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From: "Paul D. Stachour" <>
Subject: Re: Military Service Numbers
Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 22:56:04 -2900 (CDT)


Hi all,

When I enlisted in the Women's Army Corps in 1966 my service number
started with "WR" which we were told stood for "Women's Reserve". When I
was commissioned in 1967 it was changed to "L" which was the prefix for
female officers.

At that time the first digit of officer service numbers stood for
the Army area where one entered the Army:

1 = First Army (Middle Atlantic States) Headquartered at Ft Meade, MD
2 = Second Army (North East) Hq at Ft Devens, MA
3 = Third Army (South East) Hq at Ft McPherson, GA
4 = Fourth Army (South Central) Hq at Ft Sam Houston, TX
5 = Fifth Army (North Central) Hq at Ft Sheridan, IL
6 = Sixth Army (Western States) Hq at Presidio of Monterey, CA


They have rearranged, and renumbered the Army Areas several times, but
this was true in the 60s and 70s.

I don't know where the Women's Enlisted numbers came from. I
enlisted and was commissioned out of Ft Sheridan, one year apart, yet my
enlisted number was WR 8, and my commissioned number was L 5.

I hope this helps someone.

Fran in MN
Fran JOBES STACHOUR
(LTC, USAR, retired)


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