Retaining talent: Lessons from Australia, Norway, and Sister Services.
Abstract
Women play a critical role in the defense of the United States as members of the military. As women have joined the workplace in increasing numbers, they do not always remain in the U.S. Army at the same rate as their male counterparts. The U.S. Army is unable to capitalize on the full extent of the U.S. population to recruit and retain its most valuable weapon: the American soldier. This study utilized a qualitative research methodology to analyze four other armed services to understand what efforts they have made towards retaining diverse populations. Using the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Air Force, the Australian Defence Force, and the Norwegian Armed Forces, this thesis seeks to understand what policies the U.S. Army could adopt to better retain female officers. This analysis found that adopting policies that allow for increased work flexibility will help to retain women and that adopting policies dealing with physical fitness standards, to bring them in alignment with deployment policies, will also help to retain women. One of the key findings suggests that the U.S. Army must seek to understand what drives retention decisions and should work across the joint force to share best practices.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 12, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1124753
Entities
People
- Sarah M. Gerstein
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College