The Naval Reserve continues to improve and the principles on which it is founded will result in providing a reserve of great value to the Navy. (From the Annual Report of the Secretary of the Navy, 1932.)
NAVAL RESERVE educational centers were established during the summer of 1932 to provide a source of instruction and information for all naval reserve officers and to familiarize them in current naval practices. The original basic purpose of these centers was to indoctrinate and improve the personnel of the Merchant Marine Naval Reserve so that in time of war, when they are absorbed into the Navy, they might co-operate more efficiently with the regular service. With this thought in mind, the centers were located geographically at the principal shipping centers of the nation. Furthermore, the centers were to co-operate with the fleet naval reserve units where and when practicable, in preparing them for their annual inspections and cruises and in stimulating the interest of all naval reserve officers in improving their professional knowledge. The organization and administration of the center established at New Orleans will be described as typical of the other units.
The officer in charge of the educational center is designated as the educational officer for a number of naval districts. At present the organization is as follows:
Center Jurisdiction
New York 1st and 3d Naval Districts
Washington 4th and 5th Naval Districts and District of Columbia
New Orleans 6th, 7th, 8th, and 15th Naval Districts
San Francisco 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th Naval Districts
Prior to the establishment of these centers, a small unit had been organized in the Navy Department in 1928 so that, when the various centers began functioning in the summer of 1932, the students previously enrolled were prorated among these centers according to their geographical location. The center at New Orleans began functioning with a total enrollment of 58 officers. At present the active enrollment numbers 370 officers from many fields of endeavor. All walks of life are represented in this enrollment, from seamen second class of the volunteer reserve to the governor of a state. To date some 850 officers and men have completed courses issued through this center.
The educational officer is in charge of the proper conduct of the center, the issuing and marking of the various courses, and the administrative duties of maintaining records and files on each person enrolled, dropped, or completing a course. Detailed records are kept of all officers enrolled in each course, the number of courses completed, and the mark received on each assignment. Officers having completed the prescribed courses in certain subjects with a final average of 3.4 or above are not required to take examinations in those subjects when they are due for promotion, provided the course was completed within two years of the date for advancement.
In addition to handling the correspondence courses, the educational officer and his assistants deliver lectures and informal talks from time to time when officers are assembled in sufficient numbers to warrant doing so. These lectures are usually on technical subjects involving the service and national welfare. Each center also maintains a library of reference books and treatises on professional subjects that are available to all reserve officers during office hours.
The Bureau of Navigation supplies the correspondence courses to each center in numbers as required. Along with each assignment is a suggested reading list to be undertaken in preparation for submitting the answers to that assignment. All applications for naval education courses are forwarded via the various district commandants who in turn forward them to the Bureau of Navigation with any recommendations appropriate. The bureau refers these applications to the proper educational officer for action. Upon receipt of the bureau’s authorization, the educational officer sends the preliminary instructions for the course requested with the first two or three assignments, and in a few courses the texts required. In some subjects each officer enrolled is required to provide the necessary books and texts from the Government Printing Office, the Hydrographic Office, or the Naval Institute as applicable.
It is manifestly very important that each officer maintain interest in the course and that the instruction be systematic and progressive. With this idea in mind, student officers are given definite time limits between the submission of installments. This is necessary to acquire maximum benefit from the course and to maintain the continuity of instruction. Officers who reveal a loss of interest are disenrolled from the course after due warning. In the case of merchant marine officers and in other cases warranting special extensions of time, much latitude is allowed, provided the reasons for delay are justifiable and the delay is not too prolonged. These officers submit their solutions as the itineraries of their vessels permit. Warning letters for failure to submit solutions within the prescribed time limit are sent to each officer concerned unless extensions of time have been granted.
The correspondence courses are intended to be of educational value and not an examination of an officer’s capabilities. Solutions are marked upon receipt and the corrected solution is returned to the officer with such helpful comments as may be deemed necessary. In addition, the educational centers encourage discussions among officers enrolled and welcome any queries or problems submitted for solution. Upon completion of a course, the Bureau of Navigation is notified and a certificate of completion is sent to the officer concerned via the commandant of the district. A copy of the letter of transmittal is sent to the educational officer and another copy is filed with the officer’s record in the Bureau of Navigation.
Correspondence courses are given in nine subjects. These courses are augmented and supplemented with lectures and individual instruction when the officer desiring it reports to the center. A brief description of each course available is given herewith:
Seamanship is of special value to deck officers. It covers a broad field of instruction in practical problems which face the officer on board ship, including the construction of warships, boats, ground tackle, steering of steamers, rules of the road, maneuvering, piloting, weather and the laws of storms, handling destroyers and steamers, towing and stranding. A mooring board problem is given with each of the eleven assignments.
Engineering covers all phases of practical operation of a marine engineering plant and is particularly recommended to all engineer officers. It includes a detailed study of boilers and their operation, blowers, fuel-oil apparatus, boiler feed water and feed-water apparatus, all types of main propelling machinery, bearings, shafting, lubrication and lubrication systems, propellers, piping, fittings, packing, pumps, condensers, generating sets, motors and control apparatus, searchlights, storage batteries, and cognizance of material. The texts must be supplied by the student himself. They are obtainable from the Government Printing Office at small cost. There are fourteen assignments to this course. The certificate of completion of this course is accepted in lieu of an examination from officers preparing for promotion provided they complete the course with a final average of 3.4 or above.
Communications covers all types and methods of visual communications used aboard ship. It includes a detailed study of communication instructions, a copy of which is furnished each officer enrolled. The practical phases of semaphore, blinker, flag-signaling, and procedure are emphasized. This course is of great value to all deck officers. It is given in ten installments.
Navy regulations.—All reserve officers are advised to complete this course before enrolling in any other. Particular emphasis is made on naval customs, honors, and regulations covering the detailed duties of the officer of the deck and heads of departments aboard ship. A copy of U. S. Navy Regulations is furnished each officer enrolled at no cost. The course has thirteen assignments.
Gunnery gives the student officer an excellent working knowledge of the fundamental problems in gunnery afloat. The course comprises study of the principles and methods of training, spotting, elements of fire control, director fire, director control including a brief survey of the four director systems in use in our Navy and study of the instruments used in each system, small arms, machine guns, turrets, broadside mounts, ammunition and explosives, and the general organization of the gunnery department aboard ship with its relation to other departments. A general study of ordnance material, types of gun construction, torpedoes, and safety precautions is undertaken. This course consists of twelve assignments and is an excellent one for all deck officers. An elementary fire-control problem is given in the last assignment.
Navigation.—Two separate courses are given. The B-course for beginners follows closely the course given midshipmen second class at the Naval Academy. This course stresses fundamentals such as navigational instruments and their uses, charts, a comprehensive study of magnetism, compass errors and compensation, time, solving the astronomical triangle by projections on the planes of the horizon, equinoctial and meridian time diagrams, latitude by meridian altitude, noon constant, and a study of the new shorter methods of navigation (Dreisonstok and Ageton).
The A-course for advanced students follows closely the instruction given midshipmen first class at the Naval Academy. This course consists of practical problems encountered in navigating a ship around the world, across the 180th meridian and in both latitudes. Current problems with special emphasis on the duties of the navigator are given. These courses should enable an officer to perform the duties of navigator efficiently if he has had some previous experience at sea on the bridge. All deck officers should take these courses. They are most complete and thorough. Individual instruction is given to officers requiring it if they report to the center. A certificate of completion of both courses with a final average of 3.4 or over is accepted by the Bureau of Navigation in lieu of examinations for officers qualifying for promotion. Charts are provided to each officer enrolled at no cost, but he is required to obtain the necessary books and publications from the Government Printing Office, the Hydrographic Office, or the Naval Institute. There are forty-six assignments in the two courses.
Military law gives the student very complete information concerning the procedure of naval courts-martial and other legal phases of naval law. A detailed study is made of military government and martial law, habeas corpus proceedings, charges and specifications, rules of evidence, court-martial, court of inquiry, board of investigation, board of inquest and naval retiring board procedures. There are eight assignments.
International law covers the particular phases of the subject of special interest and application to reserve officers of the Merchant Marine. It comprises a study of the history and sources of international law, the origin of states, insurgency, belligerency, government, jurisdiction, right of approach and search on the high seas, intercourse with foreigners, the relationship between the Navy and the State Department, treaties, the League of Nations, measures short of war, and the rules of maritime warfare as interpreted and applied by the United States. This course is covered in six assignments.
Naval intelligence is a course of fourteen assignments, designed to give officers of the intelligence volunteer class a working knowledge of their probable duties if called into active service. It includes a study of naval intelligence organization, functions and principles, district intelligence activities, plant protection, ship inspection, enemy trade and information sources, travel control in war, espionage organization and personnel.
In conclusion, it is believed that the naval reserve educational centers are of great benefit to the Naval Reserve both fleet and volunteer and that they are rendering a very important service in inculcating and maintaining the high efficiency of the service and in preparing reserve officers for their probable duties when called to active service.
THE MORAL of this book is, not that numbers and wealth must prevail, nor that great Generals are heaven-born; it is, on the contrary, that the conditions of success are attainable and capable of demonstration; that the preparation of study and thought is essential to skill in war; and that, being thus prepared, a leader, in order to achieve the most notable successes need not be gifted with inspiration, but only with the more appreciable, though still rare, combination of sound common sense, clear insight, and resolution.—SIR E. HAMLEY, Operations of War.