U.S. Marines turn to female CEOs for advice on recruiting women

U.S. Marines are reaching out to female executives in the private sector to get advice on recruiting more women into the Corps.

Women only account for about 7.5 percent of the Marines and only about 15 percent of all active duty branches of the military, Reuters reported. So Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos, who retired just a few days ago after 44 years of service, has reached out to Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg and other notable company executives for advice.

“They helped me see what I’m not seeing, simply because I’m a guy and as my wife tells me, an old white guy,” Gen. Amos said, Reuters reported.

Gen. Amos also met with Marillyn Hewson, CEO of Lockheed Martin and Linda Hudson, former CEO of the U.S. unit of Britain’s BAE Systems Plc.

Gen. Amos said the outreach to female CEOs has sparked discussions on the best ways to keep women in the service — particularly those who want to have children, Reuters said. For instance, he said he convinced a female major several months ago to stay in the service by granting her a transfer to be with her husband, a fellow marine.

“It was a small thing, but it’s important,” Mr. Amos said, Reuters reported.

The Marine Corps has also established a separate “talent management” office to coordinate diversity programs to bring more women into the service, Reuters reported.