Under the provisions of the act of April 15, 1935, the grade of aviation cadet was established in the Naval Reserve. The act is designed to furnish the Navy with the additional naval aviators required for the peacetime operation of the fleet until such time as sufficient regular Navy personnel becomes available, as well as to maintain in the Naval Reserve the required number of qualified naval aviators. It contemplates 1 year's training duty at Pensacola, followed by up to 3 years' active duty with the fleet, at the end of which time the aviation cadet is released from active duty and commissioned as an aviation ensign in the Naval Reserve. In addition to his prescribed pay, subsistence, and clothing allowances, he receives Government-paid insurance while performing active duty and a cash bonus after he has served 4 years. Those selected for this training are first enlisted as seamen (second class), class V-5, United States Naval Reserve, and given a month's preliminary training at the various Naval Reserve aviation bases. Those who qualify are then appointed aviation cadets and sent to Pensacola. The number of these on September 30, 1937, were as follows: Seamen (second class), V-5 (student aviation pilots). Aviation cadets at sea----- PROGRAM OF DEVELOPMENT 334 342 407 On January 18, 1937, the Secretary of the Navy approved a 5-year development program for the Naval Reserve for the fiscal years 1938 to 1942 inclusive. This program provides for an orderly building up of all classes of the Naval Reserve in annual increments to aggregate 80 percent of mobilization requirements during the fiscal year 1942 and, subject to the appropriation of necessary funds, specifies the number of officers and men of the various classes who are to be given training duty and who are to perform drills each year. This program contemplated no increase in the present number of fleet divisions, but gradually strengthening these organizations to mobilization requirements and giving them the drills and training duty contemplated by law; gradually building up the Merchant Marine Naval Reserve to 80 percent of mobilization requirements. giving drills and annual training duty to approximately half of those on the rolls, and giving annual training duty to approximately one-quarter of the balance; and building up the Volunteer Naval Reserve to 80 percent of mobilization requirements, and giving annual training duty to approximately one-quarter of those on the rolls. It also contemplated a continuation of the aviation-cadet program and its expansion by a sufficient number ultimately to provide in the Naval Reserve the additional qualified Naval aviators required by the Navy immediately on the outbreak of war. The ultimate annual cost of this program, including the aviation-cadet training and all other expenses chargeable against this appropriation, is estimated at $21,818,000. The appropriation actually granted for the fiscal year 1938 was insufficient to complete the first year's requirements. This budget contemplates no progress whatever toward fulfillment of the program, other than increases in aviation cadets at sea to meet present fleet needs. ADMINISTRATIVE RESERVE Mr. UMSTEAD. I believe that $600,000 of your current appropriation has been placed in the administrative reserve? Captain GYGAX. That is correct. Mr. UMSTEAD. And if it should remain there, what would it eliminate in your 1938 program? Captain GYGAX. It would eliminate $155,000 for drill pay for the seagoing reserves, $19,000 for training pay for the same group, and $35,000 for drill pay of the aviation reserve. The complete breakdown of this $600,000 reserve is as follows: Breakdown of administrative reserve-Naval Reserve appropriation 1938 If not released, the effect on proposed Naval Reserve activities of the foregoing, will be as follows: (a) Reduction in number of drills from 48 to 43. (b) Reduction in number of officers and men of the seagoing branch to be given training duty. (c) Reduction in the aviation cadet program whereby the average undergoing training at Pensacola throughout the year will be reduced from 478 to 462. Mr. THOM. How many items are there? Captain GYGAX. There are three items which will materially affect the administration of the Reserve. There are four items, totaling $391,000, which, because of a change in the aviation cadet program. would, in any case, not be expended. Mr. THOM. What is the change in the aviation cadet program? Captain GYGAX. A downward revision of the number of cadets hat are being trained at Pensacola. That is predicated on a number of considerations. The actual attrition at Pensacola of aviation adets has not been as high as expected; also, in greater degree, he program of ships and squadrons being commissioned has not advanced as rapidly as was originally expected, and therefore these aviation cadets are not needed as soon as was expected. Mr. THOM. So that is where the bulk of the money is saved? Captain GYGAX. Yes, sir. COST OF TRAINING NAVAL RESERVE AVIATION CADET Mr. THOM. What is the estimated cost of a cadet per year at Pensacola―ten or fifteen thousand dollars, or something like that? Admiral ANDREWS. It is pretty high. I think it is more than Mr. UMSTEAD. It is between twelve and thirteen thousand per year, I think. Captain GYGAX. Yes, sir. that. Mr. UMSTEAD. The hearings on the 1938 bill, on page 210, disclose that the cost of training a Naval Reserve aviation cadet is S3411, and that the cost of training a Regular Navy officer as an aviator is $26,991. AVIATION CADETS Captain GYGAX. I understand the latter figure includes the Naval Academy costs of the office. The flying training costs are approximately equal. Mr. Chairman, I have one other item to finish the prepared statement I was making with respect to the aviation cadets a few minutes ago: Due to a reduction in the need for aviation cadets for the fiscal year 1939, the Bureau of Navigation, in presenting its estimate to the Bureau of the Budget, made a voluntary reduction of $1,032,999, prior to the reduction imposed by the Bureau of the Budget. These reductions are reflected in the estimates presented herein. This is the reduction in the aviation cadet program for the fiscal year 1939. But there is also a reduction for the fiscal year 1938, amounting to $391,000. Mr. UMSTEAD. That will show up in our consideration of those items, which we will come to in a few minutes. NAVAL RESERVE ACTIVITIES-SUMMARY Captain GYGAX. The total amount carried in this Budget for the fore-enumerated activities is $9.161.320, which is $115,789 less than te amount appropriated for the fiscal year 1938. The details as to the number of reservists given training in prior years and to be given. training within the limits of this Budget, are shown in the following table: Mr. UMSTEAD. Captain, the table on page 12 you inserted deals with Marine Corps Reserve aviation. What is the objective in numbers as to Marine Corps aviation cadets? Captain GYGAX. The purpose of the Marine Corps aviation cadet program is the same as that for the Navy itself. The Marine Corps has an aviation reserve, and will augment that reserve through the aviation cadet program. Some of these boys who go through Pensacola are assigned to the Marine Corps and some to the Navy. Mr. UMSTEAD. How many students should be trained annually to maintain the number desired, looking to the time when they pass into inactive status? Admiral ANDREWS. We will get that for you, sir. That is a Marine Corps question. We will have Major Johnson down here. Mr. UMSTEAD. Will you obtain that and insert it in the record? Captain GYGAX. Yes, sir. AVIATION CADET PROGRAM (MARINE CORPS) Captain GYGAX. The following justifications are submitted: (The statement requested is as follows:) The program of Marine Corps Reserve Aviation Cadet training, over a period of 8 years, to meet the peacetime needs of the United States Marine Corps for naval aviation, and the mobilization requirements of the Marine Corps Reserve, is shown in the following table: |