March 19, 2019

A U.S. Navy with Women: Stronger, More Efficient and More Capable

Editor's note: "Why We Do What We Do" is an initiative CNO Richardson asked the Naval History and Heritage Command to help share with the fleet. Each month, our historians will dissect a seminal moment in our Navy's past and then highlight the lessons we learned. The purpose, is to ground today's Sailors in their history and heritage by explaining

March 29, 2018

Beyond Rosie the Riveter: A History of Women in the Navy

When you picture women and Navy work, you probably think of "Rosie the Riveter," a term popularized during World War II. But the history of women in the Navy starts much earlier than this.Women in the Early Navy (1775-1908) Women have served in defense of our nation since the Revolutionary War. Back then, they served traditional roles within the

March 1, 2016

Honoring the Proud Women Who Serve in the U.S. Navy

Today, we join the nation in celebration of "Women's Equality Day" to commemorate the proud and dedicated service in the U.S. Navy. In 1908, women officially began serving as nurses in the Navy. Yeomanettes or yeomen were added during WWI. During WWII, Congress established the Navy's Women's Reserve Program, or WAVES. Today, women serve in every

March 21, 2015

Celebrating the First Women to Join the Naval Reserve Force

 Every March during Women's History Month we commemorate the diverse contributions women have made, and continue to make, to our nation and our military. March also marks the Navy Reserve's birthday and it would be remiss not to celebrate the contributions of Chief Yeoman (F) Loretta P. Walsh, the first woman enrolled in the Naval Reserve Force,

March 20, 2014

#PeopleMatter: "Yeomanettes" Paved the Way for Women of All Ratings Today

Nearly 600 Yeomen (F) were on duty by the end of April 1917, a number that had grown to more than 11,000 by December 1918, shortly after the Armistice. After the war, many "yeomanettes" continued in their positions during the post-war naval reductions. By the end of July 1919, there were just under 4,000 left in service, and all were released from