Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-02
Army Magazine Urge,
Calling Of Inactive
Reserve Officers
Abilities Of Large Group,
Proved in World War,
Held Going to Waste

The way should be opened by
revision of Army regulations to use
the abilities of a Large pool of men
with long service as reserve officers,
experienced in the World War, EN-
cient in their private business and
physically able to do executive train
ing, and administrative work" &C
cording to a new proposal put forth
by reserve group which has formu-
lated a plan whereby this could be
accomplished.
These men, according to the plan
set forth in the magazine "The Army
Ofdcer," cannot under present regu-
latiors be called to duty because
Of an age limitation
AT a time when commissions are
being granted to civilians" says the
publication, ut seems a waste OF
material for the War Department
to arbitrarily disqualify these Army
officers whose records show high
standard Of efficiency throughout
their military careers and who could
be used to great advantage.
The Army now in the f1eld,' it
Is pointed out. is being ofncered
to large extent by reserve officers
called to active duty. Under the
leadership of the professional regu-
lar Army officers, these reserve off,
GERS have given excellent service and
proved capable.
Not Enough Available.
1.-THE number of officers available,
however. Is not sufficient for the
needs. Every effort is being made to
relieve younger officers now on duty
in administrative positions for duty
with troops Men from civil life,
without military experience, are now
being commissioned in the Army OF
the United States to fill adminiStra-
tive positions"
The common argument that
older men are not sufficiently alert
to readily adjust themselves to the
rapidly changing conditions of mod
ern war can hardly apply to many
Of these inactive reserve officers.
"A great proportion OF these mac
tive reserve officers are successful
business and professional men of
high standing in their respective
communities, their success in life
due to their intelligent initiative
and adaptability to changing condi-
tons and foresight-qualities essen
Gal for the proper functioning OF q
commissioned officer.
ITO many of these officers the pay
IN the Army would be materially less
than their present civil salaries.
However no financial sacrifice is too
great for these men who have de-
voted 50 many years OF their life to
active Army work and whose sole
desire In this emergency is to serve
their country, just as they have
shared in the preparedness effort by
long service in the Ofncers Reserve
Corps without compensation and in
most cases at actual expense to
themselves.
Form Untapped Reservoir.
'The abnormal increase Of the
Army" the article continues, "re-
Quires q proportionate increase in
trained ofilcer personnel for COM
mand, training and administrative
duties and no available source for
such material should be overlooked
"A reservoir Of experienced. able
reserve officers. hitherto untapped.
can be drawn upon by simple
changes in existing Army regula-
tons
The recommendation specifically
IS that existing Army regulations
be changed to permit the calling to
active duty of so-called inactive
reserve officers under approximately
The same conditions which already
permit the calling to active duty OF
retired officers Of the regular
Army"
At the present time. it is explained,
regular Army officers reaching the
age Of "a are placed on the retired
list. Reserve officers reaching this
age are commissioned in the So
called inactive reserve" In both
Eases such officers are theoretically
subject to call to duty, as their for
nal relationship to the Army does
not cease with their transfer to the
retired list or the inactive reserve.
Under present regulations retired