Reserve enlistment provided for in section 261 of the act, which requires 2 years of active duty. We plan to continue to use section 261 as our primary enlistment method, and thereby will be assured of a Ready Reserve which will be composed predominantly of men with a minimum of 2 active-duty experience. We are utilizing the 6-month training program authorized by section 262 of the act only to a limited extent to enlist those men in possession of certain critical skills. Reserve recruits under the 6-year enlistment are required to participate in the drill pay program until ordered to their active duty tours. These men, almost all young men completing their last year of high school, normally remain in the drilling program for a period of about 1 year, during which they receive indoctrination training equivalent to that of recruit training school. Having completed this training they can spend the entire 2 years in their active duty billets, gainfully acquiring advanced and real operational training. We are phasing our Reserve recruits into active duty in order to ensure an even flow through the active establishment and back into the Reserve. Our plan calls for an input of 30,000 per year, and for the current fiscal year this plan is progressing on schedule. On the second anniversary of the Reserve Forces Act this coming summer, the first enlistees under the act will return from active duty for the completion of their Reserve obligation. These reservists, and the ex-United States Navy enlistees who are transferred to the Reserve with a remaining military obligation, will enter the Reserve pool normally as seamen or third-class petty officers with a minimum of 2 years experience of shipboard life and of fleet operations. These large numbers will result in excesses in these lower pay grades. Our drilling programs provide for the continued training and advancement for these prior-service men in order to raise the qualitative structure of the Ready Reserve and fill these deficiencies by qualifying them for, and promoting them to, the higher pay grades. The program also provides the means whereby the reservist is maintained up to date and in step with the changes and advances in the Navy's administration and organization. Therefore, the best of these returnees in the lower pay grades will be encouraged to enter the drilling Reserve. We do not intend to use compulsion since we rely with full confidence upon our traditional volunteer system that has consistently proved its effectiveness. DRILL PAY STRENGTH The current strength of our drill-pay program is 144,000 officers and enlisted men-93 percent of our ultimate objective of 155,000. We anticipate this ultimate objective will be reached in fiscal year 1959. By this leveling off of our drill-pay strength we will be able to be more selective in enrollments and further improve the overall quality of the drill-pay programs, and the entire Ready Reserve. Petty officer strength in this drilling Reserve has risen from 24 percent to 38 percent in the last 2 years, with a net gain of 15,500. This has occurred in all petty officer pay grades. It is a measure of the success of the program of instruction, qualification, and promotion, in our drilling Reserve component of the Ready Reserve. 86066-57-No. 22-14 TRAINING In our training, practical and team-type training are emphasized. We are increasing use of multiple, weekend drills to promote this. We are continually seeking ways to improve our training as well as making the program more attractive to our returning servicemen. In our surface program we are using a system of evaluation cruises to gage the effectiveness of our training programs. On these cruises we take a sampling of reservists from our drilling programs to sea for a series of operational-readiness exercises. The results of these evaluations are invaluable to us in recognizing and correcting deficiencies in our training programs. The inauguration of our Fleet Division, which was reported for the first time to this committee last May, has proved most successful. Since that time, 53 such divisions have been established throughout the country. These are established along shipboard organizational lines, and form the nucleus of crews of antisubmarine ships of the destroyer type. They are designed to provide advance team training for experienced petty officers. The divisions conduct their drills. on Reserve training ships, and actually man these ships on cruises. Response and reaction in the field to these divisions has been enthusiastic, and we expect more such divisions to be formed during this year. The training programs of our Naval Air Reserve are geared to keep step with the latest requirements of naval air warfare. While we are continuing our training in jet fighters and attack aircraft, we are increasing emphasis on anti-submarine-type training. The aircraft necessary to accomplish antisubmarine training are being scheduled into the program in ample numbers. The Naval Reserve Officer School program continues to expand rapidly. Established on a trial basis 2 years ago, this program has grown from 3, to over 70 such schools, with a current enrollment of 9,500 officers. This is a nonpay program, and provides opportunities for officers to maintain their professional proficiency through the organized study of a wide variety of naval subjects under experienced instructors. Credit for satisfactory participation in the Reserve is given for the completion of these courses. MERCHANT MARINE PROGRAM A good solution to the Navy-Merchant Marine Academy relationship has been arrived at to the mutual satisfaction of the Department of Defense, Navy, and Commerce. The Navy's interest in the maritime academies stems from the national defense requirement for an adequate merchant marine manned by well-trained officers, possessing an understanding of naval procedures and capable of operating with the Navy in time of war. The Secretary of the Navy is continuing his unswerving support and assistance wherever possible, particularly with respect to future officers of the merchant marine, that will promote a strong merchant marine, fully recognizing the importance of the merchant marine to our great maritime Nation. However, the Navy does not, under any circumstances, desire to be obligated to consider the merchant-marine academies as basic sources of Naval Reserve officers, nor be obligated to call graduates of these institutions to active duty. To assume any other position would vitiate our concept that the maritime academies exist for the purpose of supporting a strong merchant marine. The Navy conceives of these schools as primarily required for the manning of our merchant marine. As a result of this coordinated effort by Defense, Navy, and Commerce, a mutually and enthusiastically accepted program for merchant-marine students who entered in the fall of 1956, and for future students who will attend the merchant-marine academies, was established. Pertinent features are: (1) The Navy will administratively screen candidates and conduct physical examinations of those entering, and will continue to offer naval science courses. (2) Students will retain civilian status. (3) The Director of Selective Service has provided for their deferment. (4) After graduation, those who go to sea in the merchant marine and who request, will be tendered Naval Reserve commissions if eligible. (5) After graduation, those who through no fault of their own, are unable to obtain employment at sea in the merchant marine, and who volunteer for active Navy duty may be commissioned if eligible, and placed on active duty if there is an actual need for their services. Satisfactory solutions have also been reached relative to the problems of phasing in the new basic program. With your permission, Mr. Chairman, may I offer for the record a copy of a December 21, 1956, letter I promulgated as Chief of Naval Personnel. This directive outlines in detail the Navy-Merchant Marine Academy student, and graduate, relationship. I believe it will be of interest. Mr. BROOKS. Let it be filed. (The information is as follows:) From: Chief of Naval Personnel. DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, BUREAU OF NAVAL PERSONNEL, Washington 25, D. C. December 21, 1956. Subject: Navy-Merchant Marine Academy student and graduate relationship, and information affecting Officer Candidates (Merchant Marine), USNR, enrolled as students in the merchant marine academies Enclosure: (1) Sample letter request indicating revocation "is" or "is not" desired. 1. Purpose. The purpose of this letter is to outline recent developments, and clearly establish the future relationship of the Navy with students and graduates of the merchant-marine academies. Specifically, it is intended to disseminate information with respect to students enrolled as Officer Candidates (Merchant Marine), USNR, and students scheduled to be graduated who have not participated in the Officer Candidate (Merchant Marine), USNR, or Midshipmen Merchant Marine Reserve, USNR, programs. 2. Background.-(a) The Navy's interest in the maritime academies stems from the national defense requirement for an adequate merchant marine manned by well-trained officers possessing an undertanding of naval procedures and capable of operating with the Navy in time of war. The Secretary of the Navy is continuing his unswerving support, maintenance, and assistance wherever possible in areas, particularly with respect to future officers of the merchant marine, that will promote a strong merchant marine, fully recognizing the importance of the merchant marine to our great maritime Nation. It follows that the primary responsibility for the merchant marine properly remains fixed with the Secretary of Commerce. To the extent that budgetary limitations permit, the Navy will continue to participate in training maritime academy students by conducting naval science courses, wherever practicable, in these institutions in order that the officers of our merchant marine may have some knowledge of naval procedure and further enhance their usefulness in the merchant marine in time of war. In addition, the Navy will continue to commission those eligible officers in the merchant marine serving on ships on which an operating differential subsidy is paid pursuant to law. The Navy does not, under any circumstances, desire to be obligated to consider the merchant-marine academies as basic sources of Naval Reserve officers, nor be obligated to call graduates of these institutions to active duty. To assume any other position would vitiate our concept that the maritime academies are for the purpose of supporting a strong merchant marine. The Navy conceives of these schools as primarily required for the manning of our merchant marine. (b) The Secretary of the Navy has approved a plan developed in concert with the Secretary of Commerce for students who entered in the fall of 1956 and for future students who will attend the merchant-marine academies. The Secretary of Defense has fully concurred with this mutual agreement. Pertinent points of the program thus established are as follows: (1) The Navy will perform the screening and physical examinations of students who enter merchant-marine academies. (2) Students will retain civilian status. (3) The Director of Selective Service has provided for the deferment of these students. (4) Navy will continue to offer naval science courses. (5) After graduation, those who obtain employment at sea in the merchant marine and who so request shall be tendered Naval Reserve commissions, if eligible. (6) After graduation, those who through no fault of their own, are unable to obtain employment at sea in the merchant marine and who volunteer for active Navy duty may be commissioned if eligible, and placed on active duty if there is an actual need for their services. 3. Information.-Under present instructions, students who are Officer Candidates (Merchant Marine), USNR, are required to report to active duty in accordance with their agreements executed upon enrollment into the program. This is recognized as undesirable since the primary purpose of merchant-marine academies is to produce officers for the merchant marine. Furthermore, there is an actual need for such trained officers in the merchant marine. In order to alleviate the situation insofar as practicable, the Secretary of the Navy, again in concert with the Secretary of Commerce and full concurrence of the Secretary of Defense, has approved the following plan: (a) Those students who entered the Officer Candidate (Merchant Marine) USNR, program prior to August 10, 1955, effective date of the Reserve Forces Act of 1955, and who were enlisted under section 227 of the Armed Forces Reserve Act of 1952, as amended, may have the designation of Officer Candidate (Merchant Marine), USNR, revoked, provided such individuals request such revocation. The Reserve enlistment will remain in effect and they will no longer be afforded a deferment under section 6 (d) (1), Universal Military Training and Service Act, as amended. Commissioning of these individuals would be handled in the same manner as for students entering this last fall as outlined below: (1) After graduation, those who obtain employment at sea in the merchant marine and who so request shall be tendered Naval Reserve commissions, if eligible. (2) After graduation those who, through no fault of their own, are unable to obtain employment at sea in the merchant marine and who volunteer for active naval duty may be commissioned, if eligible, and placed on active duty if there is an actual need for their services. (b) Those students under the Officer Candidate (Merchant Marine), USNR, program who entered on and subsequent to August 10, 1955, will retain their designation Office Candidate (Merchant Marine), USNR, including their deferment and 2 or 3 years' active duty obligation incurred under section 6 (d) (1), Universal Military Training and Service Act, as amended. This active duty obligation and that in the plan outlined below are for service on active duty as distinguished from the 6 months' active duty for training plan as outlined in section 6 (d) (1), Universal Military Training and Service Act, as amended. Salient features of the plan for this group are as follows: (1) Commission all qualified maritime-academy graduates and order them to active duty in accordance with their agreements under section 6 (d) (1), of the Universal Military Training and Service Act, as amended. (2) Those who find employment in the merchant marine may be prereleased from active duty in accordance with the provisions of section 4 (d) (3) of the Universal Military Training and Service Act, as amended, but not earlier than the completion of 6 months of such duty. Such individuals would be subject to pertinent Department of Defense directives and instructions relating to the Ready Reserve and Standby Reserve. 4. Action.-The heads of the department of naval science at merchant-marine academies, both State and Federal, are requested to bring the contents of this letter to the attention of all students. Officer candidate (Merchant Marine), USNR, who entered prior to August 10, 1955 (a) The heads, department of naval science, are requested to ascertain the desires of the individuals affected by virtue of their entering the Officer Candidate (Merchant Marine), USNR, program prior to August 10, 1955, as described in paragraph 3 (a). (b) Individuals entering the program prior to August 10, 1955, must indicate their desire with respect to the option offered no later than 6 months from the date of this letter. (c) Students desiring the revocation of their designation of Officer Candidate (Merchant Marine), USNR, will forward their request to the Chief of Naval Personnel (Pers-B6262) via the head, department of naval science, and the superintendent of the academy. The letter shall state that he has read and understands the provisions contained in this letter. A sample letter is contained in enclosure (1). (d) Since there are certain Officer Candidates (Merchant Marine), USNR, who are scheduled to be graduated in February 1957 and who are already in process for commissioning, it is imperative that the desires of these students be known as soon as possible. In this connection, a copy of evidence of prospective employment, if appropriate, will be forwarded with the request for revocation of the designation Officer Candidate (Merchant Marine), USNR, in order that active-duty orders will not be issued. (e) When directed by the Chief of Naval Personel, the commandant of the naval district maintaining the Officer Candidate's (Merchant Marine), USNR, record shall revoke the Officer Candidate's (Merchant Marine), USNR, designation. The heads of the department of naval science will notify the Officer Candidate's (Merchant Marine), USNR, local selective service board of his change of military status using form DD44. 5. Action required for other categories of students is outlined below. Officer candidate (Merchant Marine), USNR, who entered on and after August 10, 1955 (a) Heads of the department of naval science shall bring the attention of such students to the plan outlined in subparagraph 3 (b). Special amplifying instructions will be issued concerning such students at a later date. Midshipmen, merchant marine reserve, USNR (b) There are no changes with respect to such midshipmen. They will be commissioned, if qualified, but active duty will not be required. Civilians and state nautical students (c) Students who have not participated in the Midshipmen Merchant Marine or the Officer Candidate (Merchant Marine), USNR, programs will be commissioned, if qualified, under the prniciples outlined in subparagraphs 2b. (b) and (6). |