Reserve Officers Candidate School - Rocs and Shoals Yearbook (Long Beach, CA)

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v Ensign Robert Fields greets his former Instructor, CDR. R. E. GADSKE, Head of the ROC NAVIGATION DEPARTMENT.

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Now See This REGIMENTAL The most unique training program of the Navy De- partment and the only school of its kind in the United States is currently being conducted at the U. S. Naval Station, Long Beach. The Reserve Officer Candidates Program is the Navy's answer to its preparedness policy of having trained commissioned officers available immediately when a national emergency arises. Commanded by Captain J. B. Azer, USN, the school commenced 7 July, is of six-weeks duration, and indoctrinated 2300 collegians representing 500 accredited colleges from every state in the nation. All ROC trainees are being given intensive courses in the fields of naval orientation, navigation, naval weapons and their employment, and military drill supplemented by an athletic program of wide latitude. During two summer sessions of six weeks each, the Navy will produce Reserve Officers who have a good general education, a basic understanding of the mili- tary, moral and leadership qualities essential in an officer, and, in addition, an appreciation of naval ideals and customs which must be applied intelli- gently. Qualifications for the program are high. This year's 2300 candidates were selected after careful screening of II,000 applicants. In addition to at- tending an accredited college, the men must be en- listed members of an organized unit of the Naval Reserve in their home towns and have attended the regular weekly training meetings. This program is the most economical means of pro- ducing iunior officers that the Navy has yet devised. Candidates do not' receive pay during the college year other than drill pay received at their local Naval Reserve units. The program has proven attractive to collegians because of the possibility of pursuing their individual courses of study during the regular academic year without being required to devote any of their college hours to Navy subiects. The Naval curriculum is re- served for concentrated study during the two summer sessions of the Reserve Officer Candidates Program. The rigid daily program consists in arising at 05l 5 and of a continuous training schedule that carries the enlisted trainees through until lights out at 2200. By the day's end they have attended three classes of 2-hours each, had military drill or partici- pated in some form of organized sports. Dinner is at 1800 followed by a short period of leisure before study hall convenes for the evening. ' ik' iff if THIS IS PROOF OF THE PUDDING. Ensign Robert Fields, who took his ROC training at San Diego two years ago, now serving on the USS Hannah, one of the School's first graduates returns to look over the new crop of potential officers. Not only the graduates of this year's class who know they will see active service but following are the men of the different ROC companies who have additional training or college time to fulfill before they receive orders. Ensign Fields noted that the ROC School of his year trained about 400, this year's School had nearly 2,000 trainees.

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K C V - IW' LJ, Battalion II FIRST ROW: G. E. Gray, W. Parsley, W. J. Cox, M. G Rodie. SECOND ROW: Chief Blaylock, Chief Neese Chief Downsg Chief Caldwell. THRID ROW: L1. Smith Lf. Rybcckf LCdr Harder, LCdr Hillsmang LCdr Dow. 40