1. WOMEN’S ARMY AUXILIARY CORPS By: CPL Stewart, Jasmine 4 th PLT, A Co., Class 09-15

2. 1942  Created by public law 554 on 15 May with an initial enlistment of 150,000 volunteers  The first 800 members of the WAAC began basic training at Fort Des Moines, Iowa.  The women of WAAC were first trained in only 3 major specialties: switchboard operations, mechanics, and bakers.  The first director of the WAAC was COL Oveta Culp Hobby

3. 1942

4. COL Oveta Culp Hobby

5. 1943  A training manual was published titled “You Must Be Fit” aimed at bringing the recruits to top physical standards. The slogan was “Your Job: To Replace Men. Be Ready To Take Over.” This fitness manual was state-of-the-art for its day with sections on warm-ups, body-weight strength exercises for arms, legs, stomach, and back. It also had a section on “The Army Way to Health and Added Attractiveness” which had advice on skin care, make-up, and hair styles.

6. World War II  WWII – Approx. 150,000 American women served in the WAAC and WAC and were the first women other than nurses to serve with the Army, even participated on Normandy Beach  The shortage of men necessitated a new policy as more women were eventually needed to serve. Note: Over 400,000 American men died during WWII. The 150,000 women who served released the equivalent of 7 divisions of men for combat. General Dwight D. Eisenhower said that “their contributions in efficiency, skill, spirit, and determination are immeasurable.”

7. World War II

8. 1978  The WAC branch was disbanded and all female units were integrated with male units.  Up to this point, they had had 9 directors, from COL to BG.  The Women’s Army Corps Veterans’ Association was established to serve those who served honorably with the WAAC and WAC.

9. Fun Facts  In 2015, CW5 Jeanne Pace, at the time the longest tenured-female warrant officer and last former member of the WAC on active duty, retired from HHBN, 1CD. She had joined the WAC in 1972.  Pallas Athene was the official insignia of the WAC. Also known as Athena, this Greek figure is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, mathematics, strength, war strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill in ancient Greek religion and mythology.

10. Fun Facts

11. Conclusion General Douglas MacArthur referred to the WACs as “my best Soldiers” stating that they worked harder, complained less, and were better disciplined than men.

12. Questions??