Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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NROTC To Univ By VAN NEWMAN Feature Bditor The naval ROTC students, war time heart-throb of the coeds, the salts-to-be of the campus, the elite who -go abroad , in the sum mer, continue their training -at the university under the peace time Halloway Plan for procur ing naval officers. Although still a far-cry from the predominantly Navy popula tion of the war years, the RO unit expects to reach its stand ard complement of 200 within the next two years, according to Lt. Comdr. J. W. MacMurray of the department of naval science. The summer cruise is the high light of the training program for both the regular and contract RO's. The regulars go to sea every summer, three trips in all, and the contract students make one training cruise. To provide enough potential of ficers to meet the standard needs of the Navy, the Halloway Plan was passed in Washington in 1946. Fifty-two universities in the country were selected as training sites for carrying out these programs. Approximately 1,200 new offi cers are needed yearly by the Navy. Annapolis can provide only 400 of these. The others must come from the RO units. The instruction received by the students is modern and . up-to date. Even atomic energy is in nm,. M ~ X \ ' N Adds 03rstty fluded in their assignmen are taught the fundamen ire kept posted on the Is velopments in communicat lar, sonar, ordnance, tacl -ontrol, damage control, tion, and naval engineerli The curriculum of t ear is designed primaril; troduce the students to V and prepare them for aboard ship in the Courses in naval orientati rnunications, and tactics :luded. In the second year of ion, ordnance, radar, atomic energy, and fire re introduced. Navigai M, S. :..'..... VYA ts. They tals and test de lous, ra-. des, fire naviga ig. he first F to in te Navy going summer. 3n, com are in instruc sonar, control ion and 4 tactics comprise the courses of study in naval science during the junior year. Seniore in.aval science take up naval engineer ing, damage control, and ship construction. Of course, the tra ditional 12 o'clock Saturday drill is a fundamental part of the R0 training. There are two general types of RO students, the regular ROts and -the contract RO's. Regular RO's receive a subsistence of $50 pei month in addition to their fees -he ing paid and are obligated tt serve at least two years on ac, tive duty. The contract trainees receive their Navy books and dur ing their junior and senior yeari are paid approximately $24 a month subsistence. They tak4 graduation can request either sr native or inactive cnmmissionn. Selection of naval ROTC stu ients under the Halloway plan is an extensive program. Every year, around November or De ember, nationwide examinations are given to about 120,0JD0 appli cants. Of these, approximately 42,000 are selected for further processing. These men are sent, to stations for interviewing and screening. This elimination cuts the number to 12,000, who are then asked to state their prefer ence with reasons of which of the 52 schools with ROTC units they wish to be sent. At thie universiLy, Uie Nnval ROTC unit was founded in 1941 with Capt. Robert A. Hall in com mand. During the war it grew and expanded until the Navy stu dents dominated all phases of campus life. After the war came a big letdown, but the Halloway Plan has again revived the unit. The Compass and Chart society, composed entirely of RO students, was organized on the campus In 1941. It is the core 'of organised RO campus-life participation. It sponsored an intramural football team during, the fall and a bas ketball team that reached the In dependent League play-offs. The latest prodigy of the society Is a newspaper, the Lubber Line, com posed of Naval ROTC news on the campus. Equipment at the university for naval science instruction is lim ited. Radar, sonar equipment is available but the use of it is re stricted. An attack teacher, a mechanism that shows how to line up a ship for a battle ineregard to range, etc., is available, how ever. A five-inch gun will also soon be installed. KA rifle team from the Carolina RO unit entered the national meet and placed 15th out of a field of 71 teams.. They have won nine - of their last 10 matches. A pistol team has also been organized.