US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

268 Anaphibians Came To Conquev
The “best fitted” group averaged from 60-70 percent of each Naval
Academy class. The two “fitted” groups totaling 25–30 percent contained
many oflicers whose capabilities were judged to be only a small fraction
below those of the “best fitted” group, plus a number who were not carrying
a full head of steam as they moved into their early or late forties. Occa-
sionally a personality idiosyncrasy of an extremely capable oficer caused his
name to appear in the “fitted” list, and from time to time a minor derelic-
tion of duty after many years of highly satisfactory performance led to the
same tagging, although generally such officers just were not deemed qualified
and were not selected.
Fortunately for the Navy, the Congress, disturbed by the approach of
war in Europe, soon authorized the Navy to order a considerable number
of retired officers to active duty, and a little later to retain on active duty all
officers who were slated to be retired upon completion of 21, 28, or 35 years
of service after failure of selection to the next higher rank. These yearly
bench marks were those set by law for automatic retirement of lieutenant
commanders, commanders, and captains respectively when not selected to
the next higher grade.
The Bureau of Naval Personnel rated command duty in large combatant
ships-carriers, battleships, cruisers—and command of units of destroyers
as requiring the service of the “best fitted” officers in the senior grades.
For years and years, auxiliary ships and other minor commands had been
rated more than a shade less desirable than large combatant commands.
Amphibious ships started World War II officially titled ‘