Women+and+The+Armed+Forces


 * __Therese Long__**

The vast majority of Americans who served in the military were men, but some women also signed up to serve overseas. The U.S Army signals corps rerouted French - speaking American women, to serve as a switch board operators. Known as the "Hello Girls" they served a crucial role in keeping communications.

During war, more than 20,000 nurses served in the U.S Army and overseas. Women also served in the Navy and marines, usually as typists and book keepers, although some became radio operators , electricians , or telegraphers. It was not until WWII that all branches of the armed forces, enlisted women in special divisions for the first time. Many of these women earned full military status. About 350,000 women served in the military during world war two. Many women also served as nurses in the Korean War. Laws limited the women's roles. Th ese restrictions on women remained until the 1970s.

Millions of American men volunteered to fight for their country, and still more were drafted , or required to serve. While women were not permitted to take part in combat, they filled other roles in the military , working as pilots , clerks , and in other positions. The nation quickly responded to the need for war supplies also. The hue demand for workers gave new employment opportunities to many women and african americans as well. Most women that wanted to help had two options which consisted of assisting on the home front, or , work as nurses for the armed forces. Majority of the women chose to work as nurses which was a major job for our country and soldiers. Many of them worked at hospitals or med - aid stations where they faced horrible conditions while helping the wounded soldiers. Soon the role of the women's forces began to change. Slowly the men and women started working side by side together, making aircraft for the war in the early 1940s.

General George Marshall supported the idea of introducing a women's service branch into the army. In May, 1942 , Congress instituted the women's Auxiliary Army Corps , which had full military status. The members became known as W.A.C's. The largest women's unit so far was the women's army corps, or WAC , in which 150,000 women served. By 1943, women were entitled to full army protection and benefits. They could now serve overseas, and nearly every task , except combat. By 1945, there were more than 100,000 W.A.C's and 6,000 female officers. In the Navy, women were accepted for volunteer emergency service. One of the lesser - known role s women played in the war effort was provided by the women's air force service pilots, or WASP's. These women , who all had obtained their pilots licens e to service, became the first women to fly American Military Aircraft. 310,000 women worked in the U.S aircraft industry in 1943.

Women have served in military conflicts since the American Revolution, but World War II was the first time that women served in the United States military in an official capacity. Even though women were excluded from things, traditionally , it soon became apparent that their participation was necessary to win the war. 350,000 women served in the war during World War II. They had their own branches of services including Women even served in the Marines and in a branch of the coast guard called SPARS. By filling those office jobs that would otherwise be held by men, women freed more men to fight. The restrictions that were held against women remained until the 1970s. In 1976 women are admitted to the military academics.
 * women's army auxiliary corps
 * The women air force service pilots
 * The women accepted for the volunteer military service

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