Evening star., 1940-06-30
Reserves Officers Get Training
AS i. S. Strengthens Defenses
Army Calls Up 5000 for Duty July l, Including
1871 in Air Corps to Instruct
at Flying Schools
By r obert graskin.

Uncle Sans Army is quietly slicing a
slightly green melon of manpower from
a defense investment relatively so minor
that 1t managed to escape economy
elashes for most of the past Is years.
This melon-the Reserve Corps-is
being sliced at a particularly strategic
time, when the Army is being expanded
constantly in enlisted strength-but not
in regular officers who must train the
recruits.
To permit this training and at the
same time provide an expert nucleus to
command the horde of recruits should
compulsory military training be decreed,
the Army expects to have some $4,000 of
the Nations 10000 Reserve Officers on
extended duty before the years end.
Approximately 5000 will begin Army
life July l for periods of at least six
months, with preference being given to
those willing to stay a year or more.
They include 1911 recalled to the Air
Corps to train other pilots as the Ma
tion girds for airpower second to none.
Pending in Congress, and almost Ger
tain OF quick passage, are appropriations
to expand the Regular Army to 375,00O
from the 100000 ordered last month
When these additional recruits are
added, the Army expects to call up about
1000 more Reserve officers, who will be
asked to serve for at least year and
preferably for the duration" of the
rearmament emergency.
10000 More to Get Training.
These are exclusive of 10000 who are
to be trained this summer in periods
ranging from two weeks to 35 days, at
Citizens Military Training Camps and
Officers Training Camps.
While shortage is being reported in
recruits for the ranks, no shortage exists
in the number of civilian officers volun-
teering to leave their present occupations
for lengthy periods. The Army reported
it had more applicants than funds to
train them.
Practically all being summoned are in
their twenties, first and, second leuten-
ants not yet burdened with civilian
careers that need constant nursing. Few
are of higher rank. The Army lists about
10000 men in that rank of reserves and
presumably, the Army believes, at least
10000 more would volunteer for extended
duty should the need become more press
ing. They can be compelled to accept
military duty only when Congress de-
clares an emergency exists.
The unprecedented calling up of ci-
villains to man the Nations defenses has
served as never before to spotlight
hitherto obscure but hardworking and
exceptionally patriotic section OF de-
fense; one that will bear the brunt OF
training and leading recruits should
compulsory training be approved by Con-
gress as provided in the bill introduced
by Senator Burke of Nebraska.
Many on Inactive List.
Army records indicate commissions
have been granted to twice the number
now carried on the active rolls, but there
has been little inducement in the past
and much Encouragement Reserve
officers to maintain active status. How
ever. many who were dropped have be-
gun making inquiries seeking to regain
commissions. None is being accepted
despite the acknowledged shortage OF
officers, but Army officials believe that
in an emergency they would be given
priority for new appointments. And, at
the theoretic rate of one officer for every
20 enlisted men, the number of Reserve
officers would need to be doubled should
even 100000 men be ordered into COM
pulsory military training.
In military education they are hetero-
geneous. Most have had little more
than theoretic training. About 10 per
cent are veterans of the World War with
combat experience, although when the
Officers Reserve Corps was organized
In 1922 its members were almost exclu-
sively war veterans.
About half are graduates of Reserve
Officers Training Corps at universities,
colleges and preparatory schools. Their
military education, of excellent caliber,
was chiefly theoretical. They averaged
about six weeks of actual duty in the
field at Army posts during their four
years of R. o. t. C. training.
Less than per cent are graduates of
the four-year courses offered by the Citi-
zens' Military Training Corps, consisting
of one month each summer at Army
posts, followed by a correspondence
course to qualify as officers. Their actual
training seldom advanced beyond ele-
mentary work.
A comparative few are graduates of
Army flying schools, but the remainder
were appointed from civilian life with