ITEMS NOT REQUIRED FOR 1939 Deduct nonrecurring and other items not required in 1939: 1. Decrease in quantity of Diesel oil and gasoline required for operation of YP boats and motor launches_ 2. Decrease number of Naval Reserve student pilots to be given 3. Decrease number of Naval Reserve aviation cadets to be main- 5. Decrease number of Marine Corps Reserve aviation cadets to $2,685 20,963 537, 263 9,024 65.575 635, 510 Base for 1939. 8, 641, 599 INCREASES FOR 1939 (ALL RECURRING) 1. Increase number of aviation cadets on active duty with the fleet, from 451 to 674 (223), project No. 5, pp. 20, 21, and 22. 2. Increase flight hours for Naval Reserve and Marine Corps Reserve aviation cadets at Pensacola from 264 to 288 (24 hours), per cadet (project Nos. 5 and 8, pp. 21 and 23). 3. Increase number of Marine Corps Reserve aviation officers to be given refresher flight training from 80 to 92 (12) (project No. 8, pp. 22 and 23)___ 4. Miscellaneous adjustments: (a) Wages of 1 armory janitor formerly paid under subhead 003, (project No. 1, p. 17). (b) Reduction in number of A-V (G) officers given flight training (project No. 3, p. 18) 344,539 206, 575 10,787 120 -42,300 (c) Adjustment of travel costs between sea-going officers and the Total increases Total estimate for 1939---- 519.721 9, 161, 320 1 Each item of increase is included in several object numbers; no object numbers are therefore used as references. Aviation Reserve (exclusive of aviation cadet program). Aviation Reserve (exclusive of aviation cadet program). Total required. 5.249.504 283,481 922 281 2,706, 035 3.628.355 9, 161, 320 NONRECURRING ITEMS Mr. UMSTEAD. Captain, on page 13 nonrecurring items are listed otaling $635,510. I should be glad for you to make a statement for The record relative to those nonrecurring items. Captain SCHOFIELD. If I may, I will make that statement. DIESEL OIL AND GASOLINE The first item of decrease is based on experience in connection with Fuel consumption of vessels assigned to the Naval Reserve. We found hat we could get along with $2,685 less for fuel than is contained in the present appropriation. We therefore put that down as a nonecurring item. STUDENT PILOTS AND AVIATION CADETS Items 2 and 3 are related. Item 2 is: Decrease number of Naval Reserve student pilots to be given elimination training from 648 to 561. That automatically decreases the number of Naval Reserve aviation cadets to be maintained on training duty at Pensacola. Mr. UMSTEAD. That is the item that was referred to a few moments go? Captain SCHOFIELD. That is the item; yes, sir. That totals $20,963 for the student pilots, and $537,263 for the cadets under training at Pensacola. This is the decrease from last year's appropriations. The actual voluntary cut in the Budget estimates, to which reference was made, was greater, in that initially an increase over last year's funds for aviation-cadet training was planned, rather than a decrease. MARINE CORPS RESERVE STUDENT PILOTS AND AVIATION CADETS Items 4 and 5 are related in the same way. That is a reduction in the number of aviation cadets to be trained for the Marine Corps Reserve. That finishes the nonrecurring items of decrease. Mr. THOм. Then whatever you save in reducing the number of cadets at Pensacola is practically absorbed by the additional expense of more aviation cadets that are now with the fleet; is that about right? I see you have an increase here of $344,000. That takes the place of the $400,000 saving in reducing the number of cadets; is ot that right? Captain SCHOFIELD. Yes, sir. The number at sea automatically goes up. Mr. THOM. That increases it $350,000? Captain SCHOFIELD. There is an item of $344,539 increase on acnant of the increase in aviation cadets at sea which partly offsets the decrease in aviation cadets at Pensacola. Admiral ANDREWS. That is correct. INCREASES IN ESTIMATE FOR 1939 Mr. UMSTEAD. Captain, will you begin now with the first item of increase for 1939 and give us the justification for that item? INCREASE IN NUMBER OF AVIATION CADETS ON ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE FLEET Captain SCHOFIELD. The items of increase are as follows: Item I: Increase in number of aviation cadets on active duty with the fleet, from 451 to 674, or an increase of 223, totaling $344,539. That item is included in project No. 5, which is the aviation cadet program project. The aviation cadet program project was undertaken at the beginning of the fiscal year 1936, with the primary purpose of furnishing the fleet with the number of qualified naval aviators required for the operation of the fleet aircraft from year to year. It was projected over a period of years, or until such time as a sufficient number of officers of the regular service can be qualified for this duty. After 4 years of active service, including 14 months training at Pensacola, the aviation cadet is discharged and commissioned as an ensign in the Naval Reserve, where it is contemplated giving him refresher training to fill the expanded aviation mobilization needs in the event of war. The program has a twofold object: (a) To meet the peacetime aviation requirements of the Navy, and (b) ultimately to meet the mobilization requirements of the Naval Reserve. The amount contained in the base for this purpose is $4,713,205, which is $834,804 in excess of the 1937 expenditures, the increase being due to increases in numbers contained in the 1938 appropriation. An unallotted reserve of $260,000 has been set up under this item; and while moneys were appropriated for the purposes contemplated, no obligation will be incurred beyond the amount remaining available unless the funds are released later in the year. The amount required for 1939 is $5,249,504, or $536,299 in excess of the base figure; but due to the decrease in aviation cadets to be trained at Pensacola (nonrecurring items 2 and 3), there is an actual reduction of $21,927 below the 1938 appropriation. The increase above the base figure is due to the two following factors: Item 1 of increases under justification of estimates, totaling $344,539, for increasing the number of aviation cadets on active duty with the fleet from 451 to 674. This increase to 674 simply provides the sea duty for aviation cadets now undergoing training at Pensacola under the 1938 program. The increase above the base figures under this item is broken down as follows: Subhead .005 (4), pay aviation training duty--. $252, 838 73,772 17,929 Mr. UMSTEAD. Captain, the increase just discussed by you is brought about by the fact that a larger number of aviation cadets have passed from the training station at Pensacola into the beginning of that 3 years of active duty with the fleet? Captain SCHOFIELD. That is correct. Mr. UMSTEAD. And, so far as the individual items which make up that increase are concerned, when once the cadets pass into the fleet it becomes an automatic increase in salary and in the items that normally go to make up the cost of carrying either an officer or an aviation cadet? Captain SCHOFIELD. Exactly. Mr. UMSTEAD. When did the first aviation cadets from Pensacola pass into active service with the fleet? Captain SCHOFIELD. During August of 1936. Mr. UMSTEAD. Have they been in active service with the fleet long nough to give some idea as to their efficiency? Admiral ANDREWS. I can answer that, sir. We have had a great leal of discussion with the fleet regarding aviation cadets. Every eport which I have received has been most favorable. They are plendid young men. They are doing their duty splendidly. They ave met with some casualties, as all other people meet in aviation, out I can make the report that they are doing excellent work. Mr. UMSTEAD. Then, if I understand your answer to my inquiry, o far as the Department now knows, the naval aviation cadet proram has fulfilled expectations? ir. Admiral ANDREWS. It has fulfilled the expectation of the law; yes, Mг. THOм. And the flow of cadets into the fleet started last Aug1st ? Admiral ANDREWS. Yes, sir; last August, a year ago. Mr. DITTER. How many are in now? Admiral ANDREWS. In the fleet, sir? Mr. DITTER. From this unit. Captain SCHOFIELD. On September 30 there were 407 in total from this first and subsequent units. Admiral ANDREWS. They are spread out through the fleet, on carriers, battleships, cruisers, and all aviation activities. INCREASE IN FLIGHT HOURS FOR NAVAL RESERVE AND MARINE CORPS RESERVE AVIATION CADETS Captain SCHOFIELD. Item 2 of the increases under justification of stimates involves increase in flight hours for Naval Reserve and Marine Corps Reserve aviation cadets at Pensacola from 264 hours to hours, or a 24-hour increase per cadet. That item totals $206,575, and is contained as a part of project 5 and as a part of project 8. Mr. UMSTEAD. Why is the proposal being made to increase the flying hours per cadet? Captain GYGAX. It has been found necessary at Pensacola to devote a longer time to the flying curriculum in order properly to train them for the needs of the fleet. At first they expected to turn them out in 1 year's time. Now we find that it actually takes about 14 months to train them. The increase is due largely to emphasis on instrument. dying. Mr. UMSTEAD. Then, based upon your experience, the Department has seen fit to recommend that the course of training include more hours of flying; is that correct? Captain GYGAX. That is correct, except that the course has actually been lengthened. We are actually training them for a longer time. Mr. UMSTEAD. It has been lengthened and intensified then? Captain GYGAX. Yes, sir. Captain SCHOFIELD. In the break-down of that item, $191,760 is chargeable against Naval Reserve aviation cadets, and $14,815 is chargeable against Marine Corps Reserve aviation cadets. All of that is chargeable against subhead .005 (10), "Aviation Maintenance of the Naval Reserve Appropriation." INCREASED NUMBER OF MARINE CORPS RESERVE AVIATION OFFICERS TO BE GIVEN REFRESHER FLIGHT TRAINING Mr. UMSTEAD. All right, Captain, you may proceed with item 3. Captain SCHOFIELD. Item 3 contemplates increasing the number of Marine Corps Reserve aviation officers to be given refresher flight training from 80 to 92. Mr. PLUMLEY. With reference to this disparity in the matter of the expenditure of money with respect to training, does that grow out of the fact that there are not the necessary number of competent officers and personnel in the Marine Corps to take that training? You see, you have got 10 times as much money spent for the Navy proper. according to your figures just stated, or about that-I do not know but more than that-as you spend in the training of marines. Captain GYGAX. No, sir. I think that is based purely on the relative needs for Reserve aviation by the Navy and by the Marine Corps, respectively. Admiral ANDREWS. That is correct. Captain SCHOFIELD. Item 3 of the increases contemplates increasing the number of Marine Corps aviation officers to be given refresher flight training from 80 to 92, an increase of 12, and a total of $10.787. That item is a part of project No. 8, which project contemplates giving aviation training to members of the Marine Corps Aviation Reserve. The Marine Corps appropriation contains no moneys for aircraft or the material necessary in connection with aircraft operations, such as gasoline, oil, repair and replacement parts, and so forth. The money for these items, insofar as the Marine Corps Reserve is concerned, is therefore carried in the Naval Reserve appropriation, just as the money for these items for the regular Marine Corps is carried in the aviation appropriation for the regular Navy. This money is intended to give Marine Corps Reserve officers who have qualified as naval aviators refresher training each year, and to train the required number of Marine Corps Reserve aviation cadets. The amount contained in the base for this purpose is $257,879, which is $93.211 less than 1937 expenditures, the decrease being due to an adjustment downward in the Marine Corps Reserve aviaiton cadet program. An unallotted reserve of $18,000 has been set up under this item, and while moneys were appropriated for the purposes contemplated, no obligation will be incurred beyond the amount remaining available unless the funds are released later in the year. The amount required for 1939 is $283,481, or $25,602 in excess of the base figure; but due to the decrease in Marine Corps Reserve aviation cadets to be trained at Pensacola, nonrecurring items 4 and 5, an actual reduction of $48,997 below the 1938 appropriation is contemplated. The increase above the base is due to two factors, as follows: Item 3 of increases under the justification of estimates, totaling $10.787, contemplates increasing the number of Marine Corps Reserve aviation officers to be given refresher flight training from 80 to 92. This increase is occasioned by 12 such officers now on active duty who will be returned to inactive duty and thereafter require refresher flight training. Mr. PLUMLEY. What do you mean by "refresher"? Captain SCHOFIELD. Each year they are given a period of training duty in order to keep up their flying efficiency. |