JOINING THE NAVY

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 286, 29 August 1931, Page 13

JOINING THE NAVY

Boys for Seaman Branch CAN ENLIST AT FIFTEEN With its many opportunities for promotion the British Navy is a fine career for the New Zealand boy. The best types of England’s youth are joining the Navy, and it has been said that although the ships have been reduced, the efficiency of the ratings is higher than in the years before the war. To keep the personnel in the New Zealand station up to its strength, recruits for the seaman branch, between the ages of 15 and 16, are being called for. The period of service is for twelve years from the date of entry, or, if under 18, until that age is reached, and for twelve years after. Recruits will be eligible for service in any part of the world, although enrolled primarily to serve in New Zealand and adjacent waters. When a boy enters the service he is rated as boy, second class, and after about six months in the training ship, is made first class. On reaching the age of 18 he is promoted to the rank of ordinary seaman, and from then on it depends on his own aptitude whether he rises further. Life on board a warship is hard, but it is not severe, and a man has to be fit to live it. The instructors see that he attains as near physical perfection as possible, and he will scarcely notice the rigorous training in waiting impatiently for his sea-going career to begin.