TRAINEE GUIDE - Recruit Training Command - The US Navy

TRAINEE GUIDE A-950-0001
OUTLINE SHEET 1-08-1 (continued)
(2) Significant events
(a) In March 1915, the Naval Reserve was founded to
supplement active duty personnel. 330,000 Naval
Reservists served on active duty.
(b) In March 1917, the Navy authorized the enlistment of
women to handle shore duties because men were needed
at sea.
1 Loretta Walsh, working as a civilian clerk at a
Navy recruiting station in Philadelphia, enlisted
in the Navy.
2 She was the first female enlisted member of the
U.S. Armed Forces.
h. Transitional period after World War I (1919-1938)--In 1934, the
USS RANGER, was the first ship to join the fleet that was
designed and built from the keel up as an aircraft carrier.
i. World War II (1939-1945)
(1) Overview
(a) World War II started because Japan, Germany, and Italy
were expanding their empires by attacking and
overrunning other countries.
(b) The sea war was fought on two fronts:
1 Atlantic Ocean (against Germany)
2 Pacific Ocean (against Japan)
(c) As in World War I, the German Navy used U-boats
(submarines) to inflict heavy losses on Allied ships.
Allied ships were sunk:
1 Along the U.S. east coast, some within sight of
U.S. shores.
2 In the Caribbean Sea.
(d) During WWII, three million Navy reservists and
thousands of Department of Defense civilians served
with the 800,000 active duty Naval personnel.
(e) During World War II, the U.S. Navy:
1 Conducted antisubmarine warfare.
2 Transported troops and supplies to enemy shores
using the convoy system.
270