Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1942-11-14
Wac Companies
CONTINUED from Page u

consisting of stenographers ane
! typists; the service Of motor trans
port platoon, chiefly drivers ant
mechanicsffi communications pla.
toon Of telephonists; and a rrniscel-
laneous ~ toon having three d.
visions theatre section, a serv-
ice club ction and library Sec
ton.
The average strength Of 9
| WAAC company is $50 although
this figure varies according to the
particular requirements of the
Army post requesting the COM
pany.
The ORIGINAL group arriving at
Fort Huachuca next week will be
augmented by others as they COM
plete training at Fort Des Moines.
The companies will be differed
by Negro members of the first
WAC graduating class commits
stoned at Fort Des Moines last
August %.
Fort Huachuca has been groom
ing itself to receive the Waacs.
Barracks, mess halls and recrea-
ton buildings designed for ferni-
nine occupancy have been under
construction for some time. Special
features of WAAC units include a
few bath tubs as well as the usual
showers; laundry room where the
women can wash and iron for
themselves If they wish; a beauty
parlor instead Of a barber shop;
and lounge room in each bar
racks.
One of the most popular fields
to which members of the CORDS re-
quest assignment Is motor trans
port. Candidates for this special
lied training are not resuired to
have previous driving experience,
but must pass tests including a
drivers information and mechan-
ical aptitude test. Enrollees learn
to operate the quarter-ton :"jeep",
staff cars of the ordinary passen-
ger type, field trucks similar to
station wagons and one and half
ton tarpaulin covered trucks used
in the transportation of troops and
supplies. Besides learning MAIN
tenance, motor transport classes
study convoy operations and black
out driving.
Effort Is made to place each
member In the job for which she
indicates preference, but h e r
ability and the Army's require
ments are the final determining
factors.
Although the first Waacs COM
menced training at Fort Des
Moines on July 20 of this wear, the
Corps already has more than 5000
enrolled members, and over 1000
officers.
1t was necessary to select the
first group of officer candidates
straight from civilian life, but from
now on all officer candidates are
selected from the enrolled men,
bers who give evidence of the
necessary qualities of intelligence
and leadership.
WAC recruitment is handled
through Army Recruiting and In
duction Station in the same man
ner as enlistments for the Army.
The applicant must be between 81
and IS, without dependents and
able to pass mental alertness
test and physical examination.
In general, the requirements are
those OF normal good health and
sufficient intelligence to under
stand and execute orders.
The successful candidate under
goes four weeks of basic training
in Army orientation courses which
include such subjects as military
courtesy and customs, military san
itation, fedense against chemical
and air attack, and safeguarding
military information. Each enrollee
during her period of training takes
40 minutes of drill and 40 min
utes OF calisthenics daily. At the
completion of her basic training,
each auxiliary (the equivalent of
Army private) who makes a suf-
ficiently high score in her mental
alertness test is eligible for adj
mission to a specialist school. Spec
ialist courses in motor transport,
administration and for bakers and
cooks are offered at present. No
specific tests have been devised for
selecting candidate for specialized
training as bakers and cooks. Their
expressed preference and back
ground Of experience determine ac-
ceptance.
On the 18th of October, President
Roosevelt signed an amendment to
the bill creating the Women's
Army Auxiliary Corps. This gave
the WAC grades and pay up to
l. T.