Evening star., 1948-07-25
Organization
0fDraft Boards
Due This Week
President to Appoint
Members Picked
By D. G. Commissioner.

Draft boards here and in many
other parts of the country are ex-
pected to start organizing this week,
as soon as they are formally ap-
pointed by President Truman. In
the States, the Governors will
recommend the board memberships
and in the District the recon-
mendations will be made by the
Commissioners.
Most members and key employees
of the boards in the District re-
portedly are ready for official desig-
nation. Much work. such as obtain
ing Office space and clerical help
and supplies, remains to be done
before the registration here OF ap-
proximately $1,000 men 18 through
25 years old begins on August 80.
The exact number of draft boards
in the District has not been finally
determined, but there will be at
least Is and perhaps 20. During
the war there were rs in the city.
Under the new provision author
izing at least one board for every
100000 residents, the District could
have as few as nine. But officials
favor a considerably larger num-
ber as a means of distributing the
work and permitting quick eXpan-
sion if necessary. Several boards
may occupy the same offices.
Appeals Board Planned.
Besides the three to five men,
bers for each draft board, others
scheduled for appointment here will
serve on an appeals board or as ad-
ministrative co-ordinators.
Selective service officials plan to
name five co-ordinators, one for
every three boards. They said prac-
tically all the prospective board
members and clerks served in SINH
lar capacities here during the war.
Until the registration Is finished
September 18 and the President
issues detailed regulations for de-
ferments, there can be only general
estimates of the number of men who
might be drafted in the District
after inductionS begin about Octo-
ber /, officials explained.
Secretary of Defense Forrestal an
nounced that the Army, Navy and
Air Force would select 126,400 Re
serve Officers Training Corps stu
dents this year for deferment.
The college and university stu
dents thus deferred are not exempt
from registration, however. Under
the draft act, each will sign an
agreement to accept a commission,
if rendered at the completion of his
course, and thereafter to serve not
less than two years on active duty
which will authorize deferment so
long as he continues his training
course satisfactorily.
Allegations to Be Made.
Allegations within the quotas set
for the services by Mr.. Forrestal
will be made by the military depart
ments. He allotted 77,800 to the
Army, 10000 to the Navy and 1900
to the Navy. The latter figure in
cludes Naval Reserve midshipmen.
The overall quotas will be ap-
portioned as follows:
Army-freshmen, 3S,5O0; sopho-
mores, $4,000; juniors, 15,400.
Air Force freshmen, $4,000,
sophomores, $500; Juniors, 1000.
Navy Including Marine Corps
freshmen. 1000; sophomores, 500;
juniors, 300.
ROTC students who were juniors
when the draft act became effec-
tive and continue their courses as
seniors this year are deferred under
the provisions of the act.
While the quotas are the maxi
mum number which can be selected
for deferment in that status, it does
not limit the number college and
university students who can par
ticipate in the training. Federal
law makes such training mandatory
for all freshmen and sophomores
in land-grant colleges.
Monthly Quota Take Small.
More than $4,000 of the $1,000
probable registrants here may be
exempt or deferred because they
are veterans, married or otherwise
not affected by the peace-time
draft law, it was said. In any event,
total inductions according to pres
ent Army plans will not exceed
10000 month for the entire coun-
try and consequently the Districts
monthly quotas will be comparative
ly small.
Voluntary long-term enlistments
have increased substantially in all
branches of the service. especially
the Navy and Marine Corps, dur
ing July. Recruiting officers an
nounced yesterday that the Navy
filled it's July quota several days
ago and has suspended acceptances
for the remainder of the month.
The Marine Corps has practically
reached its July goal of 1000
Present plans call for drafting
about 100000 men, 19 through Is,
from October to next July. This
number would decrease in propor-
ton to increases in voluntary en-
listmentS.
This does not include the enlist
ment program for l8-year-olds. The
new draft law authorizes 16l 900 vol
untary enlistments in that age
bracket for one year service in this
country. Such enlistees will not be
drafted for,21 months service when
they become 10, but they must go
into the reserves for four to six
years after their IL months of ac-
tive duty.
Quota Is Filled.