Evening star., 1941-03-02

suit in more ships being commits
stoned.
Though the work and the duty is
likely to be hard and intense, the
pay will be comparatively small.
Yet, it was pointed out, it is likely
larger than many of them would
receive upon graduation from COL
lege, if they were successful even in
obtaining jobs. While attending the
naval school the students receive S65
a month and their quarters, uni
forms and subsistence. Upon being
commissioned and reporting for ac-
tive duty they will receive $125 a
month and an allowance of S18 a
month for subsistence. Out of this,
after the first uniform allowance
Of $3.50, they must provide their
uniforms and also pay their mess
bill. But there will be nothing for
quarters, and probably little time
to spend the rest, as with the feet
facing the important duty of keep
ing It's fighting efficiency at top
notch, it will be cruising and ma
neuvering most of the time. There
will be hardly enough time in port
to spend too much of the remainder.
The next step ahead for these
ensigns will be the rank of heuten-
ant, junior grade, and this will pay
S16667 a month, with an allowance
of $96, or total of S26267.
Fitness Reported.
While, obviously, the Navy does
not hold forth the prospect of quick
promotion for these young officers,
nevertheless, with rapid fleet ex-
pansion calling for officers of higher
rank for greater tasks, these young
ensigns, along with those in the
regular establishment, will go on up
the list, depending, of course, upon
their qualifications, and the manner
in which they have performed their
tasks as junior officers. for each six
months each officers commander
makes out a fitness report on him,
ano when time comes for promo
ton, these are closely scrutinized by
the examining boards which handle
the procedure for the promotion Of
officers.
Furthermore. the receipt of a COM
mission after graduating from one
of the three forced-draft naval
schools does not, by any means, in
dicate the end of the road goal for
these young men. 1t is, in reality.
the beginning, and for those who
might be tempted to lag, it might
be the end of a naval career, for
being in the Reserve, they could be
very promptly ordered to the in
active list, and oblivion as far as
their naval activities are concerned.
Although the members of this
Reserve class are required to be
unmarried to be admitted to the
courses, the Navy does not have the
same restriction on them as to mar
riage after commissioning as it does
for midShipmen upon graduation.
The latter are not permitted to
marry for period of two years after
graduation. But unless some of the
Reserve ensigns have independent
income, the small pay is likely to
discourage marriage without any
restriction from the Navy
All of this training in the three
schools is to obtain officers only
for the surface and subSurface craft.
as those for the air service are being
obtained by other means. Because
Of this special branch for the air
service, it is not likely that any of
these young officers will go into this
branch, and particularly because Of
the fact that they are being educated
either for deck or engineering duties
only. Officers educated at Annapolis,
however, are trained so that they
may be assigned at any time either
to deck or engineering duties.
Assignment Period.
The ordering Of these young
officers to the active list, and assign
ment to vessels of the fleet is for an
indefinite period, its termination
resting on the world conditions or
the ability of the officer under serv-
Ice conditions. Once with the fleet,
they will perform the usual duties
of junior officers of the ships, stand
ing Junior deck watches or watches
in the engine and fire rooms under
the senior watch officers, doing
junior officer duties in the divisions,
serving as assistants to the naviga-
tor, learning those things which will
flt them for similar important taks
in their. own right. serving in the
turrets, and in charge of gun crews,
as assistants to the gunnery officers.
During their tours of duty in their
first assignments they are likely to
get taste of all these tasks, and
as they fit themselves they will mark
their own roads to greater respon-
Sibilities when more ships come from
the building yards to take their
places with the mighty armada
which faces the gigantic task of pro-
tecting the country and its possess
sions from invasion.