Skirts Ahoy!

Mary Kate, Whitney, and Una arrive at Great Lakes Naval Training Center to begin WAVES boot camp. They are assigned to the same company and become roommates, forming a close bond as they adjust to the rigors of training.

Mary Kate struggles with homesickness and faces an elimination board for inadaptability. Her friends rally around her, but her former fiancé arrives to persuade her to quit; she remains determined to prove she can endure boot camp.

During swim training, Whitney saves Mary Kate from drowning, earning respect from the group and securing her leadership status. Her act of bravery leads to her being named recruit company commander.

The trio is granted a mid-training pass and travels to Chicago for a break from boot camp. They quickly discover that WAVES have a harder time meeting men in civilian nightlife than sailors do.

Una and Whitney visit a newly coed bar, hoping to socialize. Whitney meets the newly assigned doctor of the WAVE battalion who appears in civvies and becomes central to the ensuing tension.

Three WACs challenge Whitney at the bar, and she decks them in a fit of protectiveness. She is then brought before a board of inquiry for the altercation.

Lt. Dr. Paul Elliot testifies on Whitney's behalf, swaying the proceedings. The board dismisses her without disciplinary action, vindicated by his testimony.

Back at the barracks, Whitney helps a young brother and sister who are arguing, and the trio spends an afternoon swimming, diving, and playing in the base pool. The scene deepens the growing bond among the three.

At a USO dance, a precision drill platoon of black WAVES performs followed by a song and dance. Una asks Dr. Elliot to dance, he resists, and Whitney leaves the dance; Whitney's night ends with her dancing with Pops, the civilian plumber.

Whitney chases after Dr. Elliot to a moviehouse, where they discuss their characters and her history of engagements. He needles her about the past as she challenges his air of superiority, and she storms out.

A Navy captain overhears the couple's argument and cautions Dr. Elliot that he would be a fool to let Whitney get away. The captain's remark underscores Whitney's appeal and the seriousness of Elliot's position.

Whitney performs a solo aquatic ballet in the base swimming pool, displaying grace and athletic skill that captivates onlookers. The performance reinforces her artistry and determination within the WAVES program.

Upon graduation from the training company, Mary Kate is assigned to Brooklyn, Una to Paris, and Whitney to Washington, DC for advanced training. The three friends officially begin their new postings and roles.

The men they love greet them at the train station, promising to secure assignments so they can be together. The trio boards the Twentieth Century Limited and heads for New York, beginning the next phase of their lives.