Fort McClellan, Alabama
*Basic Training*

When I joined the service, this was the only Basic Training site for WACs (Women's Army Corps.)  Situated just outside of Aniston, Alabama, Fort McClellan is probably one of the nicest looking posts I've seen.  I arrived there in September of 1973 and stayed in old WW2 barracks until I graduated in November and went on to school (AIT, they call it) at Fort Deven's, Massachusetts.

Basic Training for women, in those days, included classes on how to put on make-up.  I'm not sure they still do that, but it was interesting, to say the least!  We also spent hours listening to a bored instructor teaching us about the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice), trying not to fall asleep, and often failing.  We did the usual marching and learning who to salute when.  We had physical training in the gym, doing all the usual exercises.  We had frequent inspections of our sleeping areas, where we had to make our bunks up just so, and fold everything just so (including smiles on the socks!), and hang our clothes up just so, facing a certain direction, no more and no less than one inch apart!  We had to polish our brass and our shoes so the Sergeant could see her face in them.  We did our own laundry, and starched almost EVERYTHING!  We were responsible for cleaning the barracks, including the bathrooms and the laundry area.

The most interesting part of Basic Training was when we went out in the field.  We were bussed to an area up in the woods, where we would learn about using a compass, emergency First Aid, using a gas mask, and other survival techniques.  We learned CPR and basic emergency combat medical techniques.   Each one of us had a folded piece of waterproofed canvas, called a "shelter half", which we put together with a buddy's piece, to create a tiny tent only large enough for 2 people to sleep.  They were very low to the ground; you had to crawl into them and then into your sleeping bag.    We marched all over the place, both in the day and at night.  We ate C-rations, as well as "real" food.  If you were a smoker, you learned (very quickly) how to field strip a cigarette.

We left post on a pass once.  The town of Aniston was fairly small, and it was my first experience with black/white prejudice.  I didn't like it, and didn't go back in after that first time.   Besides, life on post was a whole other world, with a totally different focus than anything I had ever experienced before.  We were learning how to function as a team, and there is no room for prejudice in a team.

We went out and got drunk at the EW (Enlisted Women's) club, the only EW club I ever saw.  (All other posts have EM: Enlisted Members, NCO:  Non-Commissioned Officers, and Officer's clubs...no EW's.)  Most of us were just out of high school, around 18 years old and hadn't had much experience with drinking, and the morning after that first time convinced us not to try it again any time soon!

When we graduated, most of us were going in totally different directions.  We exchanged home addresses, intending, I'm sure, to keep up the contact.  We had all become friends in the 2 months we were there, even though we had come from different parts of the States.  Once we all went off to school, though, we just didn't keep in touch.  Too busy learning new skills and meeting new friends .  .  .  I still have that little address book with all the names and addresses in it, though, even after all these years.

And, of course, I still have the pictures!

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All materials, pictures, whatever, except where noted, are ©Copyright Lisa B. Roth 1999. All Rights Reserved. Do not reproduce without our express approval, written consent, or Presidential writ.