Evening star., 1942-05-24
Naval Reserve Unit
Held Their First
Training Last Week
First Seomonship Course
By Bootswoin's Mate;
Many Seek Commission

By Bootswoin's Mate;
Many Seek Commission
Naval Reserve officers who OBJ
tanned their commissions because
of their special training in civil life
or because they had college degrees,
but were without any sea going
knowledge and who have been as
signed to the local officers training
division last week received their
first training in some marlin-spike
seamanship, which deals with yarns,
ropes and lines. Under direction of
an old-timer chief boatsWain's mate,
who is assigned to the instruction
force. they worked for several hours.
All Of the intricate knots were ex-
planned.
They will continue it again the
next drill night, but before each
drill period, they will be given
short period of setting-up exercises
with the Butts Manual, because the
work with the lines is a little cramp-
ing and confining
The local naval officer procure
ment Office had its largest number
of applications for commissions last
week. Hundreds of young men are
seeking to enter the naval service
through this medium. The number
Of applicants is getting SO large for
this area that branch office was
established last week in Baltimore
The local Office is supposed to
handle all applications under the
jurisdiction of the Potomac River
command, which takes in all of the
District of Columbia and generally
all of the counties of Maryland and
Virginia, adjacent to the Potomac
River. While men in the vicinity
Of Baltimore are expected to apply
there, it was said the local Office
also will receive applications from
these States who come here.
It was said only a few get further
than the first interview of the pro-
curement officers. Many do not have
any special qualifications for naval
service. and others do not have the
requisite college degree. In only a
few instances, it was explained, can
a man be taken into the Reserve
with a commission unless he has
q college degree from an accredited
institution.
Many Rejected.
Some Of these men are turned
down because they have degrees
from institutions not on the ac-
credited list of the Navy. These
colleges have made some kick to the
procurement Office, but it was ex-
planned, that until further instruc-
tions are received from the Navy.
applicants will save considerable
time by assuring themselves that
they have degrees from the colleges
on the so-called accredited list.
Those not eliminated by lack of
education or special qualifications
are rejected on physical grounds,
mostly for eye-test failures. Even
If a man wears glasses he is given a
preliminary unofficial test to ascer-
tain whether there is a likelihood of
passing the regular medical exami-
nation. If there is a chance that
he will he is accepted tentatively.
Young men are badly needed as
DECIDING and courier officers. They
must have a college degree and be
under 80 years of age They do
not have to have any special train
ing, but must have sufficient educa-
tional background that they can
quickly absorb the instruction in an
Intensive training course
This is one branch of the service
where young lawyers can obtain en-
trance into the Reserve with a COM
mission. The duty will, in many
instances, involve long distance
travel. as they are the ones who
will be assigned to transporting the
many sacret codes when being taken |
to ships and stations. These codes
are only intrusted to officer per-
sonnel. Those who are accepted |
will be commissioned as an ensign.
CAPT. Lovette Speaker.
Capt. Leland P. Lovette, assistant |
to the director of public relations
of the Navy Department, in address
ig meeting of the local chapter
of the United States Naval Reserve |
Officers Association at the Wash |
ington Hotel last week, spoke large
ly of his experiences at Pearl Har-
Dor during the attack. He had high
praise for the duty performed by
Naval Reserve officers, and discussed
briefly the place of Naval Reserve
officers in the present scheme.
Aerologists are being sought for
commissioning for assignment to
aeronautic organizations ashore and
af1oat. They must be between the
ages Of 10 and 81. should hold a
degree in engineering or science and
have special training in meteorology,
should have at least one year
of college physics and completed a
course in mathematics, including
integral and differential calculus.
A special class of supply officers
Is being sought for small naval ac-
tivities, such as minor air bases or
other military stations. A short
course in indoctrination will be pro-
vided for officers indicted. They
must be between the ages Of % and
~ warn