|
|
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
|
WWII Living History / Militaria / Research
History of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC)
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Formation of the Corps
Following much controversy and dissent, the bill creating the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) was finally approved on 14th May 1942. It was to be a non-combatant service, enabling the release of able bodied men in the Army for combat. The Auxiliary part of the title referred to the fact that the WAAC was not part of the Army, merely authorised to serve with the Army. Mrs. Oveta Culp Hobby was sworn in as Director of the WAAC on 16th May 1942, this rank being equivalent to Colonel in the US Army. The head of Pallas Athene (Goddess of Wisdom and Victory) was chosen for the Corps insignia, the branch of service colours being Old Gold and Moss Green.
Selection Criteria
WAAC membership was open to female US citizens aged 21-45, of good health, excellent character, qualifying according to a height & weight chart and being able to pass stringent physical and mental alertness tests. Married women could apply on condition they had no children under 14 and no persons would be dependent on their Army pay. Enrolled WAAC members received monthly pay lower than the men of the Army, from $50 for an Auxiliary (equivalent to a Private), $78 for a Leader (Sergeant) up to $138 for a First Leader (Master Sergeant).
Officer selection
All enrolled members had an equal opportunity to compete for a place at Officer Candidate School (OCS), places being solely filled from ranks of enrolled members. The calibre of the enrolled members was also raised because many members turned down a place at OCS in favour of an overseas assignment.
Training
The first group of WAACs began training at Fort Des Moines, with many teething problems in the first batch of trainees. They were generally better educated than their instructors and despite women having been in the Army Nurse Corps for over 40 years, the Army still didn’t have much idea about women’s needs. Initially they were fed lunches of soup, salads and sandwiches, based on a survey of what business women ate.
Type of jobs
By September 1942 the first WAACs were being assigned to their posts. The original intention was to place these women only in unskilled posts – but the recruitment targeted the middle classes, and 90% of the recruits were college graduates. This goes some way to explaining their phenomenal success compared to drafted men. WAAC liaison teams consulted the British ATS, but ignored their prediction that women would serve in further roles than office-based work. This resulted in their uniforms being inadequate for outdoors and dirty work that they would later undertake.
WIRES
The WIRES (Women in Radio and Electrical Service) were technically trained communications specialists in the WAAC, assigned to Signal Corps duties. The service was suggested by women on a Mechanic Learners Course, at Trinidad State Junior College, Trinidad, Colorado. It was officially approved on 4th January 1943. Prospective WIRES, meeting entry requirements for both the WAAC and the WIRES, were paid a salary while undertaking WIRES training. On completion of this training they were called to active service with the WAAC and undertook basic military training. They were then assigned to appropriate companies in the field.
Overseas postings
The first WAACs went overseas in December 1942, initially to North Africa serving with General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s HQ in Algiers. Later groups served with General Mark Clark. Some were even assigned to the advance party of his 5th Army bringing them close to the front line. At this point in the war, WAACs were mainly undertaking clerical, driving, switchboard and catering duties, but their assignment to the 8th Air Force and 9th Air Force in England in July 1943 say a greater diversity in their roles. A few even saw service on planes as crew mechanics, radio operators and photographers.
The Morality Question
After the initial ‘honeymoon period’ where the press were reporting favourably on the newly formed WAAC, there came a period of negative publicity, with rumours of prostitutes joining the WAAC. Of course the duties and living conditions made a sideline in prostitution difficult if not impossible, but the few prostitutes that evaded the screening process were dishonourable discharged. It was even reported that the WAAC’s real purpose was to provide sexual services to the Army (as if servicemen through the ages have not been able to arrange these matters for themselves!) A swift retraction of the story did not serve to convince all fathers brothers and husbands that WAAC membership would be suitable for their women-folk. Despite the rates of pregnancy (bear in mind that many WAACs were married) and sexually transmitted diseases being the lowest in all the services and even lower than that of the general public, recruiting rates dropped. So much did the war effort rely on recruitment of these women that the FBI and G2 (military intelligence) investigated the rumours as it was suspected that they were started as enemy propaganda. The enquiry found the rumours were started by people such as soldiers, soldiers wives, and jealous women, illustrating the attitude of many towards women in the military.
Travel as an aid to recruitment
Although other services seemed superficially more attractive to recruits, travel was a great lure to WAC recruitment. WAVES for instance had better pay, full military status with all the advantages that came with it, and wore flattering designer uniforms, but potential recruits knew that there was no chance of seeing the world.
Air WACs
“Air WACs”, the term used for WAACs and WACs in the USAAF whether they flew or not, were the lucky ones. The USAAF was the most popular assignment, as they were offered more interesting jobs and travel opportunities, plus transfers and promotions were more frequent. They were welcomed by General Henry ‘Hap’ Arnold. His Commanders allowed much greater leeway in interpreting regulations, offering the Air WACs a wide range of jobs from Hairdresser to Weapons Examiner and Telephonist to Aircraft Mechanic. These women were permitted to wear the USAAF Winged Propeller insignia, in place of the Pallas Athene, which they did with pride. One of the most forward-thinking acts was to enrol women into its technical schools where they were taught alongside the enlisted men. As these women were all volunteers, they often outperformed the drafted men.
Problems with Auxiliary Status
The Auxiliary status of the WAAC was causing political and administrative problems, and it became clear that something must be done. Their status was particularly galling to those members serving overseas. The Stateside-only Women’s Services, WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service), USMCWR (United States Marine Corps Women’s Reserve) and SPARS (Women’s Coast Guard, named from the motto Semper Patrus) all had full military status. Although the WAACs overseas service placed them in physical danger, they were not entitled to burial with military honours or a flag. They couldn’t be awarded military medals, dependants’ allotments, there was no entitlement to disability or retirement pensions, or veterans’ rights. They weren’t even given the franking privilege on their mail, although they were permitted to use the Post Exchange (PX) stores.
The end of the WAAC
The bill giving the WAAC full military status and renaming them the WAC was passed on 1st July 1943. The WAAC was therefore disbanded on 30th September 1943.
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Please report any broken links to me here (remove #)
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| page created with Easy Designer |