“I, William Sharp Bush,
grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland where I tried my hand at the business of farming. After my father died in 1809 I joined the Marine Corps and found my true calling. Now, three years later I am in charge of Constitution’s Marine Guard.”
So you think you want to be a Marine?
Consider these points.
Marine
- Enlists for five years
- Joins the Corps of Marines
- Must be 5 feet 6 inches or taller (except musicians)
- Must be between 18 and 40 years old
- A soldier at sea, doesn’t need sailing experience
- Receives an eye-catching uniform
- Pay for Marine Private: $6/month
Sailor
- Enlists for two years
- Joins a specific ship
- No height requirement
- No age restriction
- Must know how to hand, reef, and steer
- Must buy own clothes
- Pay for ordinary seaman: $8-10/month
- Pay for able seaman: $12/month
Congratulations for your dedication to becoming a Marine.
See how you compare to your fellow Marines.
This information is based on Marine Corps Size Rolls that recorded the personal information of recruits to aid in the recovery and identification of deserters.
How tall are you?
The average height was 5 feet 7 ¼ inches. The shortest recorded Marine was 5 feet 1 ⅛ inches and the tallest 6 feet 3 inches.
How old are you?
The average age was 26. The youngest recorded Marine was 15, and the oldest 41.
What color are your eyes?
The most typical eye color was blue.
What color is your hair?
The majority of Marines had brown hair.
Where were you born?
Nearly 70% of Constitution’s Marines were born in the United States. Of those, 37% hailed from Massachusetts. People from Ireland, Holland, Great Britain, Canada, and France also served in the ship’s detachment.
What is your occupation?
Prior to joining, about 40% of Constitution’s Marines worked as artisans or craftsmen, including butchers, bakers, blacksmith, tailors, plasterers, shoemakers, silver platers, and coachmakers. Most of the others were farmers or laborers before joining the Marines.
This information is based on Marine Corps Size Rolls that recorded the personal information of recruits to aid in the recovery and identification of deserters.
“John Demarest is my name.
I found I couldn’t make a living as a farmer in New Jersey, so I joined the Marines in 1811. Now I’ve got a fancy suit of clothes and three meals a day – all at government expense!
I am 30 years old and stand 6 foot 3 inches tall. I have blue eyes and what many describe as a dark complexion.”
