APPENDIX C APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS IN THE REGULAR ARMY As shown in detail elsewhere in this report, under the heading "Authorized Strength of the Army," the commissioned personnel of the Regular Army is divided into the promotion-list and nonpromotion-list arms and services. During the fiscal year 50 successful candidates of an examination held in July 1936 were appointed second lieutenants in the Air Corps, Regular Army, to fill the first of 10 annual increments provided by the Thomason Act (Public, No. 408, 74th Cong.). This first annual increment of 50 was allotted to the Air Corps, as the element of time precluded appointments in the other arms under the provisions of the act requiring 1 year's active duty training as a prerequisite to appointment therein. Under the increased allotment of officers in the Corps of Engineers, authorized by the act of Congress approved June 26, 1936 (Public, No. 824, 74th Cong.), 18 successful competitors of the November 1936 examination were appointed second lieutenants in that arm. The 111 appointments hereinafter shown for the Medical Corps, Dental Corps, Veterinary Corps, Medical Administrative Corps, and Chaplains, were made from successful candidates of prescribed examinations. The class of 1937, United States Military Academy, numbered 298 graduates. Of this number, five were discharged upon graduation, including one Filipino, one Chinese, and one Siamese, who were not commissioned, and two cadets who were found physically not qualified for commission. The remaining 293 were appointed second lieutenants and assigned to arms and services hereinafter set forth. In accordance with an act of Congress approved July 2, 1926, which prescribes that at least 90 percent of the officers of the Air Corps below the rank of brigadier general shall be flying officers, graduates of the Military Academy are not appointed directly into the Air Corps. However, 105 graduates, expressing preference for duty with the Air Corps and having been found physically qualified for flying, were commissioned in other arms or services and selected for duty with the Air Corps for a course of flying training. The arms and services represented and the number in each were: Infantry, 40; Cavalry, 18; Field Artillery, 17; Coast Artillery Corps, 9; Corps of Engineers, 14; Signal Corps, 4; and Quartermaster Corps, 3. Those who demonstrate their proficiency in flying will be considered for transfer to the Air Corps. 79 In the following table is shown the number of appointments in the grades of first and second lieutenants, Regular Army, accepted during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1937, classified according to arms and services: The following statement shows the sources of appointment of the 12,314 officers of the Regular Army and the Philippine Scouts in service on June 30, 1937. Officers who have been separated from the service and reappointed are listed according to the source of their reappointment. Graduates, United States Military Academy. Enlisted men, Regular Army... Civil life (including appointees from Officers' Reserve Corps and Enlisted Emergency officers (World War-act of June 4, 1920). Volunteer officers.. Total.... 5, 298 472 3, 678 2, 787 79 12, 314 CLASSIFICATION AND ELIMINATION OF OFFICERS Section 24b of the National Defense Act, as amended by the act of Congress approved June 4, 1920, requires the annual classification of officers, with a view to the elimination of those whose efficiency no longer warrants their retention in the service. The work of the board of officers charged with this duty was continued during the year. The action taken during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1937, under the provisions of the statute mentioned, is shown in the following table: Officers remaining provisionally in class B, June 30, 1936__ 4: 4 8. Total_ 16 Retired under provisions of sec. 1251, Revised Statutes, prior to final classification__. 5 Retired under provisions of sec. 5, act of July 31, 1935, prior to final classification_. 1 Retired under provisions of sec. 24b, National Defense Act.. Restored to class A. 1 1 2 Total. Total_ 16 As shown above, there were pending on June 30, 1937, the cases of four officers placed provisionally in class B, and none finally in class B. RETIRED OFFICERS On June 30, 1936, there were 3,380 commissioned officers of the Regular Army on the retired list, including those of Philippine Scouts. During the fiscal year 200 officers were placed on the retired list and 109 died, making a total of 3,471 officers on the retired list on June 30, 1937. The following table shows the grades of officers on the retired list according to their highest war-time rank (act of June 21, 1930), and the causes of their retirement: |