Page:Legislative History of the AAF and USAF.djvu/55

 �This Page Declassified lAW EO12958 48 -- USA I-IiSTORIC&L TUDIES cessfully were either commissioned direcfiy as second lieutenants in the Army or ap- pointed as pilot officers. Those cadets who i/tiled to complete the prescribed course of training might be terminated as cadets and required to serve as enlisted men. The rotary of War was allowed to make tem- porary flight officer appointments from among enlisted men of the Amy of the Urnted States who had received avmtion traimng. The act contained provisions for promotion from fight officer to second lieutenant, and authorized an allowance for uniforms, and life insurance at government expense during the training period. After being commissioned as second lieutenants or fhght officers, graduates who were on duty that involved regular participation m aerial flight were required to continue the insurance, and the premiums were to be deducted from their pay. Upon relief from such duty the insurance became op- tional at the ndvidual's own expense By this act enlisted men were given a chance to become pilots ff they had the necessary flying skills and aptitudes. Those who lacked the necessary educationat and cultural qualifications were not made com- missioned officers; but they could become flight officers, a grade much more to be de- sired than that of staff sergeant, to which they would formerly have been entitled at the end of their traimng. Then, too, the AAF could now draw ts pilots from a much wider range of personnel and could more eamly meet the needs of its training pro- gram. An important feature oi the Flight cer Act was the act that it implemented the War Department's change from a policy of voluntary insurance for personnel on fiaght duty to one of compulsory insurance. By amending sectson 5 of the Army Avia- tion Cadet Act of June 3, 1941 this legisla- tion required that all aveetlon cadet and aviation studen graduates who were com- missioned as second heutenants or pointed as fhght officers, and whose duties required participation in regular and fre- quent flights, should continue their $10,000 life insurance policies at their own expense until relieved of such duty. aa A parallel m- surenee provi/non was included in an act of June 5, 1942 providing certmn allowances for United States Military Academy cadets in faghi traming.4 On 17 October 1942 Congress enacted legislation granting retroactive government insurance benefits for Army and Navy flying cadets who died in the hue of duty as a result of swation accidents occurring between the dates of 8 October 1940 and 3 June 1941A  Earlrot m 942, Congress had enacted legislatmn pertaining to United States Mhtary Academy Cadets who took aviation training. On 26 January 1942 the Directo- rate of Legislative Planning, AAF received a request for the initatmn of legislation to prowde government life insurance for ca- dets of the U.S. Military Academy during such time as they might participate m regu- lar and frequent mdtary flights, and three days later a draft of such legislation was submitted to the Chief of Staff. The Assist- ant Chief of Staff was requested to enlarge the proposed legislation to cover provisions for subsistence, quarters, medical care, hos- pitalizatmn, clothing, and equipment at government expense for cadets taking avia- ton instrucUon, and a new draft was rite- pared and submitted to the Chief of Staff. On 15 February 1942 the Judge Advocate General reported on the bill and finally, on 15 March 1!}42, the Asmstant Chief of Staff, G-l, forwarded his concurrence. After fur- ther conferences the final draft was pro. pared and sent to the Chief of Staff under the date 21 March 1942. After approval by the Bureau of the Budget the proposed legislation was for- warded to both house of Congress. The bill was approved by the Senate Committee on Mihtary Affairs on 24 April 1942, and was passed by the Senate on 10 May. It was held up m the House Committee on Mili- tary Affairs, however, due to a jurisdic- tional conflict between the Committee on 1Vlihtary Affairs and the Appropriations Committee. It finally passed both houses and became Public Law 571, 77 Cont., 2 Sees. on 5 June 1942 aa This act provided that U.S. Military Academy cadets undergoing aviation train- ing involving regular and frequent aerie1 THIS PAGE Declassified lAW EO12958