women in the military

Army Chief of Staff General George Marshall pushed for the formation of a Women's Auxillary Army Corps (WAAC). Marshall believed that there were many jobs being performed by soldiers that could better be performed by women. Under that ill, women volunteers would serve in noncombat positions. This bill became law on May 15, 1942. The law gave an official status and salary to women, but still not nearly as many benefits that male soldiers were receiving. In July 1943 the U.S. Army dropped the "auxiliary" status, and granted WAC's full U.S. Army benefits. These women worked as nurses, ambulence drivers, radio operators, and electricians. They basically got nearly all the jobs that did not involve direct combat.