President Roosevelt last week signed a bill establishing the Women’s Army Corps and giving the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps three months to wind up its affairs. As WACs, the WAACs will become part of the Army.
The new Corps has wider age limits (20 to 50) and no restrictions on its size. WACs will get the same pensions as male soldiers, though no allowances for dependents. They will be under military discipline, including court-martial. They can also write “free” on their letters. WAC officers will rate with male opposite members; a first lieutenant will be called just that, not “second officer.” The Corps will be a pedigreed part of the Army, shuck off the stepsister status of auxiliaries.
Before Sept. 30, all 65,000 WAACs will be given a chance to sign up with the WAC. War Department brass bonnets believe that all but a handful will do so, and say good riddance to the few who don’t.
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