SPARS

SPARS was the authorized nickname for the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Women's Reserve. The nickname was an acronym fashioned from the USCG's moto - "Semper Paratus—Always Ready" (SPAR). The Women's Reserve was established by the United States Congress and signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on November 23, 1942. The law enacted authorized the acceptance of women into the USCG's Women's Reserve as commissioned officers and at the enlisted level for the duration of World War II plus six months. Its purpose was to release male officers and enlisted men for sea duty and to replace them with women at shore stations. Dorothy C. Stratton was appointed director of the SPARS with the rank of lieutenant commander and was later promoted to captain.

The qualifying age for officer candidates was between 20 and 50, and they were required to have a college degree, or two years of college and two years of professional or business experience. For enlisted personnel, the qualifying age was between 20 and 36, and they were required to have completed at least two years of high school. Initially African American women were not recruited, however, late in the war five African American women were accepted and served as SPARS. Officer candidates received their indoctrination at Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, and later at the USCG Academy, New London, Connecticut. Enlisted personnel first received their training on several college campuses. Later, their training took place at Palm Beach, Florida, in the Biltmore Hotel that was remodeled for use as a training center. Toward the end of the war, training of enlisted personnel was transferred from Palm Beach to Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, New York. The SPARS served in every USCG district except the Territory of Puerto Rico, but they served in the Territories of Hawaii and Alaska. Most officers were general duty officers, and most of the enlisted women performed clerical duties.

The SPARS peak strength was approximately 11,000 officers and enlisted personnel. Following the surrender of Japan in August 1945, the demobilization of SPARS began, and by the middle of 1946 nearly all of them had been discharged. The Women's Reserve (SPARS) was inactivated on July 25, 1947, but it was reactivated as the USCG Women's Volunteer Reserve on November 1, 1949, the eve of the Korean War. During the Conflict (1950-1953), the USCG actively recruited former SPARS - both officer and enlisted personnel - for the volunteer reserve. The enlistment was for a three-year period. Approximately 200 former SPARS entered the Women's Volunteer Reserve and served during the Korean War. Then in 1973, the U.S. Congress enacted legislation that ended the Women's Volunteer Reserve, and women could then officially be integrated into active-duty or the Reserve. Enlisted female reservists then serving on active duty were given the choice of enlisting in the regular USCG or completing their reserve enlistments.