Evening star., 1941-06-08
Guard Appointments
To Military School
Are Under Study
New Regulations
Are Expected
To Change Rules

Offlcers of the National Guard
Bureau of the War Department are
studying the question of how to
fill the Is appointments to the
United States Military Academy at
West Point, which are available
each year to enlisted men of the
National Guard through competi-
tive examination. At the headquar-
ters of the District National Guard,
it was said no informa ton has
been received as to whether the
District would receive any appoint
ments this year.
There is only one unit of the
Guard in an inactive status at this
time, the 121st Observation Squad
ron, which is expecting within a
few months to be called to active
service. Under the regulations still
in effect concerning the appoint
mentS to the military school from
the militia. candidates have to enlist
in a Guard unit one year prior to
the time they would enter the
academy. if successful in the tests
and to perform a certain number of
drills with an active unit
Might Enlist Now.
In the event there are candidates.
it was suggested that they might
enlist in the local outfit which is
still on an inactive status and serve
with it while some final decision is
made by the War Department as to
what is to be done toward keeping
the vacancies at the school filled
Unless there is further legislation.
it was said, they could not be filled
from any other source because of
the statutory provision that they
must be enlisted men in the Ma
tional Guard. The local regulations
concerning selections for the ap-
pointment which is usually assigned
here is that the candidate must be
a resident Of the District of Co.
lumbia.
When the matter was called to
the attention of officials of the Ma
tional Guard Bureau last week they
said instructions were ready for
corps area commanders. They were
informed as to what the Navy had
done about the enlisted candidates
from the Naval Reserve. and it was
suggested that the candidates might
be given a period of active duty
during the summer months and
restored to an inactive status. with
some provision for them attending
drills during the remainder of the
fiscal year to comply with other fea-
lures of the regulations. They
might attend drills or classroom in
structlons in the evening once a
week at some Army center or post
in the vicinity of their home sta
tions.
1t was conceded that in the case
of these candidates it is almost
necessary they be relieved from ac-
tive service with troops during the
time that they are preparing for
the competitive tests, so that they
can attend preparatory schools. 1t
was explained, in the event that
the regulations are changed, they
will make some provisions so that
the candidates can have free time
to prepare, and constant service
with troops, with the possibility of
participating in gigantic maneuvers
in the field would not permit them
to perform this part of the task.
Year Limit Discussed.
With the time rapidly approach
ing when the one-year limit, orig
inally specified for training of the
National Guard in the field under
active service conditions will be
ended, there is talk among militia
men that the time may be EXTEND
ed. The training program has hard
ly gotten under way, and in many
cases the equipment necessary to
fully supply many of the outfits
with the implements they would
need in actual combat operation has
not been supplied, and the men have
not had time to work with it. While
the troops are getting hardened
from their field service. it was said
that there is little doubt but what
they will need considerably more
training to make them efficient
combat troops.
1t was explained the District units
did not 60 into the field until the
first of the, year, but that it will
not be long before the year is up,
and they haven't received any big
training in divisional and Army
Corps operations. These probably
will come this summer in the new
territory acquired in Virginia for
the big troop movements.
Some of the officers of the local
air outfit are on active duty and
are directing the mobilization and
procurement of equipment as rap
idly as the Army can supply 1t.
About the only thing now which
the organization lacks perhaps Is
its planes and some automotive
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