Three million women have served in the U.S. Armed Forces since the Revolutionary War. However, women’s official integration as permanent members of the Armed Forces is much more recent.
Legislation passed in 1942 established women’s corps for each branch of the military. The Women’s Army Corps (WAC), Naval Women’s Reserve (WAVES), Coast Guard Women’s Reserve (SPARS), and Marine Corps Women’s Reserve were created so that women could serve in support roles in the military, freeing up men for combat roles.
The decision to include women in the military was met with initial backlash. Beliefs about femininity and other gender roles led to fears regarding women’s ability to serve and willingness to fulfill their duties, and conversely, fears that serving would make women reject societal gender roles. However, they proved to be excellent service members, whose performance was the subject of frequent praise and requests for more units. Over the course of World War II, the presence of women in the military grew until women served in almost every type of noncombat role.
As World War II began to conclude, there was debate concerning the fate of the women’s corps. Initially, women were only to serve during the war, plus a period of six months. This temporary duration of service was emphasized to the public in order to dispel criticism of women’s military service. However, as servicewomen’s presence and responsibility grew, so too did government and military officials’ support for permanent women’s corps. Demobilization and occupation efforts in Germany and Japan also expanded the need for women’s service, as their administrative and clerical work was needed in these efforts.
On June 12th, 1948, the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act was passed, permitting women’s permanent service in the U.S. military. Women were then allowed to enlist at 18 shifting the wartime age minimum of 20, allowing women to enter the military as a career following high school, rather than going to college or entering the civilian workforce.
The Women’s Armed Services Integration Act did not come without stipulation. To address concerns about men now needing to compete with women for promotions and report to women, separate promotion lists were created for men and women, and the highest rank a woman could reach was lieutenant colonel, or lieutenant commander in the Navy. The proportion of women who could achieve that rank in each branch was capped at 10%.
Additionally, limits were set on the total number of women who could enlist or be commissioned. This ranged from 1,000 enlisted women and 100 commissioned officers in the Marine Corps to 7,500 enlisted women and 500 commissioned officers in the Army.
Despite these conditions, the Act was a momentous landmark for women’s service in the military. It was well-earned by the roughly 400,000 women who served the country in World War II. Today, we recognize the anniversary of the passing of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act as well as its effect of not only strengthening the Armed Forces but cementing women’s right to defend the country they call home.
Today, women veterans continue to lead, build, and shape their communities following service.
At Foundation for Women Warriors, we honor that legacy by investing in their future.
Sources:
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/1948-womens-armed-services-integration-act
https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/womens-armed-services-integration-act/
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