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Show 118 Women's Employment by Occupations and Industries the number of women in the "line" services may not exceed 2 percent of the total military strength. Women's peak participation in the Armed Forces was reached m May 1945, when there was a total of 266,184 women in the four mili tary services. Of these, 183,484; were enlisted women, 67,507 were nurses and other medical personnel, and 15,193 were nonmedical of In there were about 10,000 enlisted women and 1,000 ficers. addition, . officers' in the Coast Guard (SPARS). In peacetime SARS Treasury Department. The direct commission program is the major source of officers. With few exceptions the requirement for a direct commission as a second lieutenant or ensign is a bachelor's or higher degree from an ac credited college or university. Most newly appointed officers attend officer training programs in order to undergo military orientation and other training. At the end of their training period these officers are assigned to a specialization, usually determined by their major field of study in college. Enlisted women must have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Highly qualified enlisted women or noncommissioned officers may qualify for officer candidate programs conducted by each of the four services. Upori successful completion of these programs, they are commissioned as officers in their respective services. The minimum age of enlistment, as well as the length of enlistment period, varies not only from service to service but also between of ficers and enlisted personnel." Members of the Women's Army Corps (WAC) have a minimum duty obligation of 2 years for officers and from 2 to 6 years for enlisted women. Women in the Navy (WAVES) are obligated for a minimum of 2 years if they are officers and 3 years if enlisted. Women in the Air Force (WAF) have a minimum service period of 4 years for both officers and enlisted personnel, while the Women Marine officers have a duty obligation of from 2 to 4 years women are under the . and the enlisted women from 3 to 4 years. Of all women officers on active duty at the end of 1964, almost 80 percent were in the health professions. They were assigned to work within the medical areas of the Forces-Medical Corps, Nurse Corps, and the Medical Specialist and/or Service Corps. Nurses alone ac counted for over 72 percent of all women officers, constituting the largest single professional group of all women in the Armed Forces. n See current Fact Sheets prepared for the Defense AdviSOry Committee the Armed Services by the following: Women's Army Corps, Army Nurse on Women in Corps, Army Medical Specialist Corps; Women in the Navy, NUl"Se Corps, U.S. Navy; Women in the Air Force, Air Force Nurse Corps, Air Force Medical Specialist Corps; and Women Marines. |
