Evening star., 1940-09-15
Unit
OF Naval Reserve
Intensifies Traininq
Promotions Ready
In All Petty
Officer Grades

Although 1t only reached second
place in the national competition
| over the air in radio communica-
tion, under naval procedure, the
naval communications division of
the local Naval Reserve is prepar-
ing for an intensive training year
in order to get back to its former
flrst-place position, according to 1t.
Comdr. j. H. Nicholson, command
ing the division.
The next competition year begins
tomorrow, and the commander ex-
poets all members of the division,
particularly radio operators, who
have volunteered for extensive Pc
riods Of active duty to meet the de-
mands of the naval establishment
for men trained in handling naval
traffic by radio.
During the approaching year, in
addition to the training received
in the competition over the air. the
members Of the command will re-
ceive considerable first hand train
ing through being assigned to the
training ship of the local organized
reserve battalion. A ne wradio trans
mitter, for both voice and key. has
been installed, and on each trip
of the vessel enough men will be
assigned from the communications
| division in order to maintain a
regular 24-hour watch during the
entire period that the vessel is away
from its home station at the Wash
ington Navy Yard These oper-
ators will handle regular naval traf-
| flc between the ship while cruising
on the Potomac River and Chesa-
peake Bay. and the radio station at
the Washington Navy Yard, as we'll
as the Naval Reserve station in the
armory, which also is located in the
Washington yard.
incidentally, is was said that this
| station has been considerably mod
ernized for the activities of the ap.
preaching drill season, and the sta
ton. known as NED, is now ready
to handle any special assignments
which may be given it by the Navy
or during the course of the over
the-air drills.
Because of the shortage Of radio
operators in the command due to
the fact that the men have ac-
cepted active duty, the division was
unable to fill four vacancies pro-
vided for radio men of the COM
mand on each of the three destroy
ers which now have aboard three
divisions of the local battalion tax
ing their annual period of sea
training on the Southern drill
grounds.
Because of the depletion In the
ranks, an active recruiting cam
paign is being conducted under the
direction of Comdr Nicholson, who
Is anxious to interest many radio
operators, particularly amateurs. in
the naval service. There are said
to be excellent opportunities for
advancement, it was explained. as
there now are vacancies for seven
chief radiomen, eight radiomen,
first class; seven radiomen, second
class; two radiomen, third class;
eight signalmen and three yeomen,
the latter being the title of clerks
and stenographers and typists in
the Navy.
1t was explained that these rat
ings will be filled from the present
lower grades, but that men now
enlisting would have an oppor-
tunity OF rapid promotion as soon
as they prove their proficiency in
the particular lines Enlistment
now would give young men an op-
portunlty to reach the higher paid
petty offlcer grades before they are
called into the service.
In the midst of their training
! period after a full week on the
] Southern drill grounds of the Navy
on the Virginia Capes, the 1st Bat
talon. United States Naval Reserves
I in the District of Columbia. will get
down to the real business of war
practice this week.
After brief respite, when shore
liberty was given officers and men
OF the battalion at Charleston. S. C.,
the citizen sailors will put to sea
tomorrow to show their skill at the
big guns aboard the destroyers on
which they are cruising. Each divi.
sion Is aboard a destroyer. Each
division has two gun crews which
Will have to fire the record practice
required of the Organized Reserve
divisions.
Officers and men are making
efforts to have the local citizen
sailors qualify for the Nays "E"
for gunnery efficiency. 1t will be
months before they know the re-
suits, as reports from other Naval
Reserve divisions must be tabulated
at the Navy Department to deter
mine the best firing organization.
For the battalion receiving the
highest marks in all branches, there
is a trophy and also one for the best
division in the country. During the
past few years the local battalion
and the divisions have been climb
ing toward the top of the list. TIE
Officers are confident that at least
one of the divisions, if not the bat
talon, will make the top marks this
year.
The three overage destroyers be-
ing used in the training of the local
reservists are scheduled to return 10
the Navy Yard here Saturday morn
Ing. The ships will head fer the
Virginia Capes and the Chesapeake
Bay soon after completing their tar
get practice, to bring the local citi-
zen sailors home and start out again
with another group in another
| area.
Naval Reserve headquarters In the
Navy Yard is being overwhelmed
with applications from young men
seeking appointment to cadetships
and three months of intensive COL
lege training which will fit them for
vS.t< I'd