Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-05-10
Text of Army Decentralization Credit Plan

| ] ext OF Army
The teri OF the statement By
Maj. Gen. William r. Tompkins,
director OF the Special Planning
DiDision OF the War Department
general stat. outlining the
Army's rehabilitation plan under
the point rating system.
The standards that will control
priority Of separation from the Army
will apply equally to soldiers all
over the world and they embody
the desires of the soldiers them
selves, as expressed In polls taken
by the War Department among
thousands of enlisted men In this
country and overseas. More than
80 per cent Of the men interviewed
said they believed the men to be re-
leased first should be those who
have been overseas and In combat
longest and those with children.
Accordingly, the program to be
followed provides for the issuance
to each enlisted man and woman
Of an adjusted service rating card
Separate point totals will be entered
on this card covering each Of the
following four factors:
l.. Service credit-One point for
each month of Army service since
September 1e, 1910. This is the same
as II points per year.
2. Overseas credit-One point for
each month served overseas since
September 16, 1910. This, too, is the
same as - points per year.
Combat Credits Explained.
3. Combat credit-Five points for
the first and each additional award
of the following for service per-
formed since September 16. 1910:
A. Distinguished Service Cross,
Legion of Merit, Silver Star. Distin-
guished Flying Cross, Soldiers
Medal, Bronze Star Medal. Air
Medal, Purple Heart and Bronze
Service Stars (battle participation
stars.
B. Credit will also be given for the
following decorations awarded by
the Navy Department.: Navy Cross
Distinguished Service Medal, Legion
of Merit, Silver Star Medal, Distin-
guished Flying Cross, Navy and Ma
rine Corps Medal, Bronze Star
Medal, Air Medal and Purple Heart
Medal.
G. Credit will be given for those
awards and decorations of foreign
country which may be accepted and
won under the War Department
regulations in effect when the read
justment regulations are placed In
operation.
4. Parenthood credit-12 points
for each child under 10 years up to
limit of three children.
To illustrate how the point sys-
tenn works, let us suppose that
soldier has been in the Army SO
months. has served overseas for Ia
months, has won the Silver Star
and Purple Heart and participated
in three major campaigns and is
the father of child under Is. He
would receive So points in service
credit, ID points in overseas credit,
rs points in combat credit and II
points in parenthood credit. His
total score would be 81 points.
Highest Totals Get Priority.
The men with the highest point
totals will become eligible for release
from the Army, except where con-
siderations of military necessity
make it impossible to let them 60
until qualified requirements can be
obtained. This exception applies
particularly to men possessing spe-
cial skills required In the war against
Japan and to men in units that
will have to move into the Pacific
so swiftly that no opportunity Is
provided for.replacing men with high
scores until they reach the new
theater.
The Army wants to be absolutely
certain, however, that any such
cases which arise represent true
military necessity and not military
convenience. Therefore, the thea
tiers have been instructed to estab-
lish a reviewing authority at an
appropriate level to consist of Sc
lected mature officers who will pass
on every case where an individual
with a score equal to or above the
critical score is to be retained by
reason of military necessity.
I know many of you are wondering
how We know whether the point
credits we intend to use will actually
achieve the desired effect of per-
hitting those soldiers who have seen
the longest and most arduous service
away from home and those with
children to leave the Army first.
Reaches Right Men.
A preliminary survey made by the
War Department on the basis of a
one-sixth rehabilitation of the
Army indicates that all but 2 per
cent of the men to be released will
be men who have served overseas
and that these per cent will be IA
theirs who have been in the Army a
long time.
The significance of this figure be-
comes clear when you consider that
SO men out of every 100 now serving
in the Army have served overseas,
whereas 90 out of every 100 to be re-
turned to civilian life will be over
seas veterans.
How well will the system succeed
in providing preferential treatment
for men with combat experience?
Men who have been in combat con-
stitute IS per cent of the Army, but
70 per cent of the men who will get
Army was recruited through selec-