U.S. Navy becomes first service to authorize women’s enlistment in non‑nursing roles

On 19 March 1917, the Navy Department formally authorized the enrollment of women in the U.S. Naval Reserve, creating ratings such as Yeoman (F) and radio electrician for female enlistees.[2][4] This policy decision, made just before U.S. entry into World War I, turned the Navy into the first branch of the United States armed forces to permit women’s enlistment in non‑nursing capacities.

Although not a personal action by Loretta Walsh, this order directly enabled her historic enlistment and subsequent appointment as Chief Yeoman. The authorization exploited the fact that the Naval Reserve Act did not explicitly restrict service by sex, thereby allowing women to be enrolled on essentially equal terms in pay and basic status with male reservists.[2][9] By specifying administrative and technical roles for women, the policy acknowledged their potential contributions beyond traditional caregiving professions.

The significance of the 19 March authorization lies in its institutional impact. It marked a pivotal shift in U.S. military policy, recognizing women as "citizen‑sailors" who could perform clerical and operational support work vital to wartime readiness. In the months that followed, thousands of women—often called "Yeomanettes"—entered naval service, freeing male sailors for sea duty and demonstrating that women could be integrated into the enlisted workforce.[2][4][9] The decision laid the groundwork for later reforms that expanded women’s roles across all armed services, making this date a cornerstone in the history of women’s military participation.