waves women reserve better known acronym waves women accepted volunteer emergency service world war women branch established july signed law president july authorized accept women naval reserve commissioned officers enlisted level effective duration war plus months purpose law release officers men sea duty replace women shore activities director waves commissioned lieutenant commander navy august woman commissioned officer later promoted commander captain leave president experienced educator highly respected field notion women serving navy widely supported congress navy members support need women wartime nonetheless persistence women laid success allowing women serve navy reality large measure efforts navy lady united_states later united_states representative human rights age officer candidates college degree years college years equivalent professional business experience enlisted age requirements high school business diploma equivalent experience waves primarily white african american women eventually serve fully integrated basis navy wave officer candidates took place massachusetts designated specialized training officers held college campuses naval facilities enlisted members received recruit training recruit training women attended specialized training courses college campuses naval facilities waves served shore stations united_states include alaska hawaii puerto_rico entered fields previously held men general line officers officer waves initially served administrative support roles later served attorneys navy established engineers enlisted women aviation mechanics air traffic controllers parachute hospital worked administrative clerical supply fields waves peak strength members waves left legacy accomplishment accolades came sources secretary navy fleet admiral fleet admiral commended waves contributions war effort history background representative rogers massachusetts introduced bill establish women auxiliary army corps word auxiliary suggests women serve army women deprived military status denied benefits male counterparts opposition delayed passage bill time believed navy eventually need women uniform asked headed rear admiral propose legislation world war authorizing women serve navy considered advocate bringing women navy change course soon began receiving legislation navy imminent response head expressed view able supply extra personnel needed response questions rest december representative rogers asked navy interested bill allow navy use women similar legislation book lady navy quotes reply advised rogers present time saw great need bill days touch asking assess needs equivalent exceptions responses negative congressional inquiries continued increase navy plan women january face recommended secretary navy congress asked authorize women organization following month recommended women branch director bureau budget said agree navy adapting legislation similar women navy unacceptable began continued believe place women navy appealed influential friend naval aviation crossed currents authors describe involvement san_francisco physician surgeon long time interest aviation particularly naval aviation naval aviation friends referred sons having learned stalemate asked representative minnesota served aviation branch world war sons introduce legislation independently navy march house bill essentially proposal women branch time senator indiana introduced similar bill senate april reported favorably bill passed house day sent senate opposed bill especially chairman senator massachusetts want women navy tend break american homes step backwards progress civilization senate committee eventually proposed naval version president approved asked president reconsider creation program apparent women eventually allowed serve navy question form navy administer woman program fashion liking turn help time navy asked women assistance contacting dean suggested professor special assistant chief naval personnel known academic work women work place rate performance jacob assistant fears navy women quickly formed meet navy officials efforts prominent women agreed serve council included national authority efficiency workplace president lloyd university_of_michigan noted lecturer west_coast gates wife president dean women later resigned replaced dean women council knew success program depend woman chosen lead prospective candidate need possess proven managerial skills command respect ability recommendation president future director navy agreed task convincing accept persuade release difficult successful experienced respected background provide measure idea women serving navy recognized importance agreeing suitable organization envisioned fell task finding explaining came nautical said realized letters women volunteer navy wants clear voluntary service drafted service played letters idea sea finally came women accepted volunteer emergency service waves figured word emergency comfort older implies temporary crisis won keeps later commissioned lieutenant waves recommended president legislation create women reserve correspond legislation called reconsider position favor concept stood ground council members took write president wife explained objections legislation reasons eleanor showed letter husband president sent letter navy naval aviator days replied saying secretary asked president reconsider june informed president given authority proceed women reserve days later informed senator president decision june reported favorably bill july bill passed houses congress sent president signed july public law created women branch navy reserve amended title naval reserve act year later july congress providing members similar military status waves idea law free officers men duty sea women standing shore stations home women serve navy officer enlisted level rank rating consistent regular navy volunteers serve duration war plus months continental united_states prohibited boarding naval ships combat aircraft command authority women branch director waves commissioned lieutenant commander august woman officer commissioned later promoted rank captain uniform wave officer described director born diplomat handling difficult matters said played important decision making role women waves treated compared men kind assignments women housing conditions supervision discipline standards establishing office director define responsibilities office establish clear lines authority lieutenant commander simply told run women reserve directly chief naval personnel answers questions unfortunately decision known operating divisions bureau plans existed help guide fact planning anticipation act insights turned world war career writer editor navy asked examine procedures employed complement members findings later waves august september saw women commissioned officers selected educational business backgrounds drawn program good standing women later directors waves director new officers began work routine grasp navy traditions training operating methods use resulting difficult times september issued memorandum organization said director administer program set policies coordinate work bureau operating divisions soon able bring capable staff building sound internal organization recruiting wave officers assigned recruiting stations different naval districts later joined enlisted personnel training primary sources publicity radio newspapers posters personal contacts focus advertising campaign patriotism need women demanded good taste advertising end officers enlisted women waves july ranks risen included officers enlisted training age officer candidates college degree years college years equivalent professional business experience enlisted age requirements high school business diploma equivalent experience united_states citizenship required case waves primarily white middle class represented state country new_york california pennsylvania illinois massachusetts ohio led way little attempt recruit african american women minorities october president roosevelt approved accepting african american women women reserve pressure african american organizations african american women wave officers september african american women waves integrated uniforms waves looked professional attractive stylish uniforms created especially noted new_york fashion house designed uniforms design services secured cost efforts wife assistant secretary navy winter uniform navy blue wool worn white shirt dark blue tie jacket single skirt included black plain black pumps hat black gloves black leather purse rain winter coats summer uniform winter uniform lighter weight white material worn white shoes later gray white striped work uniform summer added wearing appropriate training officers navy chose massachusetts site training wave officers facility offered navy needed college setting provided proper training ground nickname smith captain retired recalled active duty ordered serve commanding officer august distinguished naval career received world war lady navy described intelligent enthusiastic good purpose staff quickly developed curriculum transformation civilian women naval officers curriculum include organization personnel naval history law ships aircraft naval communications correspondence months intense training short period produce overall naval officer rationale teach life work naval service focusing administrative procedures type work officers eventually curriculum change life training program following months training commissioned junior grade naval reserve school closed december accepting women graduating trained women commissioned officers sent specialized schools training communications supply japanese language engineering courses study held college campuses harvard_university university_of_chicago opened schools wave officers studied aviation ordinance officers attended naval technical training command school trained aviation instructors unlike training college campuses training offered facilities training enlisted campuses selected navy recruit specialized training enlisted waves training initial groups enlisted women began october soon clear arrangements unsuitable recruit training dispersed training facilities inexperienced instructors lack corps result navy quickly decision establish recruit training center campus specialized training remained original locations iowa new basic training center enlisted waves school original assignment training captain named commanding officer arrived december weeks class enlisted recruits start weeks basic training recruit training routine began weekday breakfast classes drill hours lunch classes drill hours afternoon followed hour free time dinner hours study instruction lights inspection saturday morning free time sunday breakfast church services free time study hours began recruits received shots given series job tests class graduate early january december navy announced future waves recruits trained borough change came navy women needed kinds work effective return training main recruit training center enlisted waves chosen space location ease transportation willingness college facilities available captain recipient world war named commanding officer february college commissioned naval training center known hunter days later approximately recruits began weeks training objectives meant similar boot camp men lady navy described recruits way recruit went balanced training program instructed navy ranks ratings ships aircraft fleet naval traditions customs course naval history physical training fitness stressed women marched classes medical examinations drills approach signaled singing voices providing marching feet february october waves women marines completed training course marine navy training center summer time established training centers graduating classes hunter went specialized schools train addition college campuses enlisted waves trained boston oxford ohio opened doors enlisted waves training took place naval air stations training centers training medical technicians held unlike training college campuses training facilities assignments waves served shore stations continental united_states initially prohibited serving commands afloat outside country september congress amended law allowing waves volunteer service territories alaska hawaii hawaii overseas station staffed waves permanent basis end war naval personnel assigned shore stations women officers served professional capacities including doctors attorneys engineers wave mathematician assigned harvard_university work project mark computer female nautical engineer entire enlisted waves worked jobs aviation aviation parachute control tower operator administration personnel health care enlisted women opportunity work fields previously held men actually worked clerical positions waves enjoyed successes work place suffered problems sprang contradictory attitudes men supervised women women relation training assignments physical abilities cases women utilized dire need mission waves replace men shore stations sea duty certain men hostile waves replaced meant sea duty navy lack clear cut policies early contributed difficulties women waves wanting serve country time need strong incentive young women world war thousands saw fit join waves adventure professional development joined chance experience life college campuses followed family traditions life civilian joining waves choice adventure didn brothers thought way contribution sisters thought great interested discipline routine involved felt like challenge step forth gave sense confidence time girls didn join waves military dad said lieutenant wrote mother deployed pearl harbor said fascinated ships making history battle talked seamen met okinawa heroes encounter know war means heart goes making hope life long friends experiences mean self satisfaction long fight desire return home feel belong learned brief months life living know changed ways viewpoints truly experience shall course war seven wave officers enlisted women died unspecified causes numerous waves acknowledged contributions country awarded captain efforts director waves commander received letter secretary navy work developing waves training program waves received eighteen secretary navy letter army ribbon waves looked service beneficial said serve situation navy established separation centers waves navy nurses washington memphis san_francisco chicago new_york separation process began october month waves separated end discharged soon apparent centers needed additional centers soon opened september waves completed women spent days separation centers discharged having physical exams orientation rights veteran final settlement pay price ticket home time clear meant women military services altogether small contingent waves retained help navy plan women volunteered remain active duty point vice admiral chief announced plan wave component congress seek retain active duty reasonable number waves wish needed certain july public law signed law allowing women serve regular navy wartime assumptions prohibited women duty unit designated having combat mission carried act effectively incorporated women service organizations legally keeping integrated heart military naval quarter century waves longer existed obsolete acronym continued popular official usage 1970s waves received accolades highest sources secretary wrote conduct discharge military responsibilities work highest tradition naval service fleet admiral king said navy learned appreciate women discipline skill contribution high morale greatest tribute women request waves fleet admiral went demonstrated qualities energy loyalty waves left legacy accomplishment helped secure place women regular navy song waves wrote waves navy written anchors away waves navy waves navy ship sailing bay won slip port victory day carry ship hero brave find ashore man sized navy wave
WAVES