The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-24
OPPORTUNITY in THENAVY
1T Is POSSIBLE FOR ENLISTED MAN
TO BECOME REAR ADMIRAL.
Young Men Are Now Being Accepted
at the Recruiting Station i'm the
Federal Building.

At the naval recruiting station in the
Federal building men between the ages of
seventeen and thirty-fve are being enlist
ed in the various ratings of the naval
service. The rating most popular with the
applicants is that of ''landsmen for train
ing" To qualify for this rating a young
man need only possess sound body and
be between seventeen and twenty-five
years of age. Once enlisted he is trans
ferred to a school of instruction at Nor
folk, Va, where. for a space of several
months, he Is trained In the numerous
duties of a sailor and a man-of-war's man.
Next he is transferred to training ship.
where. during cruise to the coast OF
Europe or to the West Indies, his instruc-
ton is continued When he has become
sufficiently proficient in his newly acquired
calling, he is transferred from the train
ing ship to cruising vessel of the navy
battleship or a cruiser-and his future
lies in his own hands. A man OF intelii-
gence and energy is bound to rise in the
navy and in rising he will have plenty of
assistance from his superiors.
The enlisted personnel of the navy Is
being increased continually and petty OFF,
navy-are in great demand. In selecting
the petty officers the preference is given
to the men who entered the service as
landsmen for training. The commanding
officer Of a ship is not only willing but
anxious to promote the deserving and eff
cient men Of his crew. Petty officers are
almost as necessary as commissioned Off
GERS to the discipline of the ships company
and the captain and his officers are con-
stantly on the lookout for promising ma
terial in the crew.
The enlisted force of the navy is now so
large that there are not enough old-timers
In tie service TO supply the necessary num-
Der or petty officers and a result the
petty officers are being selected mainly
from the ranks of the newly recruited men.
There is. therefore, no reason why a young
man enlisting to-day should not. If he is
energetic and intelligent, become a petty
officer of the first or second-class, or even
a chief petty officer, a salary of from
$50 TO $50 month, exclusive of his rations,
before the expiration of his first enlist
ment of four years. At any rate he would
have no difficulty in becoming chief pet
ty officer on his second enlistment.
From the chief petty officer to the war
rant oTf1cer, on salary of from 81 200 to
$3.50 year. Is but step; and once a war
rant officer commission as an ensign is
in sight. The law authorizes the appoint
ment each year of twelve warrant officers
ensigns and ensign is in the line of
promotion to the grade of rear admiral.
The chances for promotion of a young
man in the navy to-day are far better than
they have ever been before.
Aside from the advantages in the way of
promotion held out TO him the navy offers
to the young man a position of which he
can always be absolutely sure, regardless
Of hard times, strikes, iockouts and sick
ness. The government furnishes him free
hospital and medical attendance and al
lows him full pay during the time he is
i'll. After he has served thirty years and
has reached the age of fifty years he can
be retired for the rest of his life on three
quarters of his full pay. He need never
worry about his old age.