Career and Edu - Military Spouse Career Advancement Initiative

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Military Spouse Career Advancement Initiative

U.S. Defense and Labor Departments announce new career program for military spouses

From the Office of the Secretary of Defense

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Departments of Defense and Labor announced plans to jointly provide military spouses with opportunities to pursue portable careers in high-demand, high-growth occupations. This three-year Military Spouse Career Advancement Initiative, offered at 18 sites in eight states with large military populations, will enable military spouses to develop the skills needed to successfully start, navigate and advance their careers.

“America’s military spouses quietly and courageously bear the sacrifices required of them and their families as their loved ones are serving our country,” commented Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “The Military Spouse Career Advancement Initiative provides financial resources to help spouses develop their career goals and dreams.”

Military spouses suffer an unemployment rate that is three times that of their civilian counterparts, while nearly 77 percent of them report that they want or need to work. The frequent moves required by the military often make it difficult or even cost-prohibitive for spouses to establish long-term careers or meet state credentialing and licensing requirements. Almost three-fourths of military spouses say the cost of continuing their education is more than they can afford.

The Military Spouse Career Advancement Initiative was created to help spouses overcome some of these financial barriers. The funding will make it possible for eligible candidates to receive Career Advancement Accounts in the amount of $3,000 for one year, and renewable a second year for an additional $3,000. This money can be used to pay for expenses directly related to postsecondary education and training, including tuition, books, necessary equipment, and credentialing and licensing fees in nationally identified high-growth, portable career fields such as education, health care, information technology, construction trades and financial services.

Eligible program participants are military spouses with sponsors in pay grades E1-E5 and 01-03 who have completed some college, or who have obtained a high school diploma or GED. Funds will be provided directly to educational institutions and/or credentialing agencies. The two departments are jointly approving $35.2 million over three years.

Military spouses may apply at One-Stop Career Centers on or near participating installations’ Voluntary Education Centers. The 18 installations initially identified to participate in the project include: San Diego Metro and Camp Pendleton in California; Fort Carson and Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado; Jacksonville Naval Air Station, Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field in Florida; Fort Benning, Ga.; Hickam Air Force Base, Naval Base Pearl Harbor, Schofield Barracks and U.S. Marine Base Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii; Naval Air Station Brunswick, Maine; Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina; and Fort Lewis, McChord Air Force Base and Naval Station Kitsap in Washington state.

Additional information including eligibility determination, career and education counseling, and skills assessment will be available at each participating installation’s Voluntary Education Center and/or Family Support Center, and online at www.MilSpouse.org.

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User comments:

Angela	2/12/2008 1:16:21 PM
It is so hard for military spouses, male and female to secure GS/WG employment WHY? It only makes sense to have these oprotunities available. When we PCS, we will PCS to another Post, Base etc, all which have employment opprotunities available. Having the opprotunity to secure a GS/WG job would give us the opprotunity of securing employment at the next PCS move. Why are these positions so difficult to get. We are not competing the solider, we are competing against locals and the system.
launcherwife	4/2/2008 3:39:45 AM
I read Angela's comments and totally agree with what she has questioned. I myself was wondering the same thing. It seems like the entire community no matter where we are stationed, makes it very difficult for military spouses to work. It is almost like a curse for us being military spouses, when will this change?
male milspouse	4/2/2008 11:23:36 PM
I too agree with Angela, it is so hard to get a position on base that it is crazy. Being a male milspouse I thought that it would be easy to get a position on base in Guam (where we are currently stationed), it is like they want to give the jobs to the islanders and create barriers for the spouses. The spousal preference does not even help at all. This has to change; it is not fair to any of the spouses that give up their lives to support the active duty member.
cbwife	4/3/2008 12:10:13 PM
I am actually using this option right now and it is pretty awesome, but I agree with all of you in the sense that it is very hard to get a job, much less a flexible job wherever our fun military wife ventures may take us. Good luck to all of you out there, and I think anyone who can should jump on this opportunity, it is probably more than likely the easiest grant that you can get ;)
anangelsmom	6/4/2008 8:22:03 AM
Ok I have to agree that its hard to find a job after a move due to where they move you to.. now my q is why is it only for pay grades of E-5 and below? Are the other spouses not worth the money? They too want to work and or get an education.. We all talk about how rank is not important well this program is a slap in the face if you ask me. Its wrong to say the least. It should be for all pay grade spouses who want to go back to school or further their careers with more education. I think they need to go back to the drawing board. Just because someone is above E-5 doesnt mean they are made of money.. they still need progrms like this to help them out..
CGwife	7/3/2008 11:52:14 AM
I agree that it shouldn't be for E-5 and below. I worked my way up in a restaurant to assistant manager. When I had kids I became a stay at home mom. 9 years later I have no education to fall back on and the hard work I put in is long gone and in a different city/state. I would like to pursue a job like medical transcription but we don't have the finances for me to achieve that goal. Why should I be punished because my husband has worked hard on his career and made rank.
cdwlovesbw	1/8/2009 8:21:46 PM
I also agree that why only E-5 and below are able to use this program. I have stood by my soilder for 9 yrs now and because he has done so well i can not apply. What happened to do well and be rewarded. Although I am thank ful for such a program, I am also upset that it is only for specific places. So double whammy for me.
cdwlovesbw	1/8/2009 8:24:31 PM
Sorry but this article should be re named, does not apply to ALL of the MILITARY SPOUSES!!!
Adaeze	2/8/2009 10:10:56 PM
Thank you for all the wonderful comments. Issues like this is what AFAP (Army family action plan)is for. I do not know what the other branches call it. This is a forum held annually begining from the grassroots (your spouse's unit Family Readiness Group)your military installation then to the regional level and higher and higher until a change is made. I have been a delegate a few times and I believe it is the best way to get our voices heard. I do not know how they come up with rules for programs like this mil spouse edu/career advancement with the E5 and below rule. I have been married to a wonderful soldier for 11 years, we have 5 beautiful kids. until we PCS to Germany in 2005 75% of our total household income came from me. We lived in our own 26,000 sq ft home, our children attended private schools and we were able to take care of a few other things with ease. I gave up a lucrative business and career and relocated to Germany to support my soldier. I could not find a job because the local nationals take most of the positions anyway, then you cannot compete with the few higher positions because it requires a degree or post graduate degree. A few months after we got to Germany, we lost our two homes and many more because my husband's income could not cover those bills. My husband is above E5. I am now taking some college classes online and paying for it with student loans when there is all these monies for mil spouses but with huge of red tapes that make it impossible to get. Go online and search for military family scholarships, you have to be a widow to qualify for 99% of them. It takes a lot of voices and a long time to get heard but we all have to keep on pushing these issues through the more effective channels like AFAP. Giving up your career to move in support of your soldier ought to count for something. Thanks for taking the time to read this. 6+mom
Debi Ketner	6/25/2009 12:56:30 PM
If you're looking for a great, secure, portable career, please check this out....The DOD has entered a partnership with Career Step, the leader in computerized medical transcription and medical billing and coding, to enable qualifying military spouses to get this training FREE of charge. (Seriously!) After certification, spouses can make upwards of 40k right from their homes, anywhere in the world. Full details are here: http://www.eclubamerica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=223&Itemid=1 I'd like to see as many military spouses as possible get this information!!
Kim Walder	6/26/2009 11:44:05 AM
IAME Provides Military Spouse Grants for Esthetician Career Opportunities!!! The Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics (IAME) is providing military grants to all military spouses that wish to enroll in their esthetics programs. IAME is educating military spouses on their ability to use their Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts in conjunction with IAME’s Military Spouse grant program. The use of these two incredible offers completely covers the spouse’s tuition. Owner and president of the institute Laura Todd is extending her offer to military spouses in order to show her appreciation of the armed forces. Ms. Todd was appointed by Governor Warner as the first full-term esthetician seat to the state board that regulates esthetics in Virginia. The Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics (IAME) received accreditation from the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences (NACCAS). IAME‘s incredible success has been the product of Ms. Todd’s 20 years in the industry. Ms. Todd is also the author of 2 of the leading books in the industry (Advanced Face and Body Treatments for the Spa and Milady’s Standard Esthetics Advanced). She also serves as the Executive Director of the Virginia State Association of Skin Care. Medical Estheticians are in High Demand and gaining Esthetics Licensure offers career portability from state to state with many lucrative career options. According to the Job Demand Survey published by the NACCAS in 2007 there has been a notable growth in the industry. The total number of salons is up by 18% and approximately 3 out of every four salon owners who looked for new employees reported difficulty in finding qualified personnel. IAME has fully renovated its large state of the art facility (3000 square feet) and will be opening their doors to the public on July 11th, 2009 from 12-3pm to showcase their current graduates and brand new facility. In addition to an inside look at the gorgeous new facility, individuals that attend will be given the opportunity to receive coupons for premium spa services. The Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics is located in Richmond VA FOR MORE INFO CONTACT Kimberly Walder 804-346-2009

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