ICM 32108 US WASP Figs 1943-45 1:32

In July 1942, in the United States, by the decision of the American Congress and President FD Roosevelt, United States Naval Women's Reserve, known by its abbreviation WAVES (from: Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). WAVES was the de facto manpower reserve of the US Navy that women could volunteer to join. The main goal of WAVES was to relieve the male US Navy personnel from administrative and coastal tasks in the hinterland and to increase the possibility of directing them to strictly combat tasks. It is worth noting that the women admitted to WAVES underwent training, as a result of which they received the appropriate rank of US Navy reserve officer. The first director of WAVES was later Navy Captain Mildred H. McAfee. It is worth adding that the organization received considerable, informal support from the then American First Lady - Eleanor Roosevelt. Relatively high demands were placed on applicants for the service in WAVES - especially in terms of intellectual capacit