WAVES Video | Interviews

On 30 July 1942 the WAVES became a World War II division of the U.S. Navy that consisted entirely of women. The name was the acronym for "Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service". The word "emergency" implied that the acceptance of women was due to the unusual circumstances of World War II, and at the end of the war the women would not be allowed to continue in Navy careers. Their...  MORE

On 30 July 1942 the WAVES became a World War II division of the U.S. Navy that consisted entirely of women. The name was the acronym for "Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service". The word "emergency" implied that the acceptance of women was due to the unusual circumstances of World War II, and at the end of the war the women would not be allowed to continue in Navy careers. Their official name was the U.S. Naval Reserve, but the nickname of the WAVES stuck. Mildred McAfee, President of Wellesley College, was sworn in as a Naval Reserve Lieutenant Commander in early August 1942. She was the first female commissioned officer in U.S. Navy history, and the first director of the WAVES. This occurred two months after the WAAC was established, and Eleanor Roosevelt had convinced the Congress to authorize the women's component of the Navy. The Women entering as enlisted personnel in the Navy or Coast Guard attended the V10 WAVE Enlisted Rating Volunteer Program. Women seeking to become officers in the WAVES or SPARS attended the V9 WAVE Officer Candidate Volunteer Program. Officer candidates went through basic training as seamen recruits, then became midshipmen during officer training, and graduated as ensigns. The WAVE Graduates from the V9 and V10 programs were considered part of the U.S. Naval Reserve. LESS