Evening star., 1951-07-05
Veterans
and
Druftees
By Moi. Thomos M. Mol


The Army has finally come
through and announced some def
mite plans about releasing re-
servists. The release starts this
month, and first to get out are
more than 100000 enlisted re-
servists called involuntarily from
the inactive and volunteer Reserve.
The Army says this group will be
home by the end of the year,
barring unforeseen contingencies. ~
The only ones in the group who
may not get out by New Year. the
Army says. are those fireplace
able critical specialists whose re-
lease would vitality impair the eff
cheney Of a unit" But the Army
says those held in for this reason
will be "a distinct exception"
I can't say exactly which ones
will get separation papers first
Neither can the Pentagon. The
matter is left largely in the hands
OF Army area commanders.
The Army did say no point sys.
tenn would be used. 1t would be
too inflexible. and the primary
consideration must be given tc
maintaining maximum unit ef-
fectiveness."
Those who can be spared will
be let out in this sequence:
/. World War II vets, defined
for this purpose as those who
served for 80 days or more be-
tween Pearl Harbor and Septem-
ber 2. 1945.
2. Those with other prior mill
tary service.
3. Those with no prior service.
Within each group, the Army
said. consideration will be given
to length of service on the current
tour. dependency Cor hardship
and age.
Inactive and volunteer enlisted
reservists now in Korea who are
to be released will be retkned al
the rate of several thousand a
month, the Army says. In select
ing them for shipment home, the
Army says the length and type o1
service in Korea will be "strone
factor" But here again, main.
tanning the combat effectiveness Of
units in Korea is the primary con-
sideration.
The reservists will be separated
at a personnel center near the
port of debarkation.
No releasable reservist still ir
the United States will be assigned
overseas as individual replace
ments, the Army says, unless they
volunteer and are qualified.
II they're in units slated fol
overseas. the Army says they will
have to go along If release of the
skills and numbers involved wou,c
adversely affect unit
But they'll ship out "only after
every effort has been H.,
tain necessary replacements."
When separated, the reservists
will go back into the Enlisted Re.
serve Corps for the rest Of then
obligated service. Those who hac
enlisted in the ERC will remain
in the reserve for their norma.
enlistment plus IL months ex.
tension.
Remember. this first release
plan applies only to enlisted re.
servists called involuntarily from
the inactive and volunteer Reserve
including those assigned involun.
tarily to alerted organized unit:
and ordered up.
It does not apply to any Re.
serve officers, organized reservists
National Guardsmen, mobilization
designees or those who volunteered
for active duty. Nor does it apply
to Regular Army enlisted mer
called up in an ERC status the
day following retirement.
No plans for the release Of these
groups have been announced yet
But the new draft law says bott
officers and enlisted men who hac
IL months duty between Pear
Harbor and September 2, 1945
and were called involuntarily from
the inactive or volunteer Reserve
are to be released after II months
service.
From Associated Press Newsfeatures)