WOMEN IN THE MILITARYFemales Marines and Women In the US Military
Women were first allowed in the U.S. Army in the year 1775. They held jobs such as nursing, laundry, and cooks while the men were assigned to fill the infantry units and combat billets fighting on the front lines. The United States Congress approved the creation of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) on May 14, 1942. |
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Women ranging in ages from ages 21 to 45 years of age were allowed enlist in the WAAC, but the quality of training and opportunities for women was significantly limited compared to their male counterparts.
During this period, women and men soldiers were paid the same amount, which was about $21 per month.
Women, however, were not eligible to receive servicemembers life insurance, or overseas pay like their male counterparts. Furthermore, the parents of female soldiers were not eligible to receive death benefits if their daughter was killed in the line of duty.
On July 1, 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a piece of legislation that officically changed the name of the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps to the Women's Army Corps (WAC). The WAC was then officially recognized as part of the U.S. Army.
Are There Female Marines?
Opha Mae Johnson is officially recognized as the first female Marine. She enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on August 13th in the year 1918. She held the job of admistrative clerk. That same year, more than 300 women joined the Marine Corps. In February 1943, The Marine Corps Women's Reserve was established to create female jobs in the Marines. Congress passed the Women's Armed Services Integration Act on June 12th, 1948. That Act of Congress officially made women a permanent part of the regular U.S. Marine Corps. In 1943, Captain Anne Lentz became officially recognized as the first Marines female commissioned officer. Private Lucille McClarren was offically recognized as the first female enlisted Marine in the Active Duty Marine Corps during that same year. Female Marines Uniforms.
The first women sailors officially joined the Navy in 1908 with the official establishment of the U.S. Navy Nurses Corps. Women had been serving aboard U.S. ships in an unofficial capacity for almost a century prior to this. Upon establishment, twenty women were selected to receive training in Washington, D.C.at the Naval Medical School Hospital. The U.S. government did not provide them room and board, so the women were forced to pay out of their own pockets for their accomodations while assigne to training. These women were known as the "Sacred Twenty" in recognition of their formal status as the first official female members of the U.S. Navy.
During this period, women and men soldiers were paid the same amount, which was about $21 per month.
Women, however, were not eligible to receive servicemembers life insurance, or overseas pay like their male counterparts. Furthermore, the parents of female soldiers were not eligible to receive death benefits if their daughter was killed in the line of duty.
On July 1, 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a piece of legislation that officically changed the name of the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps to the Women's Army Corps (WAC). The WAC was then officially recognized as part of the U.S. Army.
Are There Female Marines?
Opha Mae Johnson is officially recognized as the first female Marine. She enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on August 13th in the year 1918. She held the job of admistrative clerk. That same year, more than 300 women joined the Marine Corps. In February 1943, The Marine Corps Women's Reserve was established to create female jobs in the Marines. Congress passed the Women's Armed Services Integration Act on June 12th, 1948. That Act of Congress officially made women a permanent part of the regular U.S. Marine Corps. In 1943, Captain Anne Lentz became officially recognized as the first Marines female commissioned officer. Private Lucille McClarren was offically recognized as the first female enlisted Marine in the Active Duty Marine Corps during that same year. Female Marines Uniforms.
The first women sailors officially joined the Navy in 1908 with the official establishment of the U.S. Navy Nurses Corps. Women had been serving aboard U.S. ships in an unofficial capacity for almost a century prior to this. Upon establishment, twenty women were selected to receive training in Washington, D.C.at the Naval Medical School Hospital. The U.S. government did not provide them room and board, so the women were forced to pay out of their own pockets for their accomodations while assigne to training. These women were known as the "Sacred Twenty" in recognition of their formal status as the first official female members of the U.S. Navy.
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Today, women make up 6.8% of the U.S. Marine Corps, 13.6% of the U.S. Army, 16.4% of the U.S. Navy, and 19.1% of the U.S Air Force. The U.S. Coast Guard currently has about 15.7% women serving in its ranks. Today, women are allowed to hold nearly every Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) available to males except for Infantry, Artillery, Tanks, and other specialized combat MOSs such as Reconnaissance, and Special Operations.
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