Arizona republican., 1917-04-23
HOW. NAVY TRAINS
ITS NEW RECRUITS

athletic field and wholesome exercises
are encouraged, moving picture shows
are given frequently, and other enter
tainments are provided for the bene-
fit of the boys who have just arrived
from home and who are not granted
leave.
The days are well taken up with
drills duty and study periods, but am
pie time is left for recreation. amuse-
ments and athletics The work is var
led and interesting and consists of
drills in artillery and infantry; target
practice with rifle and revolver; sig
mailing; physical drills in the gym
nasium with the Swedish system OF
exercises swimming; elementary sea-
manship, including knottins and Spite
ing: and handling boats under both
oars and sails. For part of the time
in the summer months, the recruits
camp out and are given practical eX
perience in military work of a field
detachment including trench digging.
etc. They also take occasional hikes,
and conduct sham battles. The drills
are held daily, excepting Saturdays,
Sundays and holidays.
This routin is sometimes varied
depending upon circumstances: for the
need of the navy for men to man
ships, occasionally makes necessary
the shortening of the instruction
period al training stations. In such
instances, the training is continued
after the apprentice seamen are pro-
NOTED and transferred to ships.
Recruits who show special aptitude
for signalling or for wireless teleg-
raphy, are assigned to classes for ad-
vanced instruction in either of these
branches. Apprentice seamen who
! show sufficient experiences as radio
operators and can qualify in their test
may be sent to the electrical school at
New York for a more complete course
! of instruction in radio before being
assigned to general duty.
| An apprentice seaman VINO shows
| assigned to the musicians school for
a practical course of instruction to fit
! him for duty in navy band.
] Amy young man undergoing the ap-
prentice training course who displays
aptitude for a particular rating, such
+, as coppersmith, carpenter, shipfitter or
| yeoman, will have a notation to that
effect made upon his record as evil
| dence that he possesses such qualifi-
cations; and, after he has served some
months al sea on a cruising vessel, he
| may, if conditions permit, be detailed
! 70 one of the trade schools hereinafter
utSCIlptu.
The training stations afford ample
opportunities for wholesome recreation
Athletics receive every encoura cement
| Each company has its own baseball
| football. basketball and track teams as
| well as boxers, swimmers, etc. One
| afternoon of each week is set aside fol
athletic events Many interesting in
ter company contests are held, and the
competition is very keen for-the trophy
which is awarded to the company
making the best showing. The train
| ing station has excellent baseball, foot
ball and basketball teams, which en-
gage in contests with the crack organ
| izations of surrounding towns and
cities.
Leave, with permission to visit the
| nearby cities, is usually granted twice
| a week to apprentice seamen of the
main barracks, excepting those who
| may be restricted as punishment, for
| violation of rules
| After the apprentice seaman has
| completed his course of instruction, he
| is examined; and, if he is found quail
| fled, he is advanced in rating. is al
| lowed to draw the money due him
| and, if his conduct warrants. is given
| leave to go home the course at the