Evening star., 1942-06-07
Vast Increase Seen
In Personnel Of
Naval Reserves
Re-entry Of Former
Officers Sought by
Navy Department

Indications of a vast increase in
Naval Reserve personnel to provide
trained officers for use on the new
combat ships were seen last week
in new calls for personnel to apply
at the local Naval Reserve Procure
ment Office at 1920 G street NV.
There was also sudden boost in
the number of officers who will take
the Naval Reserve training course
which is being conducted at the
Reserve armory in the Washington
Navy Yard, for, it now seems, many
officers who came into the service to
perform some particular shore job,
for which they were we'll trained,
may find themselves going to the
ships and air forces, after period
Of training.
The call came from the Navy De-
partment seeking the re-entry into
the service of former naval and
Naval Reserve officers of as far
back as World War l. That the
need for trained officers is great,
1t was said, because of the fact that
many officers of the last World War
are now above the age limit which
the Navy Department has hereto
fore fixed as maximum for re-en-
rollment, that is so years. While
they must meet the naval physical
standards, it was added, due con-
sideration will be given to the age
and minor physical defects.
There is no doubt that many
former officers will offer their serv-
ices, as it is known that since
the emergency started, and even
before Pearl Harbor, number made
applications, but most of them were
above the age limit.
Even for those who might not
be physically fit for sea duty, it was
said, could be used to relieve shore
and base personnel.
Completing Instruction.
In the local Reserve activities
the training force is completing
the elementary naval instruction
for 1856 officers assigned to take the
course. as the Bureau of Aeronautics
said they will have to hurriedly
revise their plans in order that the
new group may be taken in hand
Immediately and that additional in
struction officers will be assigned
to help in the duty. Those who
will start the course next week Will
complete it in 10 weeks, and this
makes necessary a change IN the
curriculum because the first group
was planned to occupy full 10
weeks. All of the new instructors,
it was said, will be commissioned
personnel.
The increase in the student per-
sonnel will make it necessary 10
divide the present organization INTO
two distinct divisions, with the pos
sibility that two drill nights Will
have to be assigned because OF the
crowded conditions at the armory
The instructors say this will be
avoided If possible because II Will
involve that much additional outy
for the trainers as they nave 10
perform their regular tasks III 'iie
daytime. A.,
Some Rejected.
while q number of civilians who
have applied for original appoint
nents in the reserve, and who are
without any previous naval tram
irg have been turned down by the
NAVY Department after their papers
we're approved here, it was said that
th,s does not mean that they Will
rot he later considered. Their ap-
nlications and records are being
kent on file for later call.
some of these applicants VINO mao
the necessary general quallncaelolis
were refused commissions on Ihe
Ground that there sis no present
billet available for them" 1t was
said this is perhaps due to the
fact that the department is recelV-
ing hundreds of applications from
ali over the country and is making
a selection of the best to fill the
present billets. Some OF the ap-
plicants were turned down because
of the investigation by the local
procurement officer and the Navy
Department of their civilian back
ground. In the case of those for
the Office of naval intelligence this
is closely checked several times. But
for the most part, officers stressed
it is no reflection on the Individual
applying for a commission when
he is turned down.
Medical personnel now is in great
demand. Doctors up to 81 years
of age are being sought to be as
signed to duties ashore, on hospital
ships or foreign stations in the
speciality for which qualified. How
ever, it was explained that they
may be assigned to duty aboard
all classes of vessels If they are
qualified. Dental officers also are
being sought for duties both ashore
end float. Applicants below the
age of 40 will be given preference