The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-06-18
MERCHANT MARINE
IS G A LIN G FOR
YOUNG AMERICANS

The young American who feels the
call of the seattle desire to voyage
to distant shores, to mingle with
flag flying in far-off, busy ports--is
wanted now in his country's new mcr-
chant marine.
A career through sea going is open
to him-and the main chance was
never 50 easily grasped by the :ambi
tious young American sailor as to-
day.
Whether he comes from civil life
the factry. the farm, the shop, the of
flee, the school--or from recent SER
vice in the army or the navy, he will
find the way open to a place on an
American merchant ship.
As a result of the great war our
country again is to be a power in sea
trade as it used to be sixty years ago,
in the best days of its sailing ships.
The main difference now is that we
have a great many more ships, and
they are chiefly steamers.
Men are wanted for the crews of
these ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of men
young, ambitious men who have no de-
pendents binding them to home-ad-
venturous young men who want to
find their fortunes on the sea.
The shortest cut to a place in the
American merchant marine is through
the recruiting service of the U. S.
shipping board.
This service places both experienced
and inexperienced men in jobs at sea.
The experienced man is shipped out
at once for deep-water voyages
through a sea service bureau.
The inexperienced man is given pre-
liminary training, as a uniformed ap-
prentice, either in the deck department
the engineer department, as he may
choose, to help him find his sea legs"
| before going aboard a merchant vessel.
| This training is given on board large,
well equipped and comfortable train
ing ships.
The U. shipping board maintains a
| fleet of these ships. which are based
at ports on the Atlantic, the Pacific
and the Gulf.
| Life on Training Ship.
All the training ships are equipped
! with accessories to healthful living.
living. Each has a hospital, with a doc
lttor and nurse in attendance. There
lis a generous steam heating plant for
use in cold months. Sleeping quarters
are well ventilated. Galleys and mess
rooms are kept, scrupulously neat.
There are ample shower baths and
modern plumbing.
Under strict but kindly discipline a
| young man is as well cared for here
| as at home, and he associates only with
young men of his own type, and in
| structors of character and experience.
| The length of the course of training
may vary, according to circumstances
from a minimum of not less than a
1 70 fx1yn he
The training is intensive. with a whole
some system of instruction and exer-
else lasting eight hours a day, and
! proper intervals for rest and recrea-
| ton.
When he has finished his training
| the apprentice takes his place in ac-
| tual work at sea in the rating for
| which he is trained
The young American merchant sailor
soon learns that after a total of two
years sea experience he may enter a
United States shipping board school
lin navigation to fit himself for an Off
GERS license; that in three years more
he can pass through all three grades
as mate-3rd End and LIST order-and
| that his next step in promotion is to
| the command of a ship.
Men in training for merchant ma
| rine service while rated as apprentices
receive $40 a month training pay, with
| food. quarters, and uniform.
When shipped in merchant crews for
sea service. the apprentice enters the
rating for which he has been trained,
| at the prevailing wages for that rating.
Wages in the merchant marine vary
with. the size of the ship and the
character of the voyage. The wage
schedules are to long to be given here
in detail.
The enrolling agent of the United
States shipping board at Pensacola, z.
w. Patterson, can be found at the
~. LIZ