They were formally trained in many skills including ambulance driving, fire fighting, evacuation procedures, mobile-kitchen operation, first aid, and other emergency services.

[6] These AWVS members took classes in Morse code, first aid, map reading, nutrition, war photography, child care, and public speaking.

In New York, junior members were trained with the Red Cross Drive for Nurses' Aides and worked Harlem Hospital as volunteers.

[5] On October 13, 1946, the International Assembly of Women, was held in a small upstate New York town of South Kortright where McLean lived.

During the 10-day conference there, Eleanor Roosevelt joined McLean and about 200 female delegates from more than 50 different nations to discuss the political, economic and social issues in hopes of bringing peace to the world.

[1] Because the organization did not receive substantial support from the federal government, McLean spent much of her personal fortune to keep the AWVS financially viable.