Evening star., 1940-10-15
Reserve Officers Told
$4,000 Will Be on
Active Duty July |
Gen. Hester Touches on
Question Involved in
Calling of Corps

More than $4,000 members of the
Off1cers Reserve Corps will be on
active duty by the end of the fiscal
year, Brig. Gen John H Hester,
executive for Reserve affairs of the
War Department. declared last
night.
He pointed out that while still
at peace we are greatly increasing
our defensive strength though in
an unusual situation in relation to
preparedness"
The Reserve executive last night
gave an explanation of Army needs
to District and nearby Maryland
and Virginia Reservist officers in
the Departmental Auditorium.
OF the 3,400 Reserve officers listed
for this region. more than 300 at
tended the meeting. which was pre-
sided over by Col. Lester Baker,
executive for the District.
Outlines Continued Service Plans.
In answer to questions after his
formal talk Gen. Hester said there
were four means of continuing serv-
ice after expiration of the draft law
He said personnel could volunteer
for continued service, could attend
the officer candidate volunteer
schools. Congress could extend the
time limitation, or the National
Guard could be kept in service The
present Reserve Corps legislation
expires in two years
1--WE already had more than suf-
ficient Regular Army officers for
those positions requiring field
grades, but were short on COM
pany grades Many Reserve officers
of field grades have been brought
on extended active duty. but not
in Regular Army units. Others will
be brought in later in connection
with selective service and further
increases in the Regular Army he
explained.
There are listed with the War
Department 10000 Reserve officers
In this connection, he said. main
provisions of the mobilization plan
call for a balance between Regular
Army and National Guard units.
OTducS A<CCuCu.
Under the provisions of this plan.
many Reserve officers of junior grade
are required for expansion of Reg
ular Army and National Guard units
and officers of all grades are re-
quired for running the replacement
centers," he said.
He pointed out that present
mobilization plans provide for two
armies of nine corps of 27 divisions.
with the necessary corps and army
troops: q General Headquarters Re-
serve. harbor defense troops and
oversee garrisons. .
This force" he declared, sis con-
sidered to be adequate to meet tho
initial phases of anv emergency. AS
the need for additional troops be-
comes apparent. this initial force
will be augmented by the necessary
units of the Organized Reserves he
said.
The Army official pointed out that
at is true that we are not at war
but in SO far as the work OF the
War Department is concerned, you
might think 1t is war.
They mean business in Wash
ington and no stone is left unturned
toward preparing the Army for
whatever duty it may be called on
to perform" Gen. Hester added.
Reserves in Majority.
In general, he said, approximately
two out of three officers in Regular
Army units are now Reserve OFF,
GERS. Reserve officers now on ex-
tended active duty include Air
Corps, 5.697; others, 1859, and field
grades (estimated), 400.
Under general plans, it is expected
that by July l the Army will have
1000 additional Reserve officers
serving with Regular Army units
and 5000 for activating new units
installations, including replacement
and reception centers. are expected
to number $4,000 officers, of which
about 5000 are in the field grades.
These officers are to be brought in
by successive increments, Gen. Hes
ter said.
This brings the total to more than
$4,000 Reserve officers, exclusive of
those required by National Guard
units
considering the present emer-
eency from the standpoint of its
effect on the efficiency of the Off
GERS Reserve Corps, it can be stated
that such efficiency will be greatly
Increased" he said. Never before