Most sailing ships take what they call trainees who pay to be part of the crew. The Picton Castle takes people who are absolutely raw recruits. But you can't just ride along. You're learning to steer the ship navigation you're pulling lines keeping a lookout in the galley you're cooking.
We ought to be beating our chests every day. We ought to look in the mirror stick out our chests suck in our bellies and say 'Damn we're Americans ' and smile.