The WAVE Recruit Training School, established with appropriate ceremony at the Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois on October ,5, 1948, is training women, for the first time in the history of this country, not as reserves, but as recruits in the United States Navy.
The training area, Camp John Paul Jones, has a salty atmosphere. All day long one can hear feminine voices chanting cadence for marching feet. And the free use of such naval parlance as “hit the deck,” “pipe men aboard,” and “Seaman Recruit Doe reporting, Lieutenant,” would no doubt bring a surprised smile to the lips of the great naval hero after whom the camp was named.
Public Law 625 directs that women shall be a permanent part of our armed forces. The law is not a concession to feminine whims; there are precedents for women in military service in both legend and history.
In Greek mythology Bellona, goddess of war, often accompanied Mars on his flights across stormy skies. She drove his chariot, parried thrusts of antagonists, and watched over his general safety.
The Odyssey relates that the fall of Troy was delayed by the timely arrival of Penthesilea, queen of the Amazons, who came to aid the Trojans with a band of female warriors. Having slain many of the bravest Greeks, she in turn was slain by Achilles.
In 1428 Joan of Arc, clad in armor and mounted on a war horse, led forces that broke the English siege of Orleans and saved the independence of France.
Florence Nightingale’s work, as a nurse in the military hospitals of Balaklava and Scutari during the Crimean war, became a legend in her lifetime.
Colonial women shared many hardships during the Revolutionary War. Every school girl knows the story of Molly Pitcher (sobriquet for Mary Hayes), who carried water in a pitcher to hot, thirsty soldiers during the Battle of Monmouth in June, 1778. Another Revolutionary heroine, Margaret Corbin, accompanied her husband, an artilleryman, on all his campaigns. During the attack on Fort Washington (upper Manhattan Island) in November, 1776, she passed ammunition for his cannon. When he was killed, she took charge of his gun and continued to fire until she was hit by grapeshot and fell, seriously wounded. The first woman to be pensioned by the government, her body has been reinterred at West Point and a monument erected to her memory.
The Army Nurse Corps was established in 1901. The Navy Nurse Corps, established in 1908, was first suggested by a young Navy surgeon in 1811.
During World War I, women in many belligerent countries performed special services. In Great Britain they enrolled in nursing, voluntary aid detachments, and in various corps, including the Women’s Royal Naval Service, popularly known as the WRENS. In the United States the Red Cross enrolled more than 23,000 nurses, who served in Army and Navy hospitals in this country, Europe, and the Near East. The Navy enlisted about 11,000 women, who served as “yeomanettes” and “marinettes,” with full reserve status and specially designed uniforms. This was permitted by literal interpretation of basic Navy legislation, which referred to “persons,” not “men.” The Army would have requested revision in its legislation to permit enlistment of women if the war had lasted one year longer.
Russia, in 1925, introduced a military system providing for the voluntary service of women in time of peace, and compulsory service in time of war.
Far-flung operations of our armed forces in World War II created a tremendous need for combat personnel. This problem was solved when women, accepted for volunteer service in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, released many physically qualified men for duty overseas.
The WAVES soon established their versatility and served with distinction in various shore billets within the United States and in the Territory of Hawaii. Their peak strength was approximately 86,000. Although the letters W-A-V-E-S mean “Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service,” the term WAVES is now traditionally associated with women in the naval service, and its use probably will be continued in the future.
Will the Navy’s new women recruits be able to maintain the fine traditions established by the WAVES in war time? Before answering that question, let’s take a close look at the “average” recruit.
Her home town is in the East or Midwest. She is 21 years of age; has brown hair and blue eyes; is five feet, five inches tall; weighs 125 pounds; and wears size seven-B shoes. After completing high school, she had six months additional schooling. Before enrolling in the Navy for its security, travel, educational advantages, and for new experiences, she worked as a typist, stenographer, or clerk. Her prime interest is naval aviation and her classification test indicates that she has aptitudes for this field. She likes all her courses, although her favorite is “Ships, Aircraft, and Weapons.” She likes to march and drill and thinks military discipline is good for her. She likes Navy food. She is not afraid to express her opinions and does so, frankly and intelligently. She has good health and stamina and gets along well with other recruits. She is irritated by lack of time for customary personal things, but her transition from civilian to Navy life is running smoothly. She is proud to be in the Navy and wants to make the Navy proud of her. Although her first enlistment is for three years only, she is giving serious thought to making the Navy her career.
Apparently the “average” recruit does possess the basic qualities of good health, intelligence, and proper attitude essential to success in the naval service. But the “average” recruit is only a composite of all the young women who comprise the first recruit training class. We can appraise the entire group with some degree of reliability, and also determine where they came from, their civilian backgrounds, physical characteristics, their aptitudes and interests, and why they enrolled in the Navy, by analyzing data obtained by polling 129 of the 160 members of the first training class.
The young ladies are from 28 different states. Pennsylvania is represented by 17; New York, 15; Michigan, 12; and New Jersey, 10. The remaining states are each represented by from one to eight recruits. Small towns and large cities are represented with about equal frequency.
More than 80 per cent of the recruits are in the age group 20 to 22. Approximately 40 per cent have blue eyes, 30 per cent have brown, and the remainder have green, gray, hazel, and black. Approximately 74 per cent have brown hair, 10 per cent are blondes, and the others have black, auburn, and red hair. The girls range in height between five feet and five feet, nine and three-quarters inches. About 80 per cent are in the group between five feet, two inches and five feet, seven inches tall, with an even distribution within this range. The extremes in weight are at 100 and 174 pounds, with an even distribution between 104 and 140. The frequencies are slightly greater at weights of 125, 130, and 140 pounds. Shoe sizes range from four to eleven, with significant frequencies in sizes six to eight; widths are from AAA to D, with C, B, and AA predominating in that order.
All of the recruits are high school graduates; 21 have had additional informal schooling; 35 have had one to three years of college; and 5 recruits have college degrees.
Their civilian experience was greatest in the fields of typist-secretarial and clerical, followed by telephone operators and students. Others include business machine operators, bookkeepers, X-ray technicians, nurses, receptionists, welfare case workers, reporters, artists, singers, ranchers, and many others.
They joined the Navy for careers, education, travel, for new experiences, patriotism, security, “to get out of a rut at home,” “prospects for a husband,” “to be happy,” “to be a part of the Navy.”
Their favorite training course is “Ships, Aircraft, and Weapons,” but “Naval Personnel,” “Naval History,” and “Jobs and Training” follow in close order. A few like best their courses in physical education, military drill, and first aid. Only two recruits said they dislike military discipline, and even these think it is necessary. Only one recruit dislikes to march and drill.
All the recruits like Navy food, although some do not like certain dishes, and one said that it is sometimes “too creamy.” Another recruit said, “Food’s food.”
The trainees are interested in every specialty available to WAVES, with Airman, Hospital Corps, and Personnel Man leading in preference.
All recruits are given the Navy Basic Battery test. This test plus an interview, with education and other background factors, enables the classifier to determine the service schools for which they are best fitted.
Members of the first WAVE recruit training class indicated aptitudes as follows: Airman (all aviation ratings authorized for WAVES), 28; Hospital Corps, 18; Yeoman, 12; Communication Technician, 8; Radioman (usual test is supplemented by a radio code test), 7; Storekeeper, 7; Teleman, 7; Dental Technician, 6; Personnel Man, 6; Journalist, 3; Commissary Man, 2; Disbursing Clerk 2; Photographer’s Mate, 1. Tests were also given to determine aptitudes for Electronics Technician, Optical Man, and Printer- Lithographer, but no recruits qualified in these specialties.
Approximately one-third of the recruits said they plan to make the Navy a career; only ten said “no.” Others will stay in the Navy if assigned to their field of interest; some will decide when their present enlistment expires. Terms of enlistment are for three, four, and six years; all members of the first training class enlisted for three years.
The WAVE Recruit Training School, otherwise known as Recruit Training (W), is a part of the Recruit Training Command. It is one of the many training activities at Great Lakes which operate under the over-all command of Commander, Naval Training Center.
Recruit Training (W) occupies six buildings compactly grouped in a “mainside” area. These include an administration and recreation building with administrative offices, a ship’s service store, beauty shop, cafeteria and soda fountain, study hall, library, spacious lounge, game room, swimming pool, and gymnasium. Two barracks buildings provide quarters for 320 recruits, with one company of 160 recruits assigned to each. The sleeping compartments consist of cubicles equipped with two double-deck bunks and four lockers. In the galley and mess hall building well-balanced meals are served, cafeteria style, three times daily. Two other buildings are used for small stores and clothing issue, and for classroom instruction. Available outdoor facilities include drill and athletic fields.
The school’s internal training and administrative organization is staffed by 12 WAVE officers and 14 petty officers. The battalion of 320 recruits is divided into two companies with officers as company commanders. Each company has four platoons with petty officers in charge. There are forty recruits in each platoon.
The curriculum includes naval history; naval personnel; naval organization; ships, aircraft, and weapons; Navy jobs and training; military drill; physical education; personal hygiene and first aid.
The academic courses are designed to provide a general background on the development of the Navy, its history and traditions; organization and administration of the shore establishment and fleet units; military courtesy, pay and allowances, courts-martial, discipline, ranks and ratings; types of ships, aircraft, and weapons and their uses.
The recruits learn standard Navy military drill without rifles. Physical training includes swimming, calisthenics, rhythmic activities such as folk dances, group games and individual sports. Personal hygiene includes instruction in proper grooming, good manners, and conduct.
All instructors for the academic courses are WAVE officers who were teachers in civilian life.
A constant check on the performance of each recruit is maintained by pop-quizzes, weekly and monthly tests, as well as a final examination. The battalion commander receives weekly reports on all trainees, covering military drill, personal appearance, and barracks inspection.
Results of the General Classification Test, adaptability to the recruit training program, and personal appearance are taken into consideration when selecting recruit petty officers. The ten recruits rating highest are nominated for such positions as platoon leaders, assistant platoon leaders, master- at-arms, mustering petty officers, and church group leaders. Recruit petty officers who fail to show desired leadership qualities are relieved of their responsibilities by other recruits who are next high on the leadership list.
Reviews and personnel inspections are held every Saturday; barracks inspections are made each Thursday morning.
The initial clothing issue for WAVE recruits consists of coats, blue, white, and seersucker uniforms, caps, gym suits, sweaters, dungarees, shoes, gloves, purses, and hosiery. In accordance with Navy policy, women recruits select and buy their own underclothing. They are not issued the short, white leggings which, long ago, gave Navy recruits the nick-name “boots.” They are identified, as recruits, however, by a special shoulder patch. This consists of the WAVE device— a white anchor superimposed on a light blue ship’s propeller—embroidered on a diamond shaped field of yellow felt.
Disciplinary problems, to date, have been insignificant. The demerit system is used in dealing with the petty infractions of rules that do occur, and cleaning of barracks during liberty time is the penalty usually imposed by the battalion commander.
The WAVE recruit has a busy life. After reveille at 0600, she has half an hour to dress, make up her bunk, and prepare for breakfast at 0630. Between 0700 and 0755, she polices her barracks, then musters for quarters, informal personnel inspection, and orders. Between 0800 and 1655, with a one hour break for food at 1200, she attends four academic classes; four other 45 minute periods are devoted to physical training, study, drill, and such administrative purposes as classification, hair cuts, innoculations, and sick call. The evening meal is at 1700. Mail call, showers, clothes washing, letter writing, mustering of the watch, intra-mural athletics, movies and other forms of recreation, fill the evening hours until taps at 2130.
This full schedule, involving 44 hours of instruction each week, is maintained in order to meet the requirements for WAVE recruit training established by the Chief of Naval Personnel. The Navy’s long experience in training young recruits has proved that a program that is demanding, both physically and mentally, prevents homesickness and smooths the way for acceptance of discipline and the transition from civilian to Navy life.
All members of the school’s training staff concur in the opinion that “the girls are of high caliber; they are keeping up in their classes; they are standing up well under the rigorous routine.” They believe this is explained by the high standards required for enlistment. A girl must have at least a high school education, be over 20 and under 30 years of age, pass a physical examination, and be of good moral character.
Liberty is limited to six hours at the end of the fifth week, and twelve hours at the end of the seventh and ninth weeks. At all other times the recruits are restricted to their own training area. This is compensated for, in large measure, by a broad recreation program, which includes intra-mural athletics, movies, vaudeville, indoor games, a hobby shop, amateur shows, and “happy hours” for singing and skits.
After ten weeks’ training, graduation ceremonies are held. The program includes a speaker, a recruit review, and presentation of awards to honor recruits.
Sixty per cent of the recruits go to Class A service schools. Forty per cent go to general service. WAVES are prohibited by law from serving aboard naval vessels except transports and hospital ships. It is anticipated, however, that a large number will eventually be assigned to naval activities overseas.
Rear Admiral J. Cary Jones, U. S. Navy, (now Commandant, Ninth Naval District) tells of an incident during the war which inspired a rumor that WAVES had been given billets afloat.
The Commanding Officer of a carrier in the Pacific somehow acquired two WAVE uniforms. A practical joker, he induced two sailors on board to put them on. The two synthetic WAVES strolled winsomely about the deck, creating a sensation among all hands. Personnel on neighboring craft trained telescopes and binoculars on the pair, and one man exclaimed excitedly that he recognized one of the “girls.” With the speed that only scuttlebutt can attain on such occasions, it soon became common knowledge throughout the Pacific that WAVES had been assigned to the fleet.
The objectives of the recruit training program are, briefly, to effect a transition from civilian to Navy life; to provide a background for naval service; to develop proper concepts of responsibility and conduct; to develop pride in being a part of the Navy.
Are these objectives being achieved at Great Lakes? The answer is YES. But let the recruits themselves confirm this in their replies to the question, “What do you think of your recruit training?” Invariably frank and uninhibited, their answers range from mild criticism to unrestrained praise:
“It is OK. I wanted discipline and I got it. The Navy is a good life. It offers a lot and it expects a lot in return. I’d like more organized recreation.”
“Recruit training is doing me a lot of good, but I am looking forward to graduating and becoming a ‘salty sailor.’ I hope that we all turn out to be real sharp women of the Navy so the men will be proud to have us as their ‘shipmates.’ ”
“It’s interesting and educational, but very hard at times. Military training should be compulsory for all girls for a year or two. ” “It’s good, except for the fact that I don’t have enough time to keep my clothes in order and to study.”
“I’ve learned to give and take and cooperate.”
“It’s good discipline and training, and good for character building. The officers and organization are excellent.”
“I think that it is a wonderful test to see whether or not I will make a good U.S.N. WAVE. I hope to make my time in the Navy such that I can be proud of it, and also make the Navy proud of me.”
“I think it’s wonderful training for anyone adjusting to Navy life.”
“My impression is that the Navy has accepted each and every one of us. We are her children, and she is going to make sure we are a credit to her.”
“It’s rough at times, but on the whole I like it. On the drill field this afternoon, I kept thinking, ‘This is the life for me!’ I really like the Navy and I want to belong. This indoctrination course is giving me that feeling.”
In the past, women in uniform frequently were the butt of disparaging comments by male soldiers and sailors. For example, a visitor to Russia in 1917, while standing in a railroad station in Kronstadt, saw a member of the Women’s Battalion of Death. She looked pleasingly military in her neat uniform, with spurs on her boots and a white fur cap on her head. A sailor, with the name of his ship, the Pamjal Asowa (named in memory of Asow, the revolutionist) on his cap, approached her and said, “Well, my officer in petticoats, who do you want to make war against now?” The girl’s face turned red with embarrassment. As she walked quickly away, the sailor swore after her, “The devil take the wench!”
What is the sailor’s attitude toward women in uniform today, and toward WAVE recruits in particular? The answer to this important question was given spontaneously by a Photographer’s Mate, third class, on a Chicago radio station’s “news-on-the- spot” program. He said, “They’re tops in brains, and tops in looks, too!”
Some traditionalists still may contend that home-making is the only suitable vocation for women. But modernists will agree with the conclusions of the Congress, and with high-level Army, Navy, and Air Force opinion, that women do possess aptitudes needed by our armed forces; that they do have the qualities of loyalty, dependability, and spirit essential to military service. Those in doubt should visit the WAVE Recruit Training School at Great Lakes, stand in front of the administration building, and take a long, thoughtful look at the arch erected over the entrance. Freshly painted thereon are the proud words, “THROUGH THESE PORTALS PASS THE WOMEN OF THE GREATEST NAVY ON EARTH.”