The United States Navy has opened its ranks to women, and this winter 11,000 WAVES —- Women Appointed for Voluntary Emergency Service — will have the satisfaction of knowing they have released thousands of men from shore station jobs for sea and combat service

Mildred Helen McAfee, 42-year-old dean on leave from Wellesley College, has been commissioned: Lieutenant-Commander, the first woman officer in American naval history, and the superior of a projected 1,000 officers and 10,000 enlisted women.

In a recent interview, Miss McAfee explained that because women in the Navy are to replace men in shore' stations, there will not be much emphasis on routine Navy training not directly applicable to those jobs. 

Women already trained as technicians or skilled administrators were chosen first as officer-candidates. They reported first for training at Smith College, well-known American women's college in Massachusetts, early this autumn. Taught by Navy officers, they will, when the course is completed, replace the men as officers and instructors. Of the 900 officer candidates who reported the following month, by far the largest percentage are to be trained for communications, work. 

Recruiting of enlisted personnel was not undertaken until officer quotas were filled. A high-school degree, or its equivalent in business-school education school education, is required for enlisted women, and their ages must be between 20 and 36.

Three student dormitories at Smith College have been turned over to the WAVES, in addition to one academic room, a gymnasium, and a playing field. Until the war's end, these Navy women will wear tailored blue suits, hats modeled after a seaman's hat of the 18th century and low-heeled black shoes. Pocketbooks will be slung on a strap over the shoulder, leaving both hands free. Insignia will be a propeller and an anchor entwined. Officer stripes will be blue braid.

Other rules for the WAVES include:

Marriages: WAVES who are single when they enter the corps may not marry during their fourth months’ training.

Saluting: WAVES will salute officers, men and women of superior rank. In turn, Navy men will salute WAVES of superior rank.

Leave: During training WAVES will be free from Saturday noon to Sunday night.

Smoking: not on the street.

One of America’s youngest college presidents, Miss McAfee is known as an able administrator. Daughter of Reverend Boyd McAfee, secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, she is descended from a long line of educators, writers, and churchmen. As commanding officer of the thousands of women who will come into the Navy in the coming months, she has clear-cut ideas about women's rights.

"I am not interested in demanding rights for women as women," she has said, "although I am tremendously interested in protecting any woman from loss of human rights because she is a woman.”

When she was sworn in as a lieutenant-commander by U. S. Secretary of the Navy Knox, Miss McAfee said: "I have been offered a high honor and a great responsibility. As an individual I should not venture to accept either. I do, however,, accept the honor on behalf of the colleges of America. They have shown themselves to be agencies of importance in the American scene. If academic administrative experience is considered of values to the Navy, I accept the responsibility as a representative of the women of America who welcome each new opportunity to render service to the nation.

“The-WAVES are only one group of women who are trying; to serve the nation through helping the Navy. They join the Navy nurses, the Navy wives, the civilian employees, as volunteers asking to be called upon for hard work and the privilege of service." 
 

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Mildred Helen McAfee, a 42-year old dean on leave from Wellesley College, was commissioned a Lieutenant-Commander of the Navy's Women Appointed for Voluntary Emergency Service (WAVES) and became the first woman officer in U.S. naval history. Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox administered the oath of office. (Collection Shelby Stanton)

Smith College's Alumni Hall in Northampton, Massachusetts, was the first training center for officer candidates of the Women's Voluntary Emergency Service, a U.S. Navy Auxiliary.  (Collection Shelby Stanton)

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