Come On You Sea-Cooks: Enlist in Naval Reserve Force, For the War Only
A drawing of a cook in a white cap flipping food at a stove sits above a dense paragraph and a table of monthly pay by rating, from Chief Commissary Steward at $83.00 to Mess Attendant 3rd class at $37.00. The text says the Navy wants 'citizens and aliens of friendly nations' with first papers as cooks, stewards and attendants on the German liners being fitted out as Army transports. The tell: a pay table and promises (free board, 'sports and amusements', pay 'at once') are presented while risk is not mentioned.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1917
- Period
- First World War
- Made by
- U.S. Navy (Naval Reserve Force recruiting)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Military
- Regime
- Wilson Administration
- Leader
- Woodrow Wilson
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Recruit
- Themes
- War and the military, Labor
- Event
- World War I
- Regime
- Wilson administration
- Leader
- Woodrow Wilson
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives (NARA), RG 4 (U.S. Food Administration), World War I Posters (NAID 512439), retrieved October 3, 2026
- Rights
- NARA Unrestricted; hosted by owner decision
U.S. Navy (Naval Reserve Force recruiting). National Archives and Records Administration, 4-P-26.
Text on the object
Come On You Sea-Cooks The big German liners which the Government is now fitting out as Army transports need a large Commissary Staff, and the Navy wants American citizens and aliens of friendly nations with first papers to serve as Cooks, Stewards and Mess Attendants on board these ships going abroad; men who are to cook and prepare the food and serve it. Here is a first-class job and working for the Navy makes you a better man. Your pay begins at once; you are never laid off because of bad business or hard times and if you are sick you get your money just the same. In the Navy you associate with clean, high-minded men under healthy conditions with plenty of things to eat and with a lot of sports and amusements. Remember, everything is free, board and lodging, and so is your first outfit of clothing. By joining the Messmen Branch of the American Navy, you are not only helping your Country but also yourself. THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN EARN Chief Commissary Steward . $83.00 Commissary Steward . 72.00 Ship's Cook 1st class . 66.00 Ship's Cook 2nd class . 52.00 Ship's Cook 3rd class . 41.00 Ship's Cook 4th class . 35.50 Baker 1st class . 55.50 Baker 2nd class . 46.50 Cabin Steward . 61.00 Cabin Cook . $55.50 Wardroom Steward . 61.00 Wardroom Cook . 55.50 Steerage Steward . 46.50 Steerage Cook . 41.00 Warrant Officers' Steward . 46.50 Warrant Officers' Cook . 41.00 Mess Attendant 1st class . 41.00 Mess Attendant 2nd class . 35.50 Mess Attendant 3rd class . $37.00 Enlist in Naval Reserve Force - For the War Only Apply to Nearest Navy Recruiting Station
Pay table read from the 2000 px scan; the two columns are given left column first, then right column, with the 'Mess Attendant 3rd class' line centred beneath both as printed.
