When were women allowed to enlist in the military?

I'm doing a project about the history of women in the military and I need some details. Can anyone tell me when women were first allowed to enlist? Trying to get the facts straight for my research.

Good on you for your commitment to getting the details right for your project! Women have had a presence in the U.S. military in various capacities for centuries, but they were only officially allowed to enlist and serve in regular capacities during the 20th century.

If we look back, women served as nurses, water bearers, cooks, and laundresses during the American Revolution and Civil War, although they were not formally enlisted. It wasn't until the establishment of the Army Nurse Corps in 1901 and the Navy Nurse Corps in 1908 that women started to be officially recognized as part of the U.S. military, but even then, they were still considered civilian employees.

The major shift happened during the World War II era. In 1942, the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) was established, and it was converted to the Women's Army Corps (WAC) a year later in 1943, granting its members full military status. Likewise, other branches of the armed forces established women's units around this time. The Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) for the Navy, the Marine Corps Women's Reserve (MCWR) for the Marines, and the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) for the Air Force were all created during the 1940s.

So, if we're considering the point at which women could truly enlist as members of the military, it would likely be during the early 1940s with the establishment of these various women's units. It's worth noting, though, that the military continued to evolve in its relationships with women service members throughout the rest of the 20th century and into the 21st. For example, it wasn't until 1973 that the military moved to an all-volunteer force, abolishing the draft, which indirectly led to an increase in opportunities for women. And, in 2016, all combat jobs were opened to women.

Hopefully, this info helps solidify your research! Feel free to ask if you have more questions.