The number of female officers employed in the Armed Forces is low. Of the total proportion officers, female stand for 4.8 %. The Armed Forces are currently working actively to level out the distribution. This paper is intended to create a better understanding of the slow increase in female officers in the Swedish Armed Forces. The study is qualitative and the results from the data collection have been based partly on a text analysis, partly on a theme-based group interview in which three themes have been discussed. The results are then analyzed through theories with the related areas: Organizations, genderand leadership. The study shows that there are no formal regulations that prevent women in the Armed Forces. However, it is possible to identify a number of factors that may affect efforts to achieve genderbalance in the organization negatively. The experience of gender equality is not permeated throughout the organization suggests a lack of commitment of managers at different levels. Furthermore is the conscription system, which only affected men, a major contributing factor, where a broad basis for recruitment of female officers has been lost. Finally may be mentioned that the fact that the Armed Forces currently is engaged in a variety of organizational changes can lead to a marginalization of the gender mainstreaming in favour of the other changes.