The National tribune., 1906-03-22
A SPLENDID PROFESSION.
Why . Young. Man Should Enlist
/, fhs Navy.

II 1hs Navy.
(By George Dewey. Admiral OF the
Navy,sdndPopular Science.)
1t gives NIB much pleasure to comply
with your request for my views on this
subject tits very near my heart. for
1t Is upon the young men Of the coun-
try that We! must depend for the de-
Tense Of off country's honor on the
sea; and when the advantages of en-
listment are better known there should
be no lack of applicants for positions
in our naval service.
The naval eeareer offers many advan-
tages to a 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
vote themselves to learning their pro-
fess1on every encouragement is held
out
Eniisting at II years Of age the
recruit at once becomes self-support-
ing; he is supplied with complete
outfit of clothing. and from that time
until he dies, provided he remains in
the service Of the Government, he Is
cared for i'm sickness or in health; and
after 80 years of service II he Is still
an enlisted man, or upon reaching the
age OF 62 II he holds 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
oh ii
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
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 letter
which is 80 much in the line OF this
subject, why a Young Man Should
Enlist I'm the Navy" that i quote the
MY personal experience has been
that no man who shows the least de-
sire to learn and to improve himself in
the naval service will ever lack assist
ance from officers Or enlisted men of
longer experience.
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
$1,000 to $1,000 a year by the time he
mission in the line three years later.
and enjoy the rank of full Lieutenant
at the age Of 30. From then on his
promotion is just as rapid. and he will
just AZ surely reach the grade of Rear
Admiral as any: other officer of similar
rank.
Should a sonnE man lack the am
bition or education to reach one Of
these higher grades commissioned
rank), lie carr still win out against his
brother in civil life if he sticks to the
service. During gthe 80 years an en-
listed man is2reqnired to serve before
retirement, his pay will average $40
per month. He ought to save $50 o.
that II he is rareful Of his earnings as
ne would hare. tor be in civil life, and
should have $4,000 in the bank, not
counting interest. when he f. ready to
retire at the Aga! Of Al. with $40
month for the remainder Of his life.
Can you beat that in the factory, in
the store. Or on the railroad"
But q young man should not be DIS
Outraged because he fails to obtain an
officers commission. nor must he ex.
pect1 to-. win thiss prize, unless. he de-
votes himself shonestiy to the work of
preparation. Tlfe- examinations are Sc
we're, and rightly go: for the young
man who pursues q. course at the Naval
Academy has to work hard all Of the
time I'm order to. obtain hfs. commits
sion, 30 It is but Just that the young
man whom we are considering. should
also have to work for 1t.
A last consideration which I trust
will appeal to every American IL the
patriotic desire OF a 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 1t Is quite pos
sible his own name may sometime be
added tn tina lisf