The Marine Corps has undertaken several research projects to better understand and reach women who may want to serve.
As a result, service advertising initiatives will include updates to recruiting websites, social media content and other awareness materials, such as informational brochures and direct mail, said Jim Edwards, a spokesman for Marine Corps Recruiting Command.
For now, MCRC doesn’t have plans for an advertising campaign geared toward letting women know about combat arms jobs that recently opened to women are no longer restricted to men only, but that could change in the future, Edwards told Marine Corps Times.
"We will continue to evaluate accession requirements that will determine what, if any, focused effort will accompany the next major campaign that is anticipated to launch sometime in 2017," Edwards said in an email.
The Marine Corps plans to increase accessions of women with the intent of raising the percentage of women in the Marine Corps to about 10 percent by fiscal 2020 or 2021, Lt. Gen. Mark Brilakis, MCRC commander, told Marine Corps Times in September.
When asked if the Marine Corps plans to increase the number of female recruiters, Edwards said the service selects recruiters based on skill, not gender.
"Approximately 3,760 Marine recruiters are serving in every community of our nation delivering our 'Tough, Smart, Elite Warrior' message of opportunity to young men and women," he said.
The Army is working to boost its number of female recruiters. Brig. Gen. Donna Martin, deputy commander of recruiting, told Army Times this month that more female recruiters would also be sent to high-profile recruiting events.
"They'll be speaking to women to debunk the myths about serving in the military as a woman," Martin said.
The Marine Corps currently has 147 enlisted female recruiters and seven female officer selection officers, Edwards said.
"These numbers don't account for several female Marines serving in leadership and support billets throughout the recruiting command," he said.
The first female poolees are expected to ship to recruit training for infantry military occupational specialties in October, officials told reporters last weekon March 17. Female poolees will begin shipping for other MOSs open to women, such as tanks and artillery, in June.
"The Marine Corps Recruiting Command is working closely with Marine Corps leadership in order to tailor our collective messages to properly inform all prospective Marines on their opportunities for service," Edwards said. "However, while Marine recruiters advise prospective applicants on programs and opportunities, their focus is more on preparation for recruit training and successful service in the operating forces. Material is presented to both male and female prospects in the same manner."
