Evening star., 1942-10-20
Enrolment in WAACS
Is Expected 10 Reach
10000 This Week
Limit Is 125,000;
Iowa Training Center
; Months Old Today

The WAAC training center in Fort
Des Moines is three months old to-
day. There are $500 officer candi-
dates and auxiliaries in training, and
the total enrolment of WAACS is
expected to reach the 10000 mark
by the end of this week.
The last exact figures available
are as of October IL, when 4,O27
WAACS had been enrolled and sent
to the training center and 1882 ad-
ditional enrolled WAACS had been
placed on the reserve lists pending
expansion at the training cent-r
making it possible to admit these
reserves.
The Women's Auxiliary Army
Corps enrolls an average of 800
women a week, which by the end
Of this week should swell the total
to 10000! The Presidents executive
order directing the establishment of
the corps ordered the initial train
ing of $4,000 WAACS, which goal
the War Department expects to
reach next spring. The bill estab-
fishing the Women's corps limited
the group to 125,OO0
New Buildings Going Up.
Large new buildings are under
construction at the old Army cav
airy post in Iowa which is the
training center, and enrolled women
placed in the reserve pool" shortly
will be called to active duty at
Fort Des Moines. The brief wait
ing. time covers the period needed
by most persons to resign from cur
rent employment and put their per-
sonal affairs in order before joining
the armed forces.
When new buildings now under
way are completed the schools to-
tai capacity will be 1900 auxiliaries
and officer candidates in training at
any one given time. 1t is expected
that this level will be reached in
December.
At the outset the WAACS induct-
ed officer candidates in order to
build up the inner structure of the
organization. This phase is now
completed, and only auxiliaries, as
the buck privates" are called, are
enrolled today. Those who qualify
by scholastic background or by prac-
tical experience as executives or
administrators may apply for ap-
pointment as officer candidates. If
accepted they will receive eight
weeks additional training.
Number of Roles to Fill.
Auxiliaries are trained in admin
istrative procedure, in transport
work and as bakers and cooks.
The purpose of the women's corps
is to replace men in combatant
duties so that they may join the
fighting fronts. On completion of
training, WAAC officers and auxil-
iaries are organized into post head
quarters companies averaging $50
women. The company in turn is
composed of platoons.
There are headquarters platoon
which includes mess sergeant, sup
ply sergeant, company clerk, other
administrative personnel and bakers
and cooks; the clerical platoon,
composed of typists and stenog.
raphers; a service platoon of motor
transport personnel, a communica-
tions platoon for telephone service
and finally miscellaneous platoon
with theater, service club and Ii
brary sections.
Post headquarters companies may
vary in size and types of platoons
according to requirements of the
command requisitioning them. Each
is tailor-made for efficiency and is
an autonomous, self-sustaining unit.
Supervisory Authority.
Officers and non commissioned Of
ficers of the Army under whom in
dividuals or groups or units of the
WAAC are assigned for work tasks
have supervisory authority as they
would have with civilian employees
generally, but have no disciplinary
authority Derelictions of duty must
be reported to the commanding
WAAC officer.
The comparative overall figure for
the WAVES, naval counterpart of
the WAACS, is 2,640 officers, proba-
tionary officers, officer candidates
and enlisted personnel ION active
duty" which means they have fin
ished their training or are now re-
ceiving instruction at WAVE train
ing centers at Smith College and
| at three Midwestern colleges.