Evening star., 1942-06-14
Naval Reserve
Procurement Office
Plans New Drive
College Graduates
Being Sought for
Officer Training

USIIS SouSHt III
Officer Training
Plans are being formulated by
the local Naval Officer Procurement
Office to make new drive on the
outcoming graduates from local and
nearby colleges, as well as on the
student body for future officers for
the United States Naval Reserve.
While the number of applicants for
commissions appears to show no
letup, the officers say every one
who can meet the qualifications laid
down by the Navy Department will
have a good chance of appointment,
provided their personal background
will stand up with their educational
qualifications.
Some time ago the officials OBJ
tanned from these colleges lists of
their students In the various
branches, and then wrote to each
asking them to consider an enlist
ment in the Reserve They were to
remain in an inactive status and
allowed to remain at the colleges to
complete their courses, upon COM
pletion of which they would be COM
missioned ensigns in the Reserve
and sent to active duty in accord
with their college training and
qualifications. Special attention
was given those who were taking
various branches of engineering
including industrial, electrical, civil
and mechanical. Chemists we're
not sought.
The response has not been any
thing like the Navy desires, and it
was said that the present plans
contemplate sending officers to the
colleges where they would be readily
accessible to the students and
could explain the plan and even
take their applications. officers
were inclined to believe that the
failure of any numbers to respond
was due to the fact that it would
require a day or more for the appli-
cants to come to the local procure
ment Office and because of the trans
portation difficulties. 1t is believed
that with officials visiting the insti-
tutions many more men will enlist
when the advantages are explained
to them.
About so per cent of these students
are taking courses which would not
qualify them to take commissions
upon completion of their college
work. but it was indicated that some
of the freshmen might be induced
to include other subjects which
would make them available for en-
listment.
Many Are Sought.
The officials are going to make a
drive to get as many graduates this
year as possible. The advantages
of such a commission at this time,
particularly with a likelihood that
more and more men will be taken
under the selective service system.
will be pointed out to the graduates
The off1cials say they will consider
those with almost any kind of de-
gree, even those with only master
of arts. If they have had some
mathematical instruction they will
be accepted and sent to one of the
Naval Reserve officer training
schools for further instruction pre-
paratory to being trained for duty
aboard ship.
It is said there are large number
of billets in the supply corps which
are to be filled by college graduates
with business administration and
similar degrees. At the same time,
men with considerable practical
training in business administration
and management will be taken into
the service.
Many who do not have the requi-
site mathemat atical background for
enrolment for further instruction to
be sent to sea as line officers are
being taken for the communications
branch where they will be used in
the coding and DECIDING service at
the message centers.
Many who sought to enter in the
air combat intelligence service, be-
cause the first qualifications were
fixed below college grade, were
turned down when their approved
applications reached the Navy De-
partment. This was due to the fact
that when the great volume of ap-
plications came from all parts of the
country the department was able to
make a selection of sufficient men
with college degrees to fill all of the
billets open at this time.
The organization of the officer
divisions are the local Reserve
armory were completed last week
and the units started course of 10
weeks training. The group has been
divided into three divisions and all
will meet on Thursday nights. It
was said that it has been found
possible to give all of them instruc-
tion on one night instead of dividing
1t up into two periods as had been
planned.
This will complete the enrollments
IN these classes until they have com.
plsted their studiaA