In times of war, recruiting for the armed services can be a tough sell. That's why several branches of the military are revamping recruiting efforts by offering signing bonuses and increased educational benefits.
The Marine Corps may be making the most noticeable push by recruiting more women.
Approximately six percent of Marine personnel are women and the Corps wants to increase that number while erasing the perception that this is a men's club.
Bellevue East senior, Jessica Brown is making plans for life after high school.
She says, "I started looking at something that would give me a challenge and cause. I've always been up for challenges in my life and I figured that I'd look into all of the branches and the Marine Corps was the one that showed me the biggest challenge I'd want to face."
The Marines have launched a new ad campaign attempting to break the glass ceiling and present the idea that the Corps is more than a fraternity.
Gunnery Sergeant Ryan Easton is a Marine corps recruiter who says both men and women feel a sense of duty to their country.
He says, "There's a lot of young men and women who are very patriotic and they feel that sense of obligation to their country to give back to when it's in harm's way. They want to protect them."
Two commercials are now airing across the country featuring women going through training and successfully completing every physical challenge, right alongside male recruits.
There is also a print ad in the mix. It depicts a woman in a martial arts stance and is already appearing in a number of women's fitness magazines.
Gunnery Sergeant Easton says women can make an impact.
"We have females that are rising through the ranks and making those sound decisions to better our Marine Corps for the future."
Jessica Brown wants to be a part of the new Marine Corps.
"A lot of females look at it and say well, it's the Marines and it's a guy thing and it doesn't have to be a guy thing. It can be a female's thing," she said.
The United States Army currently has more than 70,000 women serving. There are 63,000 women in the Air Force and 48,000 in the Navy. The Marines have approximately 12,000.