Evening star., 1941-06-29
D. {. Air Squadron
In Need ofCooks
For Field Service
Local Militia Outfit
Also Has Vacancies
For Officer Pilots

With the prospect of an early In
duction into the service, officers of
the 121st Observation Squadron, the
new air force of the District Ma
tional Guard. besides looking into
the matter of supplies and equip
ment, is also turning to the most
important problem of Chow" 1t
became known last week that the
organization is in need of some
good cooks.
Those who are interested should
apply to the headquarters at the
armory, Sixth street and Pennsyl-
vania avenue NV, where officers on
duty are ready TO acquaint them
with the advantages of joining. OF
course, these cooks will be an i'm
portant part of the ground crew,
they are not expected to fly.
They do not have to drill and
keep up with the strict military rou-
tine, but if they are particularly
good, they are likely to get a little
higher scale of pay. Of course,
Uncle Sam does not recognize this,
but the members of all companies,
who have a good cook who can pre-
pare palatable meals. with the calory
allowance of the Army ration. are
not above chipping in little for the
cook at the end of the month after
they leave the pay table.
Pilots Are Wanted.
In addition to filling the cook bill
lets, the outfit is still looking for
young men to enroll with the view
to becoming officer pilots. 1t was
asserted that in order to get the
advantages of a thorough training
in the handling of military flying
equipment it is not even necessary
to obligate oneself by enlistment.
Likely candidates merely have to ap-
ply for the training. The only OBJ
legation is to sign an agreement that
if they pass the school tests that
they will enlist in the Guard, after
which they will be made officers.
This transition from an enlisted
man to an officer pilot for those
who take the case, it is explained,
is really almost motion
stroke. After the man enliSts he
does not have to wait months in
order to get his commission. He is
merely enlisted because the law re-
quires that officers of the National
Guard must have served in the
ranks. So the successful candidate
from the flying school merely en-
lists, and at the same time, his
qualifications having been passed
on, he is recommended for promo
ton to the rank of second lieu
tenant.
Those who apply to the local
Guard headquarters for this train
ing now, it was said, have time al
most to complete the course and
receive their commissions before the
outfit is called 10 active duty. Those
who come in late, however, may not
be inducted until after the organi-
Zation is in the field. although a
defnate date for transfer to active
field duty has not yet been set, &C
cording to the officers of the local
outfit.
Remains Only if Qualified.
1t was asserted that even though
a man is given the training at the
air schools to fit him for an officer
pilot, if it is found that he is not
suitable for flying service or that
he fails the course, he is under no
further obligation to the Guard or
the Government. He is not even
bound by a formal enlistment, until
after he completes the course. But
if he does successfully complete it
he is under an obligation to enter
the service.
1t is the hope of the officers they
will have all of their flying equip
ment before they go into the field
at their training center, which has
| been indicated as Columbia, S. c.
However, they said, there are a
number of other outfits, even those
on active duty, which do not have
their full equipment, and it is likely
that they will be supplied first.