Evening star., 1942-12-06
Oil Refinery Experts
Sought by U. 5. Navy
To Operate Plants
Petroleum Men With
Chemical Engineering
Background Needed

The Navy's program to provide
the service with the vast amounts OF
oil products for the operation of the
fleets is running into distractions
through lack of personnel TO operate
the plants, it was revealed last week
For some weeks the Naval Procure
ment Service has been searching
for petroleum men, with chemical
engineering background, who can
really run an oil refinery" But it
was said they have not been able
to find the men.
Because of the seriousness of the
need. naval procurement officials
at their headquarters at 1920 G
street NV, said it is the patrio ic
duty of qualified individuals to VOL
unteer their services and give up
their civilian jobs. in order to help
the service keep all its vessels in
operation.
Those qualified will have their
cases processed promptly and will be
given prompt notice as to their avail
ability.
The locations of these refineries
and where the successful candidates
will serve are military secrets.
There has been falling off in the
number of applicants at the local
procurement office. 1t was said.
Officers expressed the belief it was
rather seasonable, as many young
men contemplating volunteering for
the naval service don't want to get
in now in the belief that they might
be away from their homes for the
holidays.
The procurement officers said
these coz nn1rlating seeking COM
missions VIII be i'll in civilian life
b. Christmas even If they apply
now. Because of the time required
to investigate the background Of
prospects. for processing and re-
Ceiving the papers at the Navy De-
partment, 1t now takes about six
weeks from the date the application
Is filed until the papers are returned
with the commission, If the appli-
cant Is successful.
Mine and ammunition work of the
Navy is increasing to such an extent
he Reserve men who have specialized
In this field, as well as others who
have not particularly specialized in
this work but have sufficient train
ing as mechanics to be able to handle
some of the duties in this line.
The Procurement Office had a
call from the Navy Department last
week for number Of men for COM
missions, who had a background of
electrical engineering education and
training The Navy announced
waivers would be sought for appli-
cants who had non-organic physical
defects. In the electrical engineer
ing field also men are being sought
for the new Radar Service, for duties
In connection with construction and
operation of radio lines of commu-
nication,
Journeyman and master mechan-
lcs for duty in connection with the
etowage and maintenance of am
munition are also needed. 1t was
announced although it is desirable
applicants have experience with am
munition and its stowage, neverthe-
less because of the urgency of the
need, mechanics in other fields will
receive serious consideration fer the
billets which now are vacant.
The need of instructors in anti
submarine war training is becoming
also increasingly pressing, These
applicants should be graduates in
physics, and those whose teaching
experience is extensive will be given
very great consideration, even to the
possibility OF waving non-organic
physical defects. Mechanical en-
eineers also are wanted for this
duty.
The services are awakening to the
fact that the competition is very
keen In the technical fields and
among those with college degrees
who can be trained for line duties
In combatant areas, 1t is becoming
increasingly difi1cult to fill the great
number OF billets that are open for
qualified men. If this condition
continues for long period, 1t is
likely, it was said. some of the edu-
cational training and even physical
requirements might have to be fur
ther relaxed in order to get the
proper personnel and to keep the
gigantic naval war machine moving
Up to this time, however, there
has been only relaxation in certain
categories, including the waiver of
physical defects. In some cases
where the need is impressive, col
lege training also has been waived
where the applicant has had suffi-
cient training in his civilian en-
ployment to make him of use to
Ehe Navy In . vacant billet.