The National tribune., 1906-03-22
A SPLENDID PROFESSION.
Why founs. Man Should Enlist In
IA the Navy.

! Why q Touns, Man should Enlist 4.
| {, the Navy.
! (By George Dewey. Admiral OF TIL,
Navy,idndP Popular Sclence.)
/ 1t gives me much pleasure to comply
| with your request for my views on tfi:
subject. 1t is very near my heart, fol
it is upon the young men of the coun
try that wei nfest depend for the de-
fense Of our country's honor on the
sea; and when, the advantages of en-
| listment are better known there should
be no lack of applicants for position:
in our naval service.
The naval career offers many advan-
tages to young man: but primarily
he should have taste for the sea, and
| then. in order to rise. in this career as
in all others, he must apply himself
diligently to acquiring all the details
of life full of interesting features.
The Navy needs active, intelligent
young men. and to those who will de-
vote themselves to learning their pro-
fession every encouragement is held
out
Eniisting at II years of age, the
recruit AT once becomes self-support-
ing: he is supplied with a complete
oititl tt tiOtll1ilS, ana IfOHi liidt tiiilt
until he dies, provided he remains in
the service of the Government, he is
cared for in sickness or in health; and
after 80 years of service IL he is still
an enlisted man, or upon reaching the
fage of 62 il he holds a commission,
he may retire and receive for the re
mainder of his life three-fourths of the
sea pay to which he was entitled at the
time of his retirement.
The pay at first may seem small,
when compared with what brother
may receive in civil life; but the young
man should remember that in addition
TO his pay the Government provides
him with quarters and food. and that
the naval life gives him an opportunity
of visiting various parts OF the world.
This last consideration alone must
counterbalance much that comes to a
man in civil life. for there is nothing
which broadens. and educates as does
travel.
In August last. Lieut.. Henry B. Soule,
l. S. Navy. who entered the service
as an enlisted man, wrote a letter
which is so much in the lire of this
subject, why Young Man Should
Enlist In the Navy" that / quote the
following:
MY personal experience has been
that no man who shows the least de-
sire to learn and to improve himself in
ance from officers or enlisted men of
longer experience.
NO concern on shore offers more
for the intelligence invested than does
the Navy to the average American boy.
AS the law stands to-day. boy can
enter the service at II years reach
warrant rank with a salary of from
81, 200 TO $1,000 year by the time he
is "a or % years Of age. secure a COM
mission IN the line three years later.
and enjoy the rank of full Lieutenant
at the age of so. From then on his
promotion is just as rapid. and he will
Just as surely reach the grade of Rear
Admiral as any other officer of similar
rank.
SHOULD sonng man lack the am
bition or education to reach one of
these higher grades commissioned
rank), lie caT Still win out against mis-
brother in civil LIE If he sticks to the
service. During ithe 80 years an en-
listed man iss2required to serve before
per month. He ought to save $40 o.
that IL he is careful of his earnings az
he would farlc tor be in civil life, and
should have $4,000 in the bank, not
counting INTEREST! when he f. ready TO
retire at the agei of AZ, with $40 a
month for the ,remainder of his life.
Can you beat that in the factory, in
But a young man should not be dis
corraged because he fails to obtain an
officers commission. nor must he ex-
pect to- win this. prize unless. he de
votes himself Honestly to the work of
preparation. Tile examinations are Sc
we're, and rightly so; for the young
man who pursues a course at the Naval
Academy has to work hard all Of the
time in order to obtain his commits
sion. so 1t is but Just that the young
man whom We are considering should
also have to work for it.
A last consideration which I trust
will appeal to every American Is the
patriotic desire of young man to
serve his country. The deeds of naval
officers have added many brilliant
names to our country's roll OF honor;
and when a young man enters the
Navy he may feel that it Is quite pos
sible his own name may sometime be
added to the list.