Evening star., 1951-11-11
First Recruits Secure at Boinbridoe

for her supply and the unofficia
requirement would include six bras
and panties. four slips and three
pairs of pajamas, robe and slip.
lpers. Girdles are neither issuee
nor required.
The girls "fall out" at 06O(
6 ann daily, ''hit the deck,
and muster. in pajamas. Dressing
and bunkmaking until 0625 anc
then shove off for chow come,
next. From 0730 to $500 they
ready the barracks for inspection
You don't have to be able tt
bounce a quarter off your bunk
in this women's Navy. but you dt
have to make sure there aren'
any Irish pennants in sight. Trans.
lated, it means no parts of thu
squared sheet corners can droor
out under the bed.
I'Sound-off
One of the first lessons learned
lis to sound off. For example, a re.
cruit standing watch would be re.
|quired to respond to an officer's
approach by standing at attention
and saying. Jones. Company
standing quarterback watch" Or
simply, addressing her officer a:
Miss. would state her name anc
the officers.
Under the stress and strain o1
nerves, the girls sometimes become
confused and out comes a tongue
twister, 1t. Hodgson explained
The greeting sometimes comes
out Seaman Hodgson, Miss
Jones'"
One recruit. required to turn
around after overtaking an officer
and deliver a snappy salute, fol-
lowed by a by your leave, sir, p
confessed to saying nervously
Leave me by, sir"
Learning to salute Is another
hardship soon overcome.
Get that duck out of your arm, u
is what they hear day after day
1t means quit bending your wrist,
keep your salute straight.
Most of the girls admit to salut-
ing every one they meet on the
theory every one is of a higher
rank. After a few classes in
identifying insignia. they soon
drop the habit,
The first week they also learn to
give the laundry tubs, irons and
cold water in the scrub house
their individual daily attention.
They get haircuts accompanied
by a few tears) and shots the first
few days and later learn to polish
brass and metal work. They learn
to hem their uniforms and polish
their shoes WAVE style, using first
a damp cloth with water from the
polish lid and follow it up with
a buff job. using an old nylon
stocking. They are taught which
is starboard and portside and what
sick bay means and for four hours
the first week they are read the
Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Recruits Divided
The recruits are divided into two
companies of So and each has her
recruit company commander as
well as ships station head.
Miss Bertha VESSEL of Sainte
Genevieve, Mo-, a 20-year-old re-
cruit and first to receive that de-
tail in Company !. Is the youngest
of a family of II sisters and
three brothers. She joined the
Navy to further her education ano
admits to no homesickness in the
full barracks. Her first instruc-
tions as company commander.
I'VE just told her to go down
and look those other so girls di-
rectly in the eye" is the way the
officers explained it.
The girls who become homesick,
and there is plenty Of it, talk 1t
over with the company command
ers or chaplain.
Guaranteed to their area for
the first four weeks. they are not
allowed visitors or liberty off the
base. Later, they are given one
day of liberty and a day is set
aside for parents to visit them.