Boy seaman

Prior to the First World War, the United States Navy allowed males under the age of 18 to serve on ships who were officially referred to as "boys".

Each boy enlisted has to be "of robust frame, intelligent, of perfectly sound and healthy constitution, free from any physical defects or malformation; and not subject to fits."

Boys were not permitted to make allotments to their parents and were allowed to draw only one dollar per month for "pocket money".

The first six months were on a stationary training ship where the apprentices learned fundamental skills which included basic literacy, gunnery, seamanship and shipboard maintenance.

In the few years prior to World War I, the Navy rapidly expanded and needed new sailors in large numbers as quickly as possible.

The result was the abolition of the apprentice program and the establishment of an 8-week "boot camp" which would transform civilians into sailors in a much shorter time frame.