Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1905-1906, 1906-03-20
THE CHARMS
OF ARMY LIFE.
SERGEANT SMITH SAYS THERE
ARE WORSE THINGS THAN
SOLDERING.
FEATURES OF THE SERVICE
Erroneous Ideas Prevails Among
Many of the People Regarding
the Life of Regulars.
FEATURES OF THE SERVICE

Sergeant /. A. Smith, q. S. A., who
is in charge Of the Richmond recruit
ing station, located at Arnold's Ho-
| tel, thinks there are much worse con-
ditions that beset mankind than life
in the United States Regular Ahmy.
"Right here in Richmond said
he,to the Palladium yesterday "there
are some persons who evidently be-
lieve that to become a soldier of our
regular army is to be in position
which is below that of the ordinary
citizen, and which entails duties and
labors degrading to an American;
that the privileges accorded SOL
der are few and farbetween and that
an enlistment in the army, affording
practically no opportunity either for
| advancement, accumulation of saw
| those years Of mans life have been
wasted.
"That such ideas are erroneous
can be learned by careful inquiry. 1t
will be found that large proportion
Of the soldires Of the army are self
Prospecting, well-conducted men and
faithful and efficient soldiers, and
that many Of them have been in the
army for years, some occupying the
higher grades among the noncom-
missioned officers, and all contented
| 1o% hxy
their officers.
"The pay Of private soldier is
$13 month, and all soldiers receive
/ Tin addition to their pay rations,
clothing, fuel, bedding, medicines and
medical attendance, and an increase
Of 81 per month for their third year,
and if they re-enlist within three
months from date Of discharge, So
for their fourth yc'r, So month for
their fifth year aal SIS month for
their sixth year; that is, $13 month
during the first two years, $14 the
third year, $15 the fourth year, SIG
the fifth year and $1S the sixth year.
The lowest pay of any soldier in the
army serving in his sixth year is
$1S, which is an average of $3.50
per week, which he can spend or de-
post with an army paymaster, same
drawing 4 per cent interest, and can
not be forfeited except by desertion,
nor can it be drawn out until the
man. term of service expires. The
advantage of that is that the money
is not only in safe keeping, but it is
also growing larger all the time.
GA private soldier Of fair educa-
ton, who proves to be good soldie,
by his conduct, can with certainty
count upon being promoted to the
grade of noncommissioned officer
such as corporal, sergeant, first ser
geant, battalion and regimental SER
geant, major and quartermaster ser.
geant, etc.
"The pay of the above mentioned
noncommissioned officers serving il
: their sixth year is as follows: Cor
poral, $40; sergeant, 1923; first ser
) geant, $50; battalion sergeant ma
jor, $50; regimental sergeant major
500; regimental quartermaster ser
geant, $50.
Regarding the accumulations Of
savings let us suppose that private
: serving his first three years woult
deposit $40 per month during his en-
tire enlistment, and would save So
of his clothing allowance (which car
easily be done), he would leave thu
service Counting the interest ant
what he can save on transportation,
with at least 1920. He arrives home
this much better off than when h
left three years before, and when W,
consider how well he has been caret
for, and tn many opportunities he ha
had for self-improvement it surel,
cannot be said that the time ha
been wasted.