Evening star., 1946-09-27
Army House Cleaning
I0f Unfit Ordered
BY Patterson
By Nelson M. Shepard

Secretary OF War Patterson has
ordered semiannual house cleanings
to rid the Regular Army perma-
nently of the unfit and unde-
sirables" among all newly commits
stoned officers during three-year
probationary period.
| The drastic list of causes for
which an officers commission may
oe revoked range from demonstra-
tions of "unfitness for leadership"
and habitual intemperance to any
record of subversive activities or
associations" it was disclosed
yesterday.
Among the probationary officers
coming under the new order are
nearly 10000 who formerly held
temporary wartime commissions
and recent graduates of the United
States Military Academy. None is
exempt from the semi-annual re-
views of officer-record on January
and July of each year to determine
those whose retention in the Re-
gular Army Is considered not de-
| sirable"
Meets Requirement.
Regarded as one of the ma ior
reform" measures put into effect
in molding the postwar Army, the
provision to eliminate officers unfit
for leadership or~the command of
their rank meets one of the
recommendations of the Doolittle
board that investigated the So
called Army caste" system. Most
of the other recommendation of
the board headed by 1t. Gen.
James H Doolittle bore directly on
officer and enlisted mems relation
ships and have been put into effect
by the War Department.
Mr.. Patterson's order, contained
in circular 28l, was issued to all
commands and covers a wide cate
CORY of causes" sufficient to bring
about the dismissal of officers who
fail to walk very straight and mar
row path during their probationary
period.
1t has no direct relation to the
new elimination" bill now being
drawn up for submission to the next
Congress, whereby the War Depart
ment hopes to speed up the ordinary
attrition of officers from the pres
ent rate of about $50 a year to as
much, perhaps, as 1000 annually
That aim is to accelerate the pro-
motion Of younger officers as more
suitable in the postwar Army.
Redistribution Move.
Oficers who fail to meet the re-
quired standards when their records
are reviewed are slated to come up
before reclassification board. Upon
recommendation of the board, the
officer may be assigned either to new
duties or his commission may be re-
voked. In the latter event, his case
may be referred to a final board of
review.
Second lieutenants get a tough
break under circular 28l. After July
l, 1949, the War Department an
nounced, any second lieutenant who
marries within year of being COM
missioned, forfeits his commission.
Here are some of the other stated
causes" for the revocation of COM
missions:
Misrepresentation of material
facts in the personal history state
ment which, if known, would have
resulted in the rejection of the
officer.
Personal Misconduct.
Recurrent instances of personal
misconduct lin addition to habitual
jntemperance).
Repeated failure to meet personal
financial obligations or other mis-
management of personal affairs
which reflect discredit upon the
military service.
Lack or inability to acquire the
technical proficiency required for
an officer of his grade.
Inability to discharge properly as
signments commensurate with his
rank and experience.
Manner of performance of duty
below the standard required of
Army officers of same grade and
length of service.
These regulations, the War De-
partment announced, do not replace
ordinary court martial action. How
ever, it Was pointed out, recurrent
convictions by court martial for
minor offenses may be cause for
taking action under the new pro-
visions of the circular.
The Secretary of War, under the
National Defense Act, has discre-
tionary power to revoke the COM
mission of any officer for cause.