The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-05-24
OPPORTUNITIES OF A SOLDIER.
Experience Of a Young Man Who En-.
listed and Likes Army Life.

- y
in the coast artillery and is now {
corporal:
Nowadays very many young mer
are having hard time to find a way
in which they can earn a good liveli
hood" he says. "The trades are near
ly all filled and overcrowded and
even then the young man has to get
into very good firm. if he wishes to
have work during the entire year.
The increase in the army has opened
up many opportunities for the young
man who has no one dependent on
him and is not making over fifty or
sixty dollars a month. These oppor-
tunities are known to very few in
civil life. Bright young men are need.
ed, and those not afraid to work will
be the ones to get the best places.
MANY people have an idea that the
army is breeder of laziness, but that
is great mistake. To begin with,
the qualifications which young man
must have to enter the service are as
follows: Age between 10 and 35,
soundness both mentally and physic-
ally, ability to read and write the Eng
fish language, and he must either be
citizen of the United States or de-
clare his intention of becoming one.
After being sworn in he is sent to a
recruiting rendezvous, from which
place he is assigned to that branch
of the army for which he is best quail
fed
"His pay as recruit is $13 month.
which is really about $11.5O clear. for
his only expense is his wash bill The
food furnished him is not calculated to
give him Indigestion, as it is plain
nutritious, and there is plenty Of it.
In the Inc of clothing, he is we'll sup
piled with the best to be had and has
an annual allowance. which varies
each year of his enlistment, being
about SOS in the first year and about
$50 in the second and third. This does
not seem very large to the civilian,
but everything is issued to the men
at contract price and though it may
seem incredible, have seen men who
took good care of their clothing. and
saved $50 on their first enlistment.
which the government pays them in
cash, at the expiration of their enlist
ment. At the beginning of the third
year of continuous service the pay is
increased 81 month and after that
it is increased at stated intervals
"The recruit upon arriving at his
post is drilled and instructed in the
first duties of a soldier, during which
time he is apt to become discourag
ed, for he imagines that he is a mark
for the old soldiers and that all the
disagreeable work is thrown on him.
but every man in the service has had
to pass through it, just as the fresh
man has to take his hazing at col
lege. When he has become sufficient
ly familiar with his duties, he is turn
ed over to the company for straight
duty, which consists of the regular
guards, drills and fatigues of the SOL
der, and differs with the branches of
the service.
"Should he prove to be good writ
err or have knowledge of any of the
manual trades for which they have
use in the army he is put on extra
duty, should there be vacancy Some
of the positions are clerk, painter.
carpenter, mason, blacksmith, baker,
and laborer in the quartermaster's de-
partment. For this work he receives
a compensation of from IS cents tk1
so cents day in addition to his reg
ular pay and attends only such drills
and inspections as his commanding
officer may direct.
"Then if he shows himself particu-
larry proficient in his drills and has a
clean record he may be promoted to
be non-commissioned officer, for
which as corporal he receives SIS
and as sergeant SIS month. the
first sergeant receives $25. He also
has the opportunity for taking the ex-
animation for gunner. Should he pass
first class, he is entitled to wear the
insignia on his arm and also a medal
and his pay is increased 50 a month.
Upon the recommendation of his CON-
pany commander he can take course
at the artillery school at Fort Monroe,
Va. for gunner specialist. Second
class brings the man an additional
dollar to his monthly pay. The above
refers to the artillery only.
"Quite number of people are under
the impression that it is necessary to
go through West Point in order to Sc