The Wilmington morning star., 1940-06-30

easy. Join now some military or
ganization that is bes' suited to
your training and experience.
Judging from various press re-
ports, compulsory military train
ing is in the offing. It is reported
that the President approves the
principle for all American youths.
The War Department is ~perfecting
plans for a wartime draft. Those
who can read the handwriting on
the wall, and those who have
serious intentions of putting forth
their best efforts, will not wait for
this. Those who have already vo-
lunteered for military service, or
those who do so now, will find lat
er that they will be far ahead of
the ones who wait to be called.
That opened in the World war
and it will happen again. Plenty
of doughboys and seamen can be
dr. -:fted; ratings and officers must
be highly trained.
Most of the radio amateurs
know that for the past seven years
there has been a United States
Naval Communication Reserve
unit in this city with quarters in
the postoffice building. At one
time Or another the majority of
the local amateurs have been as
ISOLATED with this unit. Some have
moved away, some lost their Ii
censes, and some failed to re-en-
list on the expiration Of their term
of four years. One member is about
to graduate from Annapolis, one
is in the Coast Guard, and two in
the regular Navy. Several have
had actual contact with no regular
Navy during summer training
cruisers abe ard naval vessels and
at Navy yards. Several of the
members have advanced to higher
ratings, and, if called into active
service, will hold important posi-
tons. Wilmington is in fact the
headquarters of the Naval Com
m%unication Reserve in this State.
There is, then, in this city, an
organization that offers on ex-
cellent opportunity for young men
of military age, who are physi-
cally qualified, to do their part in
the vast program of national de-
tense.
The Naval Reserve was Great
ed and established as a compon-
ent part of the Navy by the act of
February %, 1925. 1t consists of
three classes; namely, the Fleet
Reserve, the Merchant Marine Re-
serve, and the Volunteer Naval Re-
serve. It is composed of male citi-
zens of the United States and the
insular possessions of the United
States of II years of age and over,
who by appointment or enlistment
therein, or by transfer or assign
ment thereto. obligate themselves
to serve in the Navy in tir1e of war
or during the existence OF a nat
ional emergency declared by the
President.
1.-The Volunteer Naval Communi-
cation Reserve comprises enlisted
men and officers whose specially
is communications, either radio or
signalling. Yeomap or those quail
fled for clerical duties, have re-
Gently been added. AS the name
implies, service is voluntary. The
term of enlistment is for four
years, except that in case Of nat
ional emergency, the service is
for the duration of the emergency.
Men are furnished uniforms free of
charge and may take training duty
at sea or on land with pay. This
duty has, until recently been limit
ed to two weeks in one year. At
the present time officers and men
may volunteer for active duty up
to one years duration. Many men
and officers are accepting this
duty. One radioman from this city
is spending his summer vacation
from college in this manner.
THE Navy Department has is
sued instructions to all regular
Navy and Naval Reserve recruit
ing officers to enlist men in the
Volunteer Communication Reserve
for radiomen, signalmen, and Yeo-
men duties, and has specifically
requested that amateur radio ope-
rators in each city be contacted.
Among the Wilmington radio
amateurs, there is material for
an excellent communication unit.
It is hoped that all who can pos
sibly do so will apply for this
branch of service"