The Friday before Mother's Day each year is known as Military Spouse Appreciation Day. Like me, I would imagine those reading this would agree that everyday should be Mothers Day, and everyday should also be a day where we appreciate and recognize military spouses. When a member of our armed forces is deployed, their entire family is also called to serve. This is especially true of the military spouse, who often assumes the role of mom, dad, coach, breadwinner, and much more while their spouse is deployed. The military spouse rarely asks for support, and often shy away from recognition, but there is an easy way we can thank them for their service, and that is by HIRING THEM!
Interesting Facts:
o 26% unemployment rate
o 25% wage gap between military spouses and non-military workers
o There are more than 700,000 active duty spouses
o 84% have some college education
o 77% report needing or wanting to work
o 38% are underemployed
Why Hire Military Spouses:
o They are among the most educated
o They are extremely adaptable
o They are loyal and dependable
o They work very well under stressful conditions
o Military spouses tend to hold the same job for the entire time of their spouses assignment. This averages between 2-4 years compared to just over 1 year average turnover in the private sector
On May 7th, Milicruit will host a dedicated virtual career fair for military spouses in recognition of Military Spouse Appreciation Day. The Milicruit service provides the spouse an opportunity to meet and interact with employers in real time, but without the cost, burden or environmental impact typically associated with attending brick and mortar career fairs. The military spouse virtual career fair is just one of the more than 15 events planned in support of the 10,000 Jobs for Veterans and Military Spouses Challenge launched by Milicruit, MOAA, DirectEmployers, and more than 30 leading companies. Military Spouses interested in participating in the Milicruit virtual career fair can register for free at www.militaryspousecareerfair.com
To celebrate military spouses during the month of May, Blue Star Families is providing everyone the opportunity to request an Outstanding Military Spouse Certificate for the special military spouse in their life. By visiting their website http://bluestarfam.org/MilSpouseCertificates anyone can submit their information to nominate the military spouse in their life for this award. Anyone is able to enter and receive a certificate for the military spouse in their life.
The last thing a military spouse or a veteran is looking for is a handout. They are a proud group to say the least, and would probably rather you give your jobs to someone else if the reason you are offering to them is out of pity or charity. Hiring military spouses simply makes for good business, and in employing them, you will get a hard working, educated, loyal, and dedicated team member.
It should not take occasions like Military Spouse Appreciation Day to bring awareness to the issues many of our military families are faced with each day, and it is terrific to see that programs such as the Military Spouse Employment Partnership, Bluestar Families, Joining Forces are in place to show our military community that we do in fact have your back, and we will continue to fight for you as you have done for us when called upon.
To all the military spouses out there, we thank you for your outstanding service, and we proclaim everyday Military Spouse Appreciation Day and Mother's Day!
Follow Kevin O'Brien on Twitter: www.twitter.com/milicruit
Jim Gibbons: Jobs Beyond the Battlefield: Employing Those Who Have Served
democracychronicles.com
Furthermore, most lower level Federal jobs onbase militarybase are 'reserved' for military spouses to begin with. A GS-4 starts at about $30K/year. They either receive extra 'points' in the application evaluation that places them above local applicants; or the positions are simply closed to all but spouses.
Nevertheless, hang around a militarybase and you'll hear servicemembers and their even louder spouses complaining about taxes (especially local ones that pay for things they get as freebies).
How about a survey of howmany lucrative protocol, publicaffairs and familyservices positions, nationwide, are held by military spouses.
Of course in all that blather over 'personal responsibility' there's nary a word about people who choose to marry servicemembers and their benefits and then have three or four kids taking any kind of responsibility for THOSE choices.
Please Mr.Goverment - give me a free makework job! And tax-subsidized cheap onbase childcare! And a shuttle bus to take me to and from housing and work! And a brand new $20 million stairwell apartment building with 2,500 sq.ft. units because each of my five kids needs his own bedroom and military regulations say he's entitled to one!
Of course, pandering to 'spouses ' makes it that much easier to justify a system that awards REALLY lucrative defense contracts to the bigboys.
26% unemployment rate (NOBODY'S FORCED YOU INTO THE LIFESTYLE. PERSONAL CHOICES...JUST LIKE ALL THOSE WELFARE QUEENS)
25% wage gap between military spouses and non-military workers (ARE YOU KIDDING ME? CHECK OUT WHAT A LOW LEVEL GS-4 SECRETARY MAKES - $30K - AGAINST A LOCAL DOCTOR'S OFFICE RECEPTIONIST IN SAY FAYETTEVILLE NC. THE AUTHOR PULLED THIS DIRECTLY OUT OF HIS POSTERIOR)
There are more than 700,000 active duty spouses (MILITARY SPOUSES ARE NOT SERVING "ACTIVE DUTY" IN ANY CAPACITY
84% have some college education (SO? U MARYLAND NIGHT SCHOOL AND OTHER MEDIOCRE COLLEGES HAVE SET UP FRANCHISES IN BASES ACROSS THE GLOBE. THE CLASSES ARE FAR BELOW STANDARD COLLEGE LEVEL DIFFICULTY AND TUITION IS OF COURSE, TAXPAYER SUBSIDIZED. LOTS OF SPOUSES HAVE UMUC CREDITS THAT THEY'RE VERY SURPRISED TO DISCOVER DON'T EVEN TRANSFER TO U. MARYLAND'S REAL CAMPUS. OR DEGREES IN 'MANAGEMENT SCIENCES')
77% report needing or wanting to work (HAVE YOU CHECKED THE REAL, NON TAXPAYER SUBSIDIZED ECONOMY LATELY?)
38% are underemployed (TELL IT TO THE PHD WAITING TABLES WHO DOESN'T HAVE A FREE HOUSE, FREE MEDICAL, FREE UTILITIES, SUBSIDIZED DAYCARE, PRICE CONTROLLED GAS, GROCIERIES AND PX GOODS, AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND TRAVEL. AND WHOSE ECONOMY WAS DESTROYED IN GREAT PART BY WASTEFUL DEFENSE SPENDING. INCLUDING IN PLACES OVERSEAS WHOSE REGIMES MAKE SURE THE SLAVE LABOR CONTINUES TO DO YOUR JOB AT TWO DOLLARS A DAY.)
Here's another fact for you to chew on. A guy spends 20 years as an Infantryman, a gunners mate, Armour crew man, when he retires, what job qualifications does he have? At 40 they go on job interviews and are asked where have you worked, what have you done. Why I can drive a tank at 50 MPH over uneven ground and turn it on a dime.
You should try and live on an Enlisted Military salary. Even with benefits it doesn't compete with what your school mates are making. Your wife works to help support the family. Forget about saving much money, it won't happen, so when you get out you usually don't own a home because you moved so often you couldn't build up any equity and housing around bases is expensive.