Officer Candidate School
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Three days after Wilson’s graduation ceremony on June 8th 1959, Joan was sworn into the US Navy in Pittsburgh’s recruiting office. Joan recalled, “They were not expecting a woman. The officer in charge made several phone calls before agreeing that I was to be sworn in.”
On July 6, 1959, Joan reported to Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI. She had taken the train from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia to Providence. In Providence, she discovered that her mode of transportation to Newport would be by helicopter. “I was so scared I forgot to look down at the scenery.”
The new recruits were given gray dresses and caps that were left over from WWII.
The director of the WAVES thought they looked like maids dresses and so new uniforms were designed but not yet available. The women paid for their own uniforms.
On August 28, 1959 Joan was Commissioned Ensign in the Naval Reserve.
The curriculum in OCS included: naval history, logistics, personnel and administration, correspondence, ships, aircraft, and weapons, the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and leadership and responsibilities of junior officers.
Graduation was on October 21, 1959 and Joan’s parents came to Newport for the ceremony. Joan’s father, whom she frequently described as frugal, would not pay to park in a parking garage. The car was broken into and Joan’s luggage, including her uniforms were stolen.
Joan received orders to San Francisco – to be on the staff of the Commander, Western Sea Frontier on Treasure Island. She was 22 years old.