A Woman's Place Is in the Corps
Proceedings Magazine - December 2017 Vol.
By Lieutenant Colonel W. John Butler, U.S. Marine
Corps
The U.S. Marine Corps can reach the Commandant’s goal of 10 percent female Marines.
The U.S. Marine Corps is known for its fighting spirit and expeditionary mind-set. It also is known as the armed service with the lowest percentage of women in its ranks. That the Corps is an infantry-based organization that only recently opened the ground combat role to women is no doubt a factor, but so is its inability to retain women in its ranks.
In early 2016, Commandant of the Marine Corps General Robert Neller set a goal of 10 percent female Marines. 1 Some critics doubt this number is attainable. Others question what measures might be taken to reach this goal. Based on the Corps’ recent population and retention statistics, these are fair concerns. This number can be achieved, however, if the Marine Corps properly recruits and manages the right talent, fosters a culture inclusive of women, and ensures opportunities for Marines to seek personal goals.
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2017-12/womans-place-corps
