Today marks the 84th Anniversary for the Marine Woman Reserve   

Established in 1942 on July 30th (USMCWR) was the World War II women's branch of the United States marine Reserves It was authorized by the U.S congress and signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Its purpose was to release officers and men for combat, and to replace them with women in U.S. shore stations for the duration of the war plus six months. The USMCWR did not have an official nickname as did the other World War II women's military services. 

Young women were keen on serving in the military during World War II, and the Marine Corps desired only the best. The standards set for women who wished to volunteer for the Reserve were demanding. However, the Reserve did not accept African American or Japanese American women during World War II, but they did accept American women. The officer candidates first trained at the Navy's Midshipmen School for women officers at Mount Holye College in South Hadley, Massachusetts the initial training site for the enlisted women was at the Naval Training School at Hunter college in the Bronx, New York City. In due course, the Marine Corps discovered the advantages of having its own training centers. So, on 1 July 1943, all Reserve training was shifted to Camp Lejune, North Carolina The members served at shore and air stations across the continental United states. The incorporated territory of Hawaii was the only overseas duty station where members were assigned.  

They served in occupations classified as professional, semi-professional, clerical, skilled trades, services, and sales. The peak strength of the Reserve was about 19,000. With the end of World War II in sight, the corps began to demobilize the members. By December 1945, the Reserve was down to 12,300, and by August 1946 it had about 300 members. 

Women Joined the US Marine Corp Women's Reserve. As members of the SPARS, Coast Guard women served as officers, seamen, yeomen, drivers, radio operators and much more including the female pilots The WASP! Colonel Ruth Cheney Streeter, the first director of the MCWR received the Legion of Merit, which was the Highest award presented to a woman marine for her WWII service. Historically, women have served in the Marine Corps Reserve in several capacities dating back to August 13th, 1918. Opha Mae Johnson the first women to enlist serving in clerical duties. With the women steeping this up allowed the men to go other places that they were needed. A few years later in 1946, the reserves of the U.S Marine Corps was disbanded however, a small number were retained in an undetermined status for a couple years to provide continuity. The Women's Armed Services Intergration act of 1948 allowed women to serve as permanent members of the regular Marine Corp.