Hunter WAVES
Personal Stories from the Ladies of Hunter
Daily Life:
Hunter is not a ship but she is run like the exemplary vessal it is. There are requirements and regulations for everything, from uniform to blanket folding, to prepare our ladies for service. The ladies march from each class in their platoons, revered by the city as they walk past. While spending her six weeks at Hunter, each lady will take classes in the morning like, ranking, plane identification, and even clerical duties in and then after lunch change into their blue coveralls and train in courses such as aviation mechanics, repair, and weapons. Outside their training, women can also be invovled in extracarriculars, have some liberty, and most often write home everyday. Each lady of the Navy is held to a high standard and we strongly cultivate a sense of moral duty to the nation at Hunter. Many women can attest to the success of Hunter and many will.
Extracurriculars:
Extracarriculars are a large part of life at Hunter. Upon arival, each recriut is questioned on their intrests and then is given options based on the response. If you are intrested in drawing you can paint teaching diagrams and posters, or sketch for our newspaper the Conning Tower. If you enjoy writing you can also write for the newspaper, or maybe your passion is singing, then join the singing platoon. Hunter offers many different extracarriculars so every WAVE can enjoy their stay.
Smith, Edith. "History of the WAVES." Interview by Dr. Evelyn Cherpak. Naval War College Archives. May 23, 1995. Accessed November 4, 2016. https://usnwcarchive.org/files/original/428d6536fb2bbeb933b3eb844ab87f5a.pdf.
Training:
Your training at Hunter will begin from the moment you enter campus as you recieve your gear and scheduel, assigned to your platton, instructed on Navy rules and regulations and military protocol, take a tour of the campus, and asked about your intrests. This will give you the oppertunity to join one of our many extracarriculars. Your morning will begin at 6 am with reveille, then tidy up your bunk and off to breakfast, then a quick march to classes. WAVES are trained in numerous challenging classes such as plane identification, SONAR, naval ranking, fire arms intruction, and aviation mechanics. This vigorus training allows for a much more intelligent and capable WAVE. After classes and dinner you will return to barracks for some lesire time used for studying, writting home, or scuttlebut, before lights out.
Pouliot, Gabrielle. "The Oral History Project." Interview by Evelyn Charpak. Naval War College Archives. June 7, 1995. Accessed April 27, 2017. https://usnwcarchive.org/files/original/a5de7c144f1c25cbf0560c3f4bb097b0.pdf.
Sullivan, Catherine. "The Oral History Project." Interview by Evelyn Charpak. The Naval History Collection. January 10, 1996. Accessed April 27, 2017. https://usnwcarchive.org/items/show/1212https://usnwcarchive.org/files/original/b444d6ea4df60e27d8b14b77829cbf97.pdf.
DeWildt, Donna. "The Oral History Project." Interview by Evelyn Charpak. Naval War College Archives. July 8, 1996. Accessed April 27, 2017. https://usnwcarchive.org/items/show/1126.
Nemitz, Doris. "The Oral History Project." Interview by Evelyn Charpak. Naval War College Archives. April 12, 1985. Accessed April 27, 2017. https://usnwcarchive.org/items/show/1200.
Yarnall, Jean. "The History of the WAVES." Interview by Evelyn Cherpak. Naval War College Archives. April 20, 1995. Accessed November 21, 2016. http://usnwcarchive.org/items/show/1201.
Questions and Concerns:
We understand sending a loved one off, or joining the war effort in this way may be difficult but let us put your mind at ease with some of our current WAVES who had the same questions as you.
Will I be able to accomplish the same job as a man?
Yes, you can temporarily do the same job as a man. The Navy trains all WAVES for an intense six weeks at Hunter, then potentially sends you off to a specialty school for further training for your job, so each WAVE is fully prepared to take on the job without hessitation or issue. Our WAVES are currently so highly regarded that the Bureau of Aeronautics has requested that only WAVES fill their positions.
Will I become masculin?
No, the Navy takes this issue close to heart. The Navy went to great lengths to ensure that each woman keeps their femininity, from making the uniform fashionable, placing importance on each lady’s morals, and remember WAVES are only ment to last the war plus six months so you will only temporarily be subbing for the men. It is also important to remember that WAVES are the held to the highest of standards, because the Navy requires absolute disapline but they must look the part, with uniforms designed by New York fashion house of Mainbocher.
What is the differance between Offficer and an Enlisted?
Lets start with the requirements. The Navy requires the best of the best, which is why there are many specific requirements. An enlisted WAVE requires less education, can join younger, and has access to lesser jobs than an officer. Officer will always be in positions of leadership but enlisted members can become inventory clerk, parachute rigger, trainer for future WAVES, aviation repairmen. If you are an enlisted you will be sent to Hunter however officers will be sent to the Naval Reserve Midshipmen’s School.
What will my friends think?
Yes, your freinds will have different opinions and some maybe negative however your nation is in need and the Navy is calling on the women to expidite an Allied win. This thought has been raised in many WAVES minds and ignoring the doubts they answered the call.
What will happen if I leave home?
We know many of you have never left home before and it can be a scary experiance and others may even tell you that you can not leave, however the Navy takes care of its own especcially the WAVES. At Hunter, we have new dorms, leisure time, stylish uniforms, a bounty of food like mash potatoes and chocolate pudding, extracarriculars, clothing and cosmetic stores, and after your time here you will have the knowlege to find higher paying jobs. We know leaving home is hard but take comfort in the comfort Hunter will provide you.
Sullivan, Catherine. "The Oral History Project." Interview by Evelyn Charpak. The Naval History Collection. January 10, 1996. Accessed April 27, 2017. https://usnwcarchive.org/items/show/1212https://usnwcarchive.org/files/original/b444d6ea4df60e27d8b14b77829cbf97.pdf.
Casewell, Mary. "The Oral History Project." Interview by Evelyn Charpak. Naval War College Archives. August 23, 1995. Accessed April 27, 2017. https://usnwcarchive.org/files/original/567b66c10fb6f0f865f2d3ab73b3f5dc.pdf.
Smith, Edith. "History of the WAVES." Interview by Dr. Evelyn Cherpak. Naval War College Archives. May 23, 1995. Accessed November 4, 2016. https://usnwcarchive.org/files/original/428d6536fb2bbeb933b3eb844ab87f5a.pdf.
DeWildt, Donna. "The Oral History Project." Interview by Evelyn Charpak. Naval War College Archives. July 8, 1996. Accessed April 27, 2017. https://usnwcarchive.org/items/show/1126.
Jobs:
WAVES are trained and then given apptitude test to find what job they are best suited to after boot camp. After being trained in plane identification, SONAR, naval ranking, fire arms intruction, and aviation mechanics these women will go on to use there skills to take over mens jobs and free them for service. Most of WAVES go on to work for the Air Force as parrichute riggers, clerics, builders and repair woman because of the WAVES special relation between the Bureau of Aeronautics. Some of these jobs may take more skill than others but no matter what level you leave Hunter, there is always a job.
Casewell, Mary. "The Oral History Project." Interview by Evelyn Charpak. Naval War College Archives. August 23, 1995. Accessed April 27, 2017. https://usnwcarchive.org/files/original/567b66c10fb6f0f865f2d3ab73b3f5dc.pdf.