Evening star., 1947-08-07

Bill for Service !
MeritPromofion
Army Seniority System
\ OfAdvuncine Officers
Abolished in Plan
BY the Asseeiased Press

The Arny's archaic system Of
promotion by seniority went out
the window today with President
Truman'S signing of legislation
setting up a permanent promo
tion-b merit program for the
Army and the Navy.
One of the lengthiest and most
complicated measures enacted by the
Eightieth Congress at its first ses-
sion, the legislation is the o,ltgrowth
of months of study by committees.
In addition to setting UP a new
promotion system for the Army and
tightening the Navys existing ad-
vancement system, the bill cuts down
on the number of high-ranking off,
GERS in Eoth services and abolishes
in peacetime the wartime rank Of
f1ve-star officers. However, it does
not affect the rank of the eight
officers now holding five-star rank.
Affects 175,000 Officers.
Affecting directly or indirectly the
status OF an estimated 175,000 off,
GERS in both services, the legislation
is intended to encourage the better
qualified men and to weed out
through process of elimination
those unfit for command.
Tt will take several years for the
entire program to get into full op-
Grafton, for some parts of the new
law do not become effective until
after 1851, though most are effec-
tive Immediately.
The new plan provides for pro-
motion of officers by selection in the
lower ranks, with boards of officers
determining the qualifications OF
applicants for advancement. Failure
to meet the advancement qualifica-
tions twice in succession, authors Of
the bill said, will automatically drop
an officer from the service.
Will Bring Up Young Men.
Heretofore, the Army has pro-
noted its officers largely through a
seniority system-a mans rank
usually being contingent on his
length of service rather than his
qualifications. The Navy has fol-
lowed system of selection, with
notifications, for years.
In its report on the bill, the House
Army Services Committee said it
will bring more rapidly to the top
youthful officers with proved ability
and will offer careers satisfactory
enough to attract capable men,
promising enough to hold in service
the capable men already in uniform,
and economical enough to be &C
ceptable from a budgetary stand
point"
One of the major provisions of
the new act is limitation on four
star officers. 1t limits the peacetime
establishment to IA four-star officers
after July l, 1948, five for the Army,
four for the Navy, four for the Air
Forces and one for the Marine
Corps. In addition, the Presidents
personal chief of staff would hold
four star rank while serving in that
capacity.
Will Be 62 Three-Star Officers.
There would be g. three-star of
ficers, % in the Army, IA in the Air
Forces, two in the Marine Corps and
% in the Navy. The Army would
have 122 two-star generals and 202
one-star generals.
Until such time as the armed
services strength reaches the levels
prescribed by permanent law, the
new law continues the present sys-
tenn of temporary promotions for
temporary duty officers.
For the Navy, the legislation in
PRODUCES for the first time the selec-
tive system of promotion in the
grade of admiral. Hereafter, an
officer of admiral rank must justify
his retention in that rank after each
four years of service.
One result of that change, the
committee said, will be to permit
outstanding officers to become ad-
mirals at an earlier age by wedding
out the older men ahead of them
who can't qualify to retain their
status.
The bill also allows the promotion
of especially well-qualifled men in
advance of average officers
Another change is the introduce
ton of limited duty officers into
the Navy system. These officers
will come from enlisted and war
rant officer ranks only. They may
rise as high as commander. but
will be assigned to specialized duties
not competitive with general line
officers.
The new law provides also for
commissioning of all officers in the
Regular Army rather than in
branch of the Army, such as the
infantry. This will permit tfe
transfer of officers within branches.