Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-01-14
Proper Military Posture,

Although the military manpower mess
ages which President Eisenhower sent to
Congress yesterday were separate docu-
ments, both dealt with what the President
aptly described as Americas proper milf
tary posture" The attitude which the pay
and reserve programs are intended to
develop Is one of active combat strength,
backed by thoroughly trained and always
ready reserves.
Defense authorities have been dismayed
by the heavy turnover in uniformed per-
sonnet, marked by a disappointingly low re-
enlistment rate for the regular forces. A
special study Of CT unrest has revealed that
low pay and inadequate perquisites, as
compared with opportunities outside the
services. are major factor in the growing
unpopularity Of military careers. The Pres
ident can speak with unqueStioned author
ity on the Importance Of stabilizing the
regular uniformed establishment, which
must be the hard core Of national defense
in period of reduced armed manpoWer
totals. It is this uniformed force of volun-
teers and drafted men which will go into
action first when an attack comes. The
larger the proportion Of 1ong-term volun-
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tzation will be. The selective pay-increase
plan, with its additional benefits Of q
fringe" nature, should materially increase
the flow of volunteers into the armed forces
Details Of the program are to be disclosed
later
No less disturbing to the Defense De-
partment than the hard-core problem is the
difficulty of maintaining a suitably trained
second line Of defense, composed of re-
Servsts. It is no exaggeration to say that
our poSt-World War II reserve program has
been mess. The Korean War disrupted
what program there was and today the
whole reserve recruitment and training
system is in state Of confusion. There is
no way to compel graduates" of the two
year selective service program to participate
actively in reserve units-as they are sup
posed to do. Indeed, it is said that many men
completing their two years Of draft service
seem to be unaware of their reserve obliga-
lions.
The proposed reserve plan not only
would insure better compliance with re-
serve requirements but would enlarge the
manpower reservoir to include new type
of reservist, the Six-month voluntary
trainee. Young men between II and 10
would have the opportunity to enlist for six
months of basic military training in lieu Of
being drafted for two years Of active duty.
On completion Of the short training course
the youths would be subject to 9h years Of
membership In reserve component (in-
Guiding the National Guard). Compulsory
attendance at drills and other training ex-
ercises would be provided for. Meanwhile,
the drafting of men would be continued for
four more years.
The President believes that such a
broad program would help to build our
armed forces, in uniform or standing by, to
the military posture" necessitated by the
continuing threat of Red aggression. The
alternative to preparedness is to risk. as Mr..
Eisenhower feelingly put 1t, "the hearthreak
of mighty Nation buying time with the
lives of men," There has been too much Of
that costly shortsightedness in the past.