listments. Funds have been pro-