Evening star., 1942-10-15
Enlistment Of Women
In Coast Guard Will
Begin in Three Weeks
No OfficioI Designation
Yet Announced for
Replacement Corps


the Coast Guard?
About three weeks from now. the
Coast Guard hopes to begin enlist
Ing 5000 women, 5000 of them
right off the bat" Enabling legis-
lation establishing Women's Re-
serve of the Coast Guard Reserve
was passed by the House yesterday.
Some people have telephoned the
Coast Guard headquarters here sug-
gesting WARCOGS, a contraction of
Women's Auxiliary Reserve of the
Coast Guard. Other proposals are
COGS, from Coast Guard, and Sea-
Gees, phonetic spelling of the
initials CG. Somebody brought up
SHIELDS, because a shield is the
emblem of the service, and others
thought Guardettes would be very
suitable.
The Army and Navy have both
long maintained nurses corps as
part of their personnel, but the
Coast Guard has thus far relied
upon the public health services. It
will therefore be the first time in
admitted to its ranks.
Endorsed by the Navy Department,
the draft of the bill was transmitted
to the House with a letter from Un-
dersecretary of the Navy Forrestal
setting forth the purpose of the
auxiliary is ito expedite the war
effort by providing for releasing Off
GERS and men for duty at sea and
their replacement by women in the
shore establishment of the Coast
Guard.
THE same reasons which made
desirable and necessary the enact
ment of the Act of July 30, 1892"
the letter continues, establishing
Women's Reserve of the Navy,
apply with equal force to the Coast
Guard. There are several thousand
enlisted men and a number of Off
GERS in the shore establishments of
the Coast Guard who are engaged
in necessary administrative, clerical,
fiscal, and other types of duty who
could and should be replaced by
suitably trained women, thus re-
leasing the officers and men for sea
duty"
Foreign Service Possible.
The bill provides further that in
force of 5000 Coast Guard
Reserve women, there would be
an officer staff consisting of 4
per cent of the total personnel, or
800 officers, divided as follows: l
lieutenant commander, 18 lieuten-
ants, 112 lieutenants Gunior grade) :,
and 189 ensigns.
While WAVES personnel is re-
stricted by law to serve within the
boundaries of continental United
States, no such restriction exists in
the Coast Guard bill. Some 80 per
cent of the WAVES personnel have
gratuitously indicated their willing
ness and eagerness to serve in
foreign territory. The WAACS may
serve wherever the Army goes.
Women in the Coast Guard cannot
receive retirement benefits provided
for male reserves, but are entitled
to benefits granted under the Fed
eral Employees Compensation Act,
which protects civilian employees
They must furthermore mot be used
to replace civil-service personnel, but
shall be composed of women trained
and qualified for duty in the shore
establishment of the Coast Guard
to release male officers and enlisted
men of the Coast Guard service for
duty at sea-"
According to the bill, the COM
mandant of the Coast Guard may
authorize articles of uniform and
equipment to be issued in kind,
or, in lieu thereof. payment in cash
not to exceed 5000.
Efficient Leader Sought.
The Coast Guard was founded by
Alexander Hamilton as revenue
collecting adjunct of the Treasury
Department, which he headed. Later
1t expanded into the saving of life
and property at sea. The Coast
Guard finally assumed responsibility
for operating our lighthouse system.
Today the Coast Guard does COM
bat service on the seven seas. It
~oh'oyo, dllu OU.
crates landing forces for the Navy,
transporting Marines from battle
ships to shore. Coast Guard person.
mel have taken part in the battle of
the Solomons, where they serve as
part of the Navy's amphibious serv-
ice. The Coast Guard was trans
ferred to the Navy from the Treas
ury Department last October. 1t has
lost three ships sunk in enemy &C
ton.
Coast Guard officers are trained
at the Coast Guard Academy in New
London, Conn.
Enrolment in the Coast Guard has
increased enormously since the war
began. Actual figures are not pub
lished, but it may be stated that it
enlisted during September one and
half times as many men as the
total enrolment Immediately before
the war.
With establishment of the Wom-
ems Reserve probably only three
weeks in the offing, high officials in
the Coast Guard are searching dill
gently for woman leader to match