The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-04-13
STATE COACHES
ASKED TO AID
NAVY AVIATION
Rice, Swan, Savltt, OF.
iicers Of U. S. Navy Talk
to SpOrts.Writers

ETOp 0cttOoA una alkn ScnOol CoaCHcS,
physical education directors, as well
as members Of the Connecticut
Sports Writers Alliance, get some
flrst hand information yesterday as
TO the kind OF candidates the Naval
Aviation Cadet Selection Board de.
slres for Its new college program.
Class via ca which Is to be In
stituted July 1.
It came from q group Of Naval
Aviation officers, headed by Com
TnAnder Albert r. Rice, q. 9. N.
n. for the third district, who are
comblng the district for the best
mental and physical specimens of
l7.year old manpower, who love
competitive games and like TO
read about them.
Emphasis was placed on the
fact that In order to qualify for
the new college program, all ape
plications must be received be-
fore the May 10 deadline In order
TO insure their recommendation for
the college classes to be launched
in July and September Of this
year.
Spoke Out
From Commander Rice down,
the officers didn't pull any
punches in describing the gruel-
ling training that lay before the
successful candidates.
Theren be fight and plenty OF
II from the time the lads hit train.
Ing school at Chapel Hill, N. c.,
until they've made the grade at
one OF the big air bases later on,
and the boys who come through
will be those who prove they can
take punishment and come back.
But for those who can pass the
initial examinations, stick out the
primary training and 60 on TO
demonstrate air skill there's year
Of concentrated college training
ahead and eventually In officers
commission.
What the board Is looking for
are able. bodied, aggressive SEN
Tors In the upper half Of their
high school classes, who can pass
the necessary physical examina-
tons, get the consent Of their par
ents, produce birth certificates
and transcripts Of their school
records. Boys who are already In
college will be taken aS well as
high school seniors, II they have
not yet reached their 18th birthday.
Good Offer
Successful candidates will be en-
listed as apprentice Seamen, VS.,
and, emphasized Commander Rice,
those who get in before May 10
are practically certain OF O years
college education before combat
duty
Those who come In afterward
will have to take their chance,
but even many Of these will make
the grade.
Speakers at the luncheon, which
was presided over by william J.
Lee, sports editor Of the Hart
ford Courant, and president Of the
Sports Writers Alliance, included
1t. Max Savitt, one-time Hart
ford prosecutor and sports enthu-
siast; Lieut.. Fred Swan, erstwhile
Stanford football player, Temple
head coach and later an assistant
at Colgate, and Lieut.. Ossie
Cowles, recent Dartmouth basket
ball coach, whose seven years in
Hanover produced Ave naval avi-
ators and rival deck officer from
seven basketball captains.
Help Wanted
Present at the luncheon also
were number Of high school ath-
letic coaches, who were urged TO
interest themselves in the pro-
gram and to be prepared to adj
wise likely boys Of the opportunities
that lay ahead Of them In the avia-
ton service.
Savitt announced that the selec-
ton board would meet next Mon
day In Hartford, on April 20 In
New Haven, and at the Norwich
Free Academy, Norwich, on April
81 for boys in the Norwich New
London area.