Evening star., 1941-09-05
Rule May Force
Reckord From
TroopConnmand
Big Shoke-up in Field
Officers Near os Age
Limits Are Reduced
By NELSON SHEPARD.

Mai. Gen. Milton A. Reckord, COM
manding officer of Fort George G,
Meade, Md, and the 29th Division,
is one of four "overage" National
Guard division commanders slated
for early replacement by younger
men, it was learned today, if the
War Department hew to the line
of a new policy setting up the first
schedule of maximum age limits for
United States Army off1cers on
service with troop units"
The new age limits, ranging from
81 years for major generals in COM
mand of divisions to 80 years for
second ieutenants, visualize the
largest "Shakeup" of field officers the
Army has experienced since the start
of mobilization.
UnderSecretary Patterson, who
said late yesterday the order was.
designed to "revitalize" the field
forces, estimated that approximately
500 Regular Army officers will be
affected, with some $500 Guard Of
ficers and few reServists making
up the balance Strict adherence to
the policy, 1t was said, would take
a toll of at least 20 per cent of the
22.300 Guard officers now on active
duty.
Would Get Other Duties.
The officers severed from service
with troop units are still to be re-
tanned in the Army but their serv-
ices will be transferred to admin
istrstive or staff duty away from
troops. In other words, many OF
them will be given swivel chair"
jobs. No regular officers of the
rank of major general will be i'm
mediately affected by the new
policy, because of the recent weed
ing out of leverage" commanders
and their replacement by younger
officers.
The commander of the 29th Di-
vision, which is composed of Guards
men from the District Of Columbia,
Maryland. Virginia and Pennsyl-
vania, will not be officially eligible
for transfer until December %, his
Sand birthday anniversary. Gen.
Reckord was inducted into the Fed
eral service on February 3, 194l.
There is a degree of elasticity in
the new policy, it was pointed out,
that may make an exception in the
case Of Gen. Reckord, who has a
distinguished record in the National
Guard and is generally credited as
one of the best field commanders in
the Army.
Maj. William w. Haskell. COM
mander of the 27th New York Guard
Division, at Fort Mcclellan, Ala,
and Maj. Gen. Claude V. Birkhead,
36th Texas Guard Division, at Camp
Bowie, Tex, are each 63 years of
age. They would be Immediately
eligible for transfers.
The other National Guard officer,
Mai Gen. Edward Martin, in COM
mand OF the 18th Pennsylvania
Division at Indiantown Gap, Pa,
will be 81 on September %.
Age Limit Schedule.
The following schedule of maxi
mum age limits for the various
ranks was set up: Major generals
who are division commanders, e.;
brigadier generals, so; colonies, SIS;
lieutenant colonels, So; majors, At;
captains. AZ; first lieutenants, 35;
second lieutenants, 80.
Specifically exempted from the
age limits are officers serving with
the Air Force. Mr.. Patterson said
that was because of the need for
the maximum number of Air Corps
officers and the fact that there is
a heavy demand" for non-f1ying
officers for service with the Air
Forces. For that reason they are
not classed as troops" under the
age-in-grade policy. Also exempted
is Gen. George C. Marshall, chief of
staff. who is 81; Army corps COM
manders who are major generals,
and field army commanders who are
lieutenant generals.
The 30-year age limit applied to
second lieutenants, Mr.. Patterson
emphasized, will not apply to en-
listed men who have successfully
passed the officer candidate schools.
A great many of these men, he said,
are 80 years of age or older.
Repercussions Possible.
With approximately 20 per cent
OF National Guard officers, it was
feared in War Department circles
that repercussions will be heard on
Capitol Hill when some of the
Guard officers are slated for re-
moval from the field. There was
comparatively little criticism, how
ever, and good deal Of praise from
members of Congress when Gen
Marshall first began a process OF
wedding out over-age general off,
GERS in strategically important field
commands.
Congress also empowered the Wal
Department recently to set up ar
Army "plucking board" with a view
to bringing about the discharge Of
retirement of officers deemed unfit
or physically unable to stand the
rigors of modern campaigning. Thai
board has yet to pass on its frs
sla&e of retirements.
1t Is not the intention to accom-
plish the removal OF all "overage'
ofieers from troop units immedi-
ately under the newly announced
policy, the War Department said
1t is more likely the transfers will
be spread over a sufficient period
70 avoid interference with unit
e6iciency, especially during the ex-
tensive maneuvers now in progress
Mr.. Patterson emphasized that
no stigma is attached to the OFF,
GERS records in such cases.
Promotions May Save Some.
The reason why comparatively
few of the Reservists will be af-
fected is because an age-in-grade
restriction has been in effect in
the Reserve Corps since last Feb
ruary.
There are other 'loopholes'
whereby many of the average OFF,
GERS among the Regulars and Ma
tional Gulrd may escape replace
ment in the field. A number OF