However, military spending was no longer a top priority. The post-WWI economic boom of the early 1920s was a great time to be in the United States. Not to say the sailors that joined after Decemwere not professionals, but there was a difference in the type of men who enlisted before the war began, when naval service could be seen as a calling or as a necessity. The prewar US Navy was considered a small professional force. This had consequences for sailors, from spending time away from home and loved ones, to maintenance and training deficiencies that an advanced base could not support. For much of the time, the Pacific Fleet was stationed at Pearl Harbor, the Hawaiian base was not technically the Fleet’s homeport. Even being stationed in exotic ports such as Pearl Harbor in the Territory of Hawaii could still lead to a rather dull lifestyle. If there is one word to describe daily life for the average US Navy enlisted sailor before American entry into World War II, it is routine. Prior to 1940, the reenlistment rate reached 80 percent, an important statistic to keep a professional navy operating. The navy was seen by many as a way to avoid the worst of the great depression and to learn a trade. Top Image: Prewar US Navy recruiting poster.
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