US Army Training Center - Yearbook (Fort McClellan, AL)

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1942 WAAC formation at Fort Dea- llolnea, Iowa 1943 Obstacle course at an Army Alr Corps base Arrlvlng at cmm, ltaly i 1944 Waco landing on a Norman- dy beach E, i 4 1944 O 1945 A finance office in New Somewhere ln England. Guinea Leaving billets for work i-usronv QF THE On 14 May 1942 Congress enacted legislation creating the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. On 1 July 1943, by a' subsequent act of Congress the WAAC became the Women's Army Corps, a component ofthe Army of the United States. The first Director was Mrs. Oveta Culp Hobby. During the first year of its existence the Women's Army Corps opened five 'training centers. The first was at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. Others were established at Daytona Beach, Florida, Fort Oglethorpe, Geor ia, Fort Devens, Massachusetts, and at Camp Ruston, Louisiana. WORLD WAR ll A WAAC contingent arrived at Allied Forces Headquarters in North Africa early in 1943. In November of the same year the 1st WAC Separate Battalion was sent to Caserta, Italy. Other WACs were sent to England and as far away as Cairo, Egypt. January 1944 marked the arrival of the first WACs in the Pacific, ln New Caledonia and in May 1944 a WAC unit was assigned to Sidney, Australia. LSTs landed WACs on the beaches of Normandy in July 1944, just a little more than a month after the invasion of Europe by allied forces. At the same time other members of the Women's Army Corps were assuming duties in the China-Burma-India Theatre of Operations. The women of the corps served where they were needed from Europe to China. THE POST-WAR YEARS 1 With the termination of hostilities in 1945 it seemed that women were no longer needed and in August 1945 enlistments in the Women's Army Corps were closed. However in February 1946 the War Department announced plans to utilize WACs to meet the critical shortage of skilled personnel. The Army also announced the preparation of legislation to make the Women's Army Corps a permanent 'part of the Army. By October 1946 the strength of the Corps had dropped from a peak of 99,000 to approximately 11,000 women. REGULAR ARMY STATUS On 12 June 1948 President Truman signed into law the Women's Armed Services Integration Act. In July of that year the first WACs enlisted in the Regular Army and in December of the same year the first WAC officers were appointed in the Regular Army. Enlistments to civilians were reopened and in September 1948 the WAC training center at Camp Lee was opened. With the beginning of the Korean War women were again needed in great numbers. Many of nthose who had served in world war II responded 'to the eau. New WAC detachments were established and those already in existence were doubled in size as women assumed duties in Okinawa and Japan in support of the Eighth US Army in Korea. A ' ln 1950 the Army initiated action to establish a' permanent center for the Women's Army Corps. Fort McClellan was selected and by August of 1954 all

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ff? Ltc. Walter A. Shumway Executive Officer HF C A , 'M' at X , , e ff? I V ' t w, - , f Headquarters Bldg 1060 dw.. . ' EAnuuAn1Ens 5 TRAINING BRIGADE .Lv 4 l Command Sergeant Major Marlin C. McCoy

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NOMEN'S ARMY CGRPS am-.---fmt-.Vrana training activities had been moved from Fort Lee, Virginia. In September of that year the Center was 1 formally dedicated as the home of the Women's Army Corps by General Matthew B. Fiidgway, then Army Chief of Staff. VIETNAM The first WAC officer was assigned to Vietnam as early as 1962. Two WAC advisors to the Republic of Mietnam Women's Armed Service Corps arrived in Saigon in 1965. A WAC detachment was established at Long Binh in 1966 to support Headquarters, US Army Vietnam in accomplishing its mission. THE WOMEN'S ARMY CORPS, 1972-1978 In August 1972 the Secretary of the Army announced plans for the expan- sion of the Women's Army Corps. This expansion was based on the Army's need to meet the all volunteer goal. By the end of 1978 the WAC enlisted strength was expected to expand to about 50,000. Along with this expan- sion, important policy changes were put into effect to fulfill the Army's desire to grant equal opportunities to all its members. Women may now serve in over 400 Military Occupational Speciali- ties. Previously, women could only be sent overseas after completing one year of active duty. They are now eligible for overseas duty after 'completion of Advanced Individual Training or only 16 weeks of active duty. Women now serve as military police, may drive heavy vehicles and may work in mess halls that serve only men. One of the most significant changes occured in December 1972 when the Secretary of the Army approved a change in regulations whereby women would be permitted to command men. Another important policy change concerns the integration of housing. Under this policy, women may be housed under the same roof as men with due regard for privacy and the existence of separate en- trances. ln keeping with the integrated Army policy, women who are assigned to military units perform their duties as membe'rs of the entire unit and they are proving themselves admirably. Women soldiers have come a long way from being an Auxiliary . They are serving with pride and dignity' along with their fellow soldiers. . A NEW ERA FORT MCCLELLAN WAC barracks under construction Mid fifties Gurdon ceremony at Fort McClellan During the Spanish American War the Army found that the Choccolocco Mountains would be an ideal background for artillery firing ranges ln 1917 the post was established by the War Department and named after Major General George B McClellan The famed 29th Infantry Division lthe Blue and Grayl trained at Camp McClellan prior to departing for France in World War I Fort McClellan was designated a permanent post in July 1929 and construction proceeded during the thirties under the governments public relief program The Investment paid oft in 1941 On the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor most half a million men trained at Fort McClellan during World War Il The post was also the site of a POW camp for German and Italian prisoners who had been captured in Europe The post was placed on inactive status in 1947 Three years later training facilities were rehabilitated and in 1951 Fort McClellan became the home of the Army Chemical Corps During the Vietnam era the post administered advanced training for mfantrymen ln 1954 Fort McClellan became the permanent home of the Women s Army Corps Since that time thousands of young women have received their basic training at Fort Mc Clellan The WAC Center alsoconducted Officer Orientation Course for newly com missloned officers as well as DCS for enlisted women who are candidates for com missions l I the 27th.lnfantry Division was in training and had its overseas orders 12 days later. Al- ln March 1978 a bill was passed in Congress to deactivate the Women's Army Corps. In October 1978 the Women's Army Corps was deactivated. The motto, All for One and One for All is now a reality in the United States Army. - Today's Wacs serve ln many interesting jobs