The Washington times., 1914-01-22
ENLISTED MAN IS
A NEW NAVY TYPE
BIuejacket Writes Interestingly
of Careers of Men in SeTV-
ice of United States.

| NEW YORK. Jan. lS-In the fIeel
| Review, the magazine published by and
| in the interests of the enlisted men or
| the United States Navy. J. +. Rupert
| gunner of the gunboat Helena of the
| Asiatic fleet is the writer of one of the
| leading articles. in the course of when
he discusses The navy as profession,
| from the viewpoint of an enlisted man.
1.-THE work of naval men, writes the
| uejacket, has become specialized.
! fact often overlooked by those who are
unacquainted with the true conditions
existing in the navy. The reputation OF
the sailor is bad among people who
! judge from hearsay-nO little wonder
therefore that his profession should
share in the general disfavor. Today the
navy occupies more attention than ever
before, for the nation without navy
in this commercial age is like mer-
! chant without a shop. The public is be-
ginning to awaken to conditions as they
are. The old-time sailor with his grog
and strong tobacco is giving way to
the younger man, trained in the trades |
and professions of civil life.
The naval officer has long been
recognized as a professional man. |
Whereas there was once a time when |
every officer was able to perform any |
duty any subordinate might be called !
upon to perform, today he finds that he |
is not entirely able to perform all the |
duties required of officers in the differ |
ent departments. While the com:nis-
s.oned officers give general oversight |
of the work of the various departments, |
yet the exacting conditions of the serN- |
ice now require the constant attention |
of the warrant officers, who concentrate |
all their efforts and time to only one |
line of work.
Make 1t Profession.
"Officers come into the service after |
being educated by the Government, and |
make the navy their nfe's profession. |
They are regularly promoted after ex-
animation and by pension and sick bene- |
fits are guaranteed an ample support |
throughout life.
PThe enlisted man comes into the |
navy for four wears. Some remain and
others retire after this length of serv-
ice. Mechanics, seamen, hospital corps |
men. yeomen, and others may come into |
the service already well trained in the |
details of their work, and it requires |
only the time necessary to accustom one |
to conditions of ship life to make them |
No. l men. Others may come in with
no trade and no particular object In !
view. To both classes of men the navy |
offers opportunities worthy the most
serious consideration
THE civilian sees no difference at all
in rating badges or marks. To him !
sailor is q sailor-he must be a sailor |
| for he wears sailors clothes The fol- |
| lowing list contains the trades in the |
navy. most of which can be engaged IN |
on the beach: Master-at-arms (police |
officers. Guartermasters. electricians,
wrishts. shipftters, blacksmiths, plumb !
ess. sailmakers, printers, painters, ma |
| cl inIsts. water tenders. boilermakers, !
| 'cOppersmith. oilers, firenen, Yeomen, |
| Cpharmacists and nurses). buglers, mu- |
sicians. commissary stewards, cooks, !
| bakers. etc. These men are petty Of
| fcers. :
Consider the Chances.
when we choose a trade for life we
consider we'll the requirements and op- |
portunities. Education is so important |
factor today that it must not be neg !
lected. We do not go to school so much !
| TO prepare ourselves to earn more /!
| money as to get the most from living to
accomplish the possible with our talents, |
financial considerations being secondary. |
| Naturally the two go hand in hand. A |
man may be successful without any
schooling, but while his career may ap- |
! pear brilliant to Others yet TO himself IL !
may have been gloomy and wearisome |
plOdding. He has spent a lifetime with
| his nose against the gTindstOne. A high !
school education can well be priced by |
| any young man, and IT is TO these that !
the navy offers the most. Every branch |
| OF the service requires mathcmsHCs, |
while language, history, and geography |
will add immensely to pleasure as we
travel from port to port over the world. I
Some men are not advanced, because I
they cannot master their trade, in the !
navy as well as in civil life. On the |
other hand, in an organization like the !
navy advancement is sure to come to !
the men who are worthy, more so than
in civil life, for the reason that there Is |
always room at the top. The entire
plan of the service is one of promotion. !
Men drop away from the top 10y eXpira- !
ton of enlistment, while the bottom rs !
kept full by those who will not rise and 4
the accession of recruits. The best men ,
are pushed along and re-enliStment finds
men petty officers or we'll to the front
in line for promotion.
The navy places responsibilities on !
mems shoulders. An opportunity is Of /
fered to get ahead. More chaDces are |
offered than in civil Iife. To the most I
ambitious and best prepared positions .
are offered as warrant officers while
the commissioned ranks are open to |
those who can pass tho required eN-
animation.
Have No Influence.
Sickness, strikes, cnan-e of proprie-
tors or managers, accidents. harG times
have no influence on L mans position !
in the navy. Pay continues sick or
well, promotion is sure, wl;ilG old age
is provided for by retirement.
why should not enlisted -nen choose
the navy as a profession as well as Off
GERS? Practically every Disadvantage Of
sea life experienced by lie enlisted man
IS shared by the officers, while every
advantage offered to officers fOr length
Of service is likewise shared in by en-
listed men.
THE notion that the man-cwar's
mans position is that Of CIiHEing sub
ordination is one that has been born in
the mind of silly mothers and fathers,
who want all their sons t. be Presidents
and professors. 1t is one that only
shows the ignorance AMI prejudice of
those who should know better. In
America all should know the true state
Of affairs as they exist IN our navy. II
''Timcs were when little training OF
men was required. GiUHncry was ON
parativeIy simple matter. The cOmpil-
Gated machinCry, delicate Instruments.
guns which are machines rather Than
otherwise, all conditions now are su"H
that only men OF more than average
..Ig lf relied