Viewing page 37 of 85

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

You are part of that Corps, and part of the Army of the United States, now. We know that you can do a good job, but the Army has to teach you a few things first. That's why you are here at the Fort Des Moines Training Center. You will probably have to do many things you never did before, but a good soldier adjusts herself quickly to military life.

While you are here, you will learn how to salute, how to march, how to look like a soldier, how to handle a gas mask, and how to make a bed the Army way. Those of you with specialties will be encouraged to use them; the others will learn specialties. There are facilities at Fort Des Moines to train you. The Post has been dressed up to make you more comfortable. (There may be some things lacking and some things you may not like about it at first, but give yourself a chance and you will learn to love all of it.)

At Fort Des Moines is the First WAC Training Center, established in July 1942. From here you may be sent into the field--that means to other posts in the United States and abroad. When your training here is completed, you will be able to handle your job well. You will be helping to attain our common goal--Victory.

III. WHERE YOU ARE
[[Illustration: a vehicle on a road, driving toward a sign that reads "Ft Des Moines." Buildings and trees are visible in the background.]]

Fort Des Moines is about seven miles south of the City of Des Moines. (It seemed more like seventy miles on that truck, didn't it?) It is an old cavalry post that was taken over by the WAAC early in 1942.

Interested in the history of the Post? Here are the high lights:

In 1843 Fort Des Moines, second to bear that name, was located in the city at the fork of the Raccoon and Des Moines Rivers for the purpose of protecting the whites from the Indians. This site was abandoned in 1846 when the Indians were moved by the government to Kansas.

Early in 1901, the present Fort, third to bear the name, was established at its present location. Two years later it became a cavalry post and was the largest of its kind in the United States until Fort Riley "out-horsed" it.

During World War I, the cavalry was taken away, and the Post was first used as a training camp for Negro officers and later converted into a hospital for wounded soldiers. After the war, it was reestablished as a cavalry post but on a much smaller scale. About three or four years ago, although still technically a cavalry post,

[[Illustration: two horses, one facing front and one facing to the side, in front of three buildings with trees in the background. Grass is drawn under the feet of the horse facing to the side. The quote "This old Post ain't what it use to was." is written above the horse facing to the side and below the buildings in the background.]]

most of the horses were taken away, and a battalion of field artillery was stationed here.

When the Selective Service Act went into effect, the Post became the Induction Center for the Seventh Service Command. To make room for the Waacs, in July 1942, the Induction Center was transferred to Camp Dodge, and Fort Des Moines became the First WAAC Training Center.

The story after that--well, look at the map. It represents the entire Post, which covers about one square mile. The north or old part of the Post has been dressed up, and new buildings have been erected. The former "stables" on Thayer Street now serve as comfortable barracks. The new part, which is commonly designated as "Boomtown," is a result of the WAC invasion.

IV. WHAT IS HERE

[[underlined]]THE RECEVING AND STAGING BATTALION.[[/underlined]] When you check in, you go into a receiving company. During your week here, you are "processed" and interviewed. Your company officers supervise your processing at the Clothing Warehouse, where you are issued your uniform and other articles of clothing and equipment.

[[Illustration: a woman in a knee-length skirt and low heels carries a pile of clothing in each hand, with a bag labeled "A" behind her. A sign on the wall behind reads "Clothing Issue."]]

You are interviewed by personnel from the Classification Office. They ask you many questions about your civilian background and your business experience. Talk to them freely. Tell them what you can do, what you would like to do, and question them on how you can best serve the Corps. The information you give will enable them to classify you later and to determine the type of work for which you are best suited.

[[underlined]]THE TRAINING CENTER.[[/underlined]] At the end of your first week, you are transferred from the receiving company to a basic training company. Here you are assigned to a squad. A squad is part of a platoon, a platoon part of a company, a company part of battalion, a battalion part of a regiment. During your basic training, you receive instruction in Close Order Drill, Military Customs and Courtesies, Map Reading, Company Administration, Physical Training, and many other subjects.

[[underlined]]SPECIALIST SCHOOLS.[[/underlined]] At the completion of your basic training, some of you will leave the Post to fill jobs in the field; others will be assigned to Specialist Schools (here at the Post or elsewhere), depending on your special aptitudes and previous experience and the needs of the Service.