Evening star., 1942-08-09
Naval Reserves
Seeking ChapIains
For War Service
PIun to Enlist
Theological Students;
PIutoons Training

Hundreds of ordained ministers
and priests are being sought by the
local office of Naval Reserve Officer
Procurement, at 1920 G street NV.
to fill many vacancies of chaplalns
in the service. 1t was said any who
desire to get immediate service with
the combat forces or to take sta
tions in the outlying commands
where there is possibility of some
time seeing some real action might
find ready response to their appH-
cations.
There has been great need for
chaplains for the Navy for a long
time, and the demands now being
made are a sort of accumulation OF
what has failed to be a regular in
flow. and which has been overlooked
in the demands for other men for
the combat branches of the service.
The maximum age limit is a years.
The Procurement officials are now
taking steps to assure STEADY
stream in later years if the war con-
tinues for any lengthy period by en-
rolling those now in the theological
schools. During the time they are
studving they will be enrolled, II
they apply, in the provisional rank
of ensign and upon successful COM
pletion of their courses and award
of a diploma will be given a perma-
nent rank.
Personal applications for selection
for officers and enlisted personnel IN
the WAVES, the new auxiliary serv-
ice for women in the Naval Reserve,
are literally coming in waves to the
Office of Procurement here.
With the idea of preventing the
crowding of the limited quarters
available in the old City Club Build
ing, 1t. Comdr. o. j. GulllckSon,
U. S. Navy, in charge of the offlce,
has requested that no one seeking
appointment in the new service
apply in person.
Those interested in joining the
new service are requested to send an
application by mail and they then
will be sent QUESTIONABLE which Is
intended to develop, for the appoint
ing authorities, all information
which they believe desirable on
which to base a decision. Upon eX-
animation of the returned question
naire, if the applicant is found to
have sufficient qualifications, she
,,i,, he called to the local office for
an aptitude test.
Upon completion of this test, II
the applicant is successful, she Will
be given physical test on the same
dav, and it will be necessary to make
only one trip to the procurement
Office, when all matters can be set
tied.
The local field Offices for the pro-
curement officers for the Naval Re
serve are finding it difficult to get
sufficient officers for small BOAT
work: that is, those who have had
training in the waters tributary TO
the Chesapeake Bay. They nave
received a number of applications
from men who do not have the
requisite college degrees.
There is the possibility, 1t was IN
dicated, that because of the sltua-
ton and the urgent demand for
small boat seamen that the quallfl-
cations may have to be lowered
somewhat.
A weekly drill competition has
been established among the three
platoons of enlisted men which are
taking indoctrination training at
the armory in the Washington Navy
Yard, under the direction OF 1t.
c. H. Smith, Sd.
The Second Platoon, commanded
by 1t. H. B. Kirkham, last week won
the competition, which is judged
each week by a separate group OF
disinterested judges. The drilling
Is done by officers selected from the
officers indoctrination platoon,
rather than the regular officers OF
the platoon. This, it was said, serves
to give the newly appointed officers
In the service an Oppol tuil1ty W pun
into practical use some of the class
room instruction which they have
previously received in their indoctrl-
nation course.
During the current good weather
the classroom instruction has been
largely overlooked in the interest OF
outdoor drills. particularly practical
training in the infantry movements
and the manual of arms. This type
of training, it was said, will be kept
up until the weather cools some
what, and working in the classrooms
becomes more comfortable.
Special efforts also are being made
by the procurement office to find
enough physicians, surgeons and
dentists for enrolment in the re-
serve. 1t was said the service is re-
ceiving very few applications, al
though the demand is getting
heavier