Following the release of a study looking at the retention of women in the Coast Guard, Democratic U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas of New Hampshire has introduced legislation that would require the Coast Guard to provide regular reports to Congress on its efforts to increase gender diversity.
The Coast Guard hired the RAND Corp. last year to look at barriers to women staying in the service and come up with recommendations to better retain them. The 200-page study from RAND was published at the end of March.
While the Coast Guard’s retention rates are relatively high in comparison to the other military services, women are leaving at higher rates than men, particularly between the five- and 10-year marks. The RAND study identified three main areas contributing to women’s decision to leave: work environment, career issues and personal life–related matters.
Schultz Pledges More People-Centered, Inclusive and Diverse Coast Guard