COAST ARTILLERY, JOURNAL - Air Defense Artillery

ADDRESS TO RESERVE OFFICERS 525
serve Corps and in the Regular Army. Of two young men entering
the military service at the age of twenty-one, it is possible for the one
who goes into the Reserve Corps to attain the grade of major at the
age of thirty-one, whereas the other probably would not attain the same
grade in the regular service until the age of forty-eight. Similarly, the
officer in the Reserve Corps might reach the grade of colonel at the
age of thirty-nine, whereas the one in the regular service probably
would not reach that grade until the age of sixty-one.
Many reserve officershave expressed dissatisfaction at the present
system of assignment and promotion. Figures indicate that collectively
reserve officershave received more than a full share of rank. However,
there undoubtedly exist many inequalities which justify a feeling of
discrimination between individuals. Such inequalities were not entirely
avoidable. The War Department did not wish to lose the valuable
interest and services of the WorId War veterans, so proceeded with the
organization of the Officers' Reserve Corps before completion of the
initial mobilization plans which were essential to the ascertainment of
requirements by grade in commissioned personnel.
The assignment of reserve officers is closely connected with the
question of promotion. Some assigned officers are unable to devote
any time to military activities. This throws an additional burden on
those other officerswho endeavor to maintain a high standard for their
unit. A further difficulty lies in the fact that some surplus officersare
attached to units and feel that such a position tends to unfavorable
discrimination against them in the matter of promotion.
We can not hope to undertake much advance in the scope of active
training. Even were the appropriations to be made available, existing
facilities would soon reach the limit of satisfactory utilization.
Some improvements will be made in the method of apportionment of
funds for training. We propose to institute a procedure which not only
will give training to the maximum number of officers, but also will
enable designation a sufficienttime in advance to permit full personal
arrangements and other essential preparation.
The Officers' Reserve Corps has reached a total that assures an
adequate number of reserve officersfor the initial requirements of our
mobilization plans. To my mind, there are four (lefinite ends to which
we should now devote our attention with a view to improvement of the
Organized Reserves. First, we may increase the value of active training.
Experience has already brought progress in this respect, but we should
continue thought and experiment with a view to securing the greatest
possible benefit to reserw officers. Another objective is to make provision
that actiw training becomes available to those officers through
whom it will bring greatest benefit to the nation. Improvement of the