Navy Relief Society, Monterey 1966: Record 204 Volunteers Trained at Naval Postgraduate School

Lecture Session — Instructors Brief Volunteers on Case Intake, Financial Assistance Procedures, and Referral Workflows. | GGA Image ID # 233205815d

✨ Review & Summary: Navy Relief Society, Monterey (1966)

📖 Context & Significance

In 1966, the Navy Relief Society (NRS) training course at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPGS), Monterey, California, achieved a remarkable milestone: 204 Navy wives completed the program, making it the largest class in the world at that time. This massive volunteer mobilization highlighted both the commitment of Navy families and the Navy’s reliance on community support systems to care for sailors and their families.

Rear Admiral Edward J. O’Donnell, Superintendent of NPGS, praised the effort, underscoring its importance not just for Monterey but for every Navy command to which these women would soon carry their training.

In Monterey, the Navy Relief Society, a vital community support organization, turned community need into action. Sponsored by previously trained NRS workers, the course drew Navy wives from the Postgraduate School, the Auxiliary Landing Field, and Naval Facility Point Sur. Rear Adm. Edward J. O'Donnell praised the class at graduation, noting both their service readiness and the massive volunteer effort that made the program possible.

Navy wives from NPGS, Naval Auxiliary Landing Field, Monterey, and Naval Facility, Pt. Sur, Calif., demonstrated their dedication by participating in the course. The large number who accepted created a critical shortage of babysitters. Sponsors of the course, all of whom had previously been trained at other commands, organized a babysitting program for 187 youngsters during the course period.

A Record 204 Women Have Completed the Navy Relief Society's most recent training course, a significant milestone held at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. This Brings the Number of Qualified Workers at the School to 374.

“Largest single NRS class on record—built by volunteers, for volunteers.”

Rear Admiral Edward J. O'Donnell, Superintendent of the Postgraduate School, commended the group during graduation ceremonies of the Navy wives preparing to serve in the Navy Relief organization when their husbands leave Monterey for new assignments.

Comparing Notes — Trainees Review Forms and Client-Service Scenarios Used Across Monterey-Area Commands. | GGA Image ID #

Behind the Course — Committee Workers Who Organized the Program—and the 187-Child Sitter Roster—Keep Everything Running. | GGA Image ID #

📌 Key Highlights

1. Record-Setting Volunteerism 🙌

204 trained Navy wives boosted the total number of qualified NRS workers at NPGS to 374, making it the largest volunteer base worldwide.

Volunteers came from NPGS, the Naval Auxiliary Landing Field, and Naval Facility Point Sur.

2. Innovative Childcare Solutions 👶

The course created an unexpected shortage of babysitters—solved by an organized roster for 187 children, showing the flexibility and ingenuity of Navy families.

3. Structured, Professional Training 📝

Instruction included:

• Case intake procedures
• Financial assistance workflows
• Referral protocols to other support systems

This shows the NRS operated with a level of professionalism akin to social services agencies, making Navy wives highly skilled community resource workers.

4. Recognition of Service 🌟

Volunteers could earn awards such as the 600-Hour Pin, recognizing sustained dedication.

This highlights how the Navy formalized volunteer service, providing morale and acknowledgment to spouses.

🖼️ Noteworthy Images

Lecture Session — Instructors briefing volunteers on intake, financial aid, and referrals.

Coffee Break — A humanizing look at Navy wives balancing training with camaraderie.

Comparing Notes — Trainees reviewing forms and scenarios, reflecting the program’s rigor.

Committee Workers — The behind-the-scenes organizers, including those who managed the 187-child babysitting network.

600-Hour Pin Ceremony — Recognition of long-term volunteer service, emphasizing the Navy’s reliance on—and appreciation for—its family support network.

🎓 Relevance for Teachers, Students, Historians, and Genealogists

Teachers & Students: Provides a case study of Cold War–era home front service, showing how Navy families supported readiness and morale.

Historians: Demonstrates the institutionalization of volunteer labor by the Navy in the 1960s, connecting military readiness with community infrastructure.

Genealogists: Offers valuable information about Navy wives’ roles and recognition programs, potentially linking family members to volunteer service pins, photos, or rosters.

Military & Social History Scholars: Illustrates the intersection of gender, volunteerism, and naval operations—a vital but often overlooked aspect of military history.

📖 Dictionary of Terms & Abbreviations

NRS — Navy Relief Society, a charitable support organization for Navy and Marine Corps families.

NPGS — Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, where many officers pursue advanced education.

Auxiliary Landing Field — A smaller naval airfield used for flight training and operations.

600-Hour Pin — A recognition pin awarded to NRS volunteers for completing 600 service hours.

Case Intake — The process of interviewing clients (sailors or families) to determine need and eligibility for assistance.

🌟 Final Thoughts

This 1966 account is more than just a Navy community milestone—it demonstrates how family, service, and volunteerism worked hand in hand to sustain Navy life during the Cold War. By documenting not only the numbers but also the behind-the-scenes logistics (like childcare) and the recognition of sustained service, this record reveals the indispensable contributions of Navy wives to the broader mission of the U.S. Navy. ⚓💙👩‍👧‍👦