section 264, which provided they would get the same pay and allowances and benefits provided for other personnel on extended active duty.

(e) The National Security Training Commission shall advise the President and the Secretary of Defense, and shall report annually to the Congress, with respect to the welfare of persons performing periods of active duty for training under clause (1) of subsection (c) of this section, but shall have no authority with respect to the military training of such persons during such periods.

Within sixty days after the date of enactment of the Reserve Forces Act of 1955, the National Security Training Commission shall submit to the Secretary of Defense a program containing recommendations for the personal safety, health, welfare, and morals of the members of the Ready Reserve while performing such active duty for training, including regulations concerning the dispensing of alcoholic beverages on training establishments in conformity with the laws of the several States.

(f) Any person who completes satisfactorily the period of active duty for training required of him by clause (1) subsection (c) of this section during any enlistment pursuant to this section shall be entitled, upon application for reemployment within sixty days after

(A) his release from such required period of active duty for training after satisfactory completion thereof, or

(B) his discharge from hospitalization incident to such duty continuing after such release for a period of not more than six months, to all reemployment rights and benefits provided by section 9 of the Universal Military Training and Service Act for individuals inducted under the provisions of such Act, except that

(1) any person so restored to a position in accordance with the provisions of this section shall not be discharged from such position without cause within six months after such restoration, and

2) no reemployment rights granted by this subsection shall entitle any person to retention, preference, or displacement rights over a veteran with a superior claim under the Veterans' Preference Act of 1944, as amended.

That concludes the section.

Mr. RIVERS. This extends to them the same rights they have under the Universal Service-the Draft Act?

Mr. SLATINSHEK. Yes, sir.

Mr. RIVERS. Has that ever been tested?

Mr. BARTIMO. Excuse me, Mr. Chairman. I think it is more accurate to state it extends similar rights. Under the Universal Military Training and Service Act, individuals who are inducted have a longer period of reemployment rights.

You will remember for the 6-month people, it was the will of the Congress to cut them down to 60 days.

Under the other act, it is 90 days.

Mr. RIVERS. The fellow who is drafted has greater priority? Mr. BARTIMO. Perhaps "priority" was the wrong word. They have a longer time within which to get reemployed.

Mr. RIVERS. Has that thing ever been tested?

Mr. BARTIMO. Yes, sir, it has been. There are many cases-these cases are handled by the Labor Department people.

It is interesting to note that most of these cases are settled administratively, but it has been tested in the courts and it has been upheld. Mr. RIVERS. Did it ever go to the Supreme Court?

Mr. BARTIMO. I don't believe it has for the 6-month program, but it has been tested under the other proviisons of the Universal Military Training and Service Act.

Mr. RIVERS. We don't have any other court we can go to.
In some localities, I don't see how you can enforce it.

Mr. WINSTEAD. Isn't this true, Mr. Chairman, after all it helps to have a provision of the law to that effect. On the other hand, there is no way to make them take a veteran who is not fit to do the job, and as long as you have that there is always a possibility some innocent person might be denied, but it is the best we can do.

Mr. RIVERS. It is the best we can do, and we ought to have it because the sum and substance of it is a practical publication. The person who refused him could not stand the bad publicity.

Mr. WINSTEAD. It is not right to tell a person because he is a veteran he can have a job whether he can do the work.

Mr. SLATINSHEK. That concludes the section of law that would be continued in effect.

Mr. RIVERS. Are there any questions of Mr. Jackson?
Any questions from any member of the committee?
Thank you, Mr. Jackson.

Mr. Milton, we will be pleased to hear you now, sir.

Secretary MILTON. I am Hugh M. Milton II, Under Secretary of

the Army.

Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I appreciate this opportunity of appearing before you to express the Department of Defense interest in H.R. 3368, which would extend until August 1, 1963, the authority to secure Reserve component enlistments under the special programs provided by section 262 of the Reserve Forces Act of 1955. Unless extended this authority will expire on August 1, 1959.

When we requested legislative authority for the direct enlistment and training of qualified young men for service in the Reserve components nearly 4 years ago, we emphasized the then unsatisfactory state of our Reserve Forces.

You were told that too large a percentage of reservists had not undergone basic training; that in the Ready Reserve of the Army Reserve only 1 out of 10 trained enlisted men was actively participating in unit training and that the Reserve could not be built to a minimum state of combat readiness in an acceptable period of time. We sought the opportunity to show what we could do to correct these deficiencies and promised you that we were determined to do a good, sensible job.

The section 262 enlistment programs providing for the direct Reserve component enlistment of young men in the 17-1812-year-old age group and critically skilled specialists employed in national defense activities represents your response, interest, and determination to develop a strong Reserve.

As you know, I have reported to you annually on the progress we have made in implementation of these programs and of the continuous improvement in our posture.

We have had the law and the special enlistment programs for nearly 4 years now and there is no doubt in my mind that the Reserve components of the Army have attained the highest degree of mobilization readiness, deployment availability, and combat potential in history. As an example of this development, look at this chart which demonstrates graphically the unprecedented growth in the numbers of enlisted men attending drills and training with units of the Army Reserve.

As you can see, our low was reached just prior to enactment of the Reserve Forces Act of 1955.

Initial implementation of the special enlistment programs saw a marked increase by June 1956; full implementation caused a decided and remarkable forward leap during fiscal year 1957.

This growth has continued to the present and on December 31, 1958, it had reached 251,000.

The impact of the provisions of the Reserve Forces Act on this growth after 1955 is obvious. More important, however, and not shown on the chart, is the fact that less than 10 percent of these men have not undergone an initial period of active duty or active duty for training.

Continuation of the section 262 programs will assure the Reserve Forces a steady supply of men basically trained and qualified to participate as members of a Reserve unit.

The 6-month training period provides the sound basis for their integration into the unit team and the future development of their ability and skill through more advanced training and application. Army accomplishments under the Reserve Forces Act are noteworthy. Enlistments were accepted immediately after enactment and issuance of the necessary Executive order in August 1955. The first group of trainees reported for training in October of that year.

As you know, our initial progress was modest, but as the program gained momentum the enlistment rate steadily rose. In fiscal year 1956 there were over 27,000 section 262 enlistments. In fiscal year 1957 this rate increased to 38,000.

Now that the program was firmly established with the section 262 enlistment as its base and cornerstone, it was decided in 1957 to broaden the eligibility age and to afford young men in the age group 1812-26 an equal opportunity to satisfy their military service obligation by enlistment in a unit of the Reserve components, completion of 6 months active duty training and satisfactory participation in Ready Reserve duty training thereafter.

Thus, entry on 6 months active duty for training was established as a condition of enlistment in the Army Reserve and Army National Guard on April 1 and October 1, 1957, respectively.

The results of our enthusiastic use of the provisions of law show that up to December 31, 1958, there had been over 233,600 enlistments and volunteers for 6-month training in both components.