Evening star., 1946-06-26

commissions on basis Of relative
merit, Mr.. Patterson said. Taken in
account are the war record, recon-
mendatlons of the officers imme-
dlate and former commanders, rec
concentrations from a standardized,
controlled interview board of senior
officers, and a self-appraisal of per-
sonality and characteristics which
have been determined to be signifl-
can't for the prediction of officer
success.
Officers of the postwar Army will
be trained in leadership, personnel
management and administration
Mr.. Patterson said To best utilize
the talents of individual officers, a
Central Officers Assignment Group
has been established in the Office
of the director of personnel and
administration to make assignments.
Review of Promotions.
The War Department is carrying
out the Doolittle recommendation
that complete review be made of
the system of promotion with a view
to establishing better procedure for
eliminating incompetents, Mr.. Pat
terson said.
Legislation now before Congress
is meant to provide a better means
for eliminating inferior officers and
other legislation will be introduced
to improve the promotion system.
Still other legislation is proposed
to revise the present retirement
system with the aim of removing
inequalities between officers and en-
listed men, the Secretary added.
Common sense must be applied to
the board recommendation for
normal social patterns" for all per-
sonnel when off duty and the aboli-
ton of "all statutes, regulations,
customs and traditions discouraging
or forbidding social associa ton of
soldiers because of military rank"
THE abolition of all off-duty re-
straint upon social association of
officers and enlisted men might lead
to more dangerous abuses than those
which this proposal intends to cor
rect" said Secretary Patterson.
1T is clear enough, for example,
that gambling among personnel of
different ranks should not be toler-
ated. At the same time, there is
no valid reason to prohibit all social
contacts between officers and en-
listed men"
In accordance with this, Mr..
Patterson said he directed stricken
from the Field Manual on Military
Courtesy and Discipline the fol-
lowing phrase:
In the interests of good dis
cipline. officers are required to wear
distinctive uniforms. to live apart
from their men in garrison, and to
confine their social contacts to
other officers"
This, for the first time. permits
officers to mingle with enlisted men
without violating the military code
of ethics.
Officers Clubs to Stay.
Mr.. Patterson said this does not
mean the officers clubs will be
eliminated. However, every effort
will be made to improve similar
facilities for enlisted men, he said.
AS for equal justice for enlisted
men. that always has been must"
in the War Department, Mr.. Patter-
son said At this time, all war
cases are under review with clem-
ency in mind" and it is expected
this task will be completed in
few weeks.
In connection with the recommen-
dation that the system of register
ing complaints be improved, Mr..
Patterson said he could not agree
that copies of reports of inspectors
general - (shouldI be trans
mitted to the War Department out
side regular command channels, in
addition to normal procedure He
said no change should be made that
would give the inspector generals
department any tinge Of ''gestapo"
or under-cover status.
He, said measures will be taken
to see that regulations and in
structions be so written that they
not only stipulate the limited privi-
leges which are essential to the per-
formance of duties in position Of
responsibility, but that they also
prohibit or minimize possible abuses
h1
goes with higher rank and respon-
sibility.'
But the Army's personnel still will
be known as Officers" and enlisted
men," Noting there was dignity
in the terms, Mr.. Patterson said the
Doolittle Boards recommended sub
stitutes-''m members of the non-com-
missioned corps" and members Of
the commissioned corps'-were too