Evening star., 1954-01-09
UNIT Plea
Out by
Eisenhower
FIemming Ordered
To Restudy Military
Reserve Organization
By the Assoeiefed Press

President Eisenhower today
ruled out any administration re-
quest for universal military
training legislation pending a
new study-and perhaps dras-
tic overhaul-of the Nations
military reserve system.
His decision seemed to elimi-
nate the chance that Congress
would get an administration uni
versal military training bill this
session. despite last months
recommendation of a preSiden-
tial commission that the token
training" of 100000 men be
started next January l or earlier.
Gen. Eisenhower disclosed his
stand in a letter to Arthur S.
Flemming, director of the Office
of Defense Mobilization. He said
he agreed "in general" with rec
concentrations made by Mr..
Flemming and by special ODM
committee calling for postpone
ment of universal training pend
ing possible reorganization N the
reserves.
The ODM report was based
on a Defense Department esti-
mate. previously unannounced.
that the armed forces will need
an average of 3 million men in
uniform from now through 1860.
About 3.3 million now are in
the military establishment.
Could Meet Draft Calls.
Under this estimate selective
service needs could be filled while
enough young men would be left
to start a token UNIT. But the
ODM report held that another
emergency of the scope of Korea
would upset the calculation,
hence no training program
should now be launched that
might interfere with the draft.
Mr.. Flemming said, I'VE do
not now have reserve forces ade-
quately organized and trained
to meet the needs of a national
emergency"
He suggested a realignment of
reservists into two broad groups
as follows:
/. An immediately callable re-
serve" of well-trained men who
could be mustered into service
directly by the armed forces on
authorization by the President
or Congress.
2. A "selectively callable re-
serve" whose members would be
subject to call or deferment in
dividually on the basis Of occu-
patton. special skills, age. marital
and parental status, equity, and
other factors. The ODM COM
mittee recommended that the
selective service system make
these decisions.
Reservists Divided Now.
At present reServiStS are di-
vided, largely on the basis of pre-
viouS service, into one group
which could be called if the
President declared an emergency
and another callable in case of
war or emergency declared by
Congress.
One important result of the
reorganization might be con-
siderable increase in the forces
ready for quick action in full
mobilization.
Another result might be the
restoration to civilians-the local
draft boardS-the control over
many reservists now subject to
direct military call.
Mr.. Flemming recommended.
and Gen. Eisenhower agreed.
that the National Security Coun-
Gil should decide the size and
composition of military reserve
forces needed in the light Of
current and future national
security requirements"
Mr.. Flemming was instructed
by Gen. Eisenhower to submit a
report by April l on recommen-
dations the Defense Department
should make to the council. In
formed officials said it was highly
unlikely that final decisions could
be made and legislation drafted
before the end of this session of
Congress.
Government officials said the
new White Rouse decision does
not necessarily rule out the ulti-
mate adoption of the Adler's
commissions proposals, if the
Defense Departments estimate
of needed reserves permits the
operation of both the draft and
UNIT.