Evening star., 1951-12-16
Reservists Fear Loss
Or Cut in Disability
And Death Benefits
Rx WiIIinm ]. WheofIeY

1tCOuCJkQk4 VI NQAlARACNN NAAAAA4AA6
ton of disability and death bene-
fits now available to some 230, ,00C
Army and Air Force reservists
would be affected under recon-
mendation of a special committee
of the Defense Department. it
was learned yesterday.
The change would be effected by
the recommended expedient of re-
pealing the statutes which entitle
any members of the Armed Forces
to benefits under the Federal En-
ployes Compensation Act. 1t would
be substituted by proposed legis-
lation which would bring all Off
GERS and men of reserve compon-
ents under the same provisions
of the regular army.
However, reserve officers who
keep close contact on such mat
ters point out that the proposed
action would substantially elimi-
nate benefits for the majority of
reservists because they, like the
regulars, would have to have eight
years of service. The average ac-
tive duty service of most reserv-
lists is said to be approximately
6 years.
Secrecy Surrounds Action.
The recommendations Of the
special committee have been sur
rounded with secrecy at the Pen
tagon. The press section of the
Defense Department said there
was no such report, although its
file number was given to them,
Further inquiry disclosed that it
had been classified" However,
information was obtained from
the American Legion headquar-
ters here which had obtained a
copy of the report and had broad
cast paraphrased version of 1t In
circulars to its hundreds Of re-
habilitation officers.
According to the Legion's letter,
1t is proposed by the Defense De-
partment committee to substitute
for the repealed act one provision
giving reservists on duty more
than 80 days the same benefits as
for regulars. Another provision
would give regular Army benefits
for those serving 80 days or less,
another for those serving for not
less than IA days and another for
those serving for more than "A
hours.
Drill Periods Not Covered,
There Is no recommendation to
cover. as now, those attending
drills. or while going to and re-
turning home from drills. In this
connection, reserve officers point
out that the greater number of
disabilities and deaths to reserv-
lists are caused while attending
drills and at annual training
camps. This is due largely. it was
explained. to the fact that such
exercises. for the most part use
inferior training equipment and
the crews obviously are not thor
oughly trained in safety precau-
tions.
The Legion, in its letter, says
that the benefits payable under
the Federal Employees Compensa-
tion Act are generous and in many
instances far exceed normal mil
itary and veterans benefits in
amount. This, 1t adds, creates \
very significant inequity between
and among the reserves and the /
regulars.
On the other hand, It was
pointed out by reserve officers that l
many such officers and men are
In business and employment in
which they are unable to earn
their livelihood following injury.
The benefits that accrue to them
are peace-time benefits under the
Federal compensation act.
Pay Plan Explained.
A regular in order to be retired
with two-thirds pay and allow
ances must have eight years of
service and have at least 80 per
cent disability, or be injured I'M
combat with the enemy. Below
that requirement he would get a
lump severance payment of 212
per cent of his pay multiplied by.
his years of duty, but not to ex-
ceed two years. it was explained.
While reserve officers concede
that there is some inequity In
the present setup, they neverthe-
less did not expect that in con-
sidering the proposal to equalize
disability and death benefits the
Defense Department committee
would have come up with what
they describe as such a drastic
proposal as bringing the reservists
down to the present Army level
rather than striking some median.