Evening star., 1940-10-20
Naval Reservists
Here Not 10 Leave
By Divisions
Small Groups
To Be Ordered
Out at Intervals

~ ~
Out at Intervals
Because Of the necessity Of hav-
ing force here, capable OF train
ing additional young men for the
United States Naval Reserve, 1t was
indicated last week that the entire
local battalion may not be called
into the Federal service at one time.
1t was indicated that the men will
only be taken into the service as
billets show up indicating their
need.
In view of this latest develop
ment, it was said that the Sd Fleet
Division here, commanded by
1t. F. S. Kirk, as a result OF the
inspection of last year had been
designated to answer the first call.
AS indicated, the whole division Is
not likely to be called at the same
time. Therefore, the men who have
served together for years In the
local battalion and on the annual
training cruises. will be parted in
order to serve the exigencies Of the
service.
As the Navy needs men from the
various specialist lines, 1t will call
upon the various ratings in the unit.
For instance, it was explained. II
the Navy needs three or four ma
chinist's mates to fill particular
vacancy in a ship then these will
be called from the Sd Division. II 1t
/ needs a certain number OF trained
seamen, then these will be mustered
/ into the service and set to join their
| ships.
1t was disclosed last week that
plans had been perfected for the
construction of a new armory for
| the local reservists, but that the
plan has temporarily fallen through
during the preparations for national
defense. Crowded, under ordinary
conditions, the present building IN
/ the Washington Navy Yard which
serves under the name OF any ar
mory, has become worse during the
great influx of new personnel into
the Reserve.
For a number Of years local Re-
serve officers have been working on
a plan for the construction OF an
armorv on the Anacostla River
water front, within the lines OF the
Navy Yard reservation. but il was
said that the latest plans call for
the placing of the building on the
site of the present armory. II was
proposed TO transfer the present
activities of the Reserve to the base
ment of the new Administrator
Building in the Yard.
Officers have not been informed
as 10 whether the plans have been
entirely abandoned because OF the.
call for the Reserve to go into the
service. but 1t was said that a new
building of some proportions would
be needed in order to give proper
training for the men which the Re-
serve expects to enlist after the
main body now training goes into
the service.
Enlistment in the Reserve has be-
come more attractive to the young
men at the present time because 1t
is a three-year enlistment, while
that for the Regular establishment
is for a period of six years. A
Young man can see immediate serv-
ice by entering the Naval Reserve
just as quick as entering the Regu-
lar establishment. where he also
would have to 60 through the train
ing station and then only submit to
a three-year enlistment In order
to provide a reservoir for the first
call orders have been issued by 1t.
w. Croft Jennings, commander of
the local battalion, that all recruits
who enlist from now on be assigned
to the Sd Division so as to bring up
to the new strength of 100 men
which was recently fixed by the
Navy Department.
In order to provide for the train
ing of the men expected 10 enlist
during the next few months. it was
indicated that a number Of the
division officers. those who have
trained the members of the present
command. will be placed on an
active status and ordered to duty at
the armory to take charge OF the
training work. 1t has not been
decided who these officers will be.
it was said, but it was said that this
fits in with the plan to send the
men to active duty only as they are
needed aboard vessels of the feet on
the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts. 1t
is barely possible, it was said, that
some of the men will be sent 10 the
neutrality patrol, because most Of
their training cruises have been
taken aboard destroyers. All Of the
three divisions have just returned
from tour of duty aboard the
ships.
1t. q. g. w. S. Brown, COM
mander of the I'd Division, has been
promoted to the rank Of lieutenant
The United States Naval Reserve
officers Association is planning to
have a tour of the Diving School at
the Washington Navy Yard for its
November meeting, and at its
December meeting will hold its an
nual election of officers.