While much has been written about transitioning military finding jobs, not much attention has been given to the employment struggles military families face. There are two aspects to consider when looking at this problem, the issues faced by active duty military families and the issues faced by families of National Guard and Reserve (NG&R) families.
The military benefit system gives active duty soldiers extra combat pay, provides housing allowances and exempts them from certain taxes, but financial experts say active duty military families are straining under multiple deployments, frequent relocations and the difficulty spouses have in getting -- and keeping jobs -- in new cities.
Trying to support a family is tough in today's uncertain economic environment for both civilian and military families. To make ends meet, both adult members of the military family frequently have to work. Active duty military families have a tougher time than their civilian counterparts in finding work, as military families have to move frequently, thus causing the spouse to have to find a new job on a regular basis. Since the United States is still in an economic malaise, it is even more difficult to secure employment. The unemployment rate among military spouses is about 26 percent, according to a report from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
One of the problems of having to change jobs regularly is the military spouse may not be getting career type jobs, but rather, low-wage jobs to help make ends meet. Additionally, some employers are concerned about hiring a military spouse since the employer knows the military spouse will be transferred and thus not be able to serve as a long term employee. This frequently relegates spouses to accepting low wage jobs in fast food or retail.
A 2010 military survey found that 27 percent of service members said they had more than $10,000 in credit card debt compared with 16 percent of civilians who carry such debt. The study also found more than one third of military families have trouble paying monthly bills, and more than 20 percent reported borrowing money outside of banks.
These debts frequently necessitate active duty members to pick up a part-time job to augment the family income.
National Guard & Reserve Active Duty Family Employment Struggles
For the last 10 years, the NG&R has faced increased call-ups and multiple deployments. However, unlike their active duty counterparts, when a member of the NG&R comes back from a deployment, his income stops and he is considered "part-time" military. The active duty military person does not have to worry about cash flow when he returns from a deployment because -- by virtue of being on active duty -- he is paid twice a month. Not so for the NG&R component member. The NG&R member must look for work immediately upon returning if he wants to support his family.
Since NG&R members do not have to transfer regularly like the active duty member, their spouses can often obtain better jobs, but that is dependent on education, skills and location in the United States.
Due to the frequent call-ups by the NG&R over the last 10 years, studies from the Society of Human Resource Management and from Workforce Management indicate that over 65 percent of companies will not now hire an active member of the NG&R as a new employee. This makes it difficult for NG&R personnel to find a job upon returning. It also explains why many deployed NG brigades have had unemployment rates ranging from 30 percent to 68 percent!
There is no simple solution to this issue, but employers need to understand the unique problems faced by members of the active duty military and the NG&R and hire them. As a country we owe our military a job since they are the ones who put their lives on the line to defend our freedoms and protect our free-market economy.
Veteran unemployment up slightly in 2011
Veteran's Struggle for Jobs, Unemployment at 12.1%
Unemployment rates for veterans lower than national rate
1500 Missouri veterans have been hired under state's Show-Me Heroes program
Heck, politicians constantly "forget" things they did, where they did it and with whom they did it.
My employer, (a newspaper in Billings, MT). was not happy about it but kept me on anyway
Well yes, patriotism is fine in theory, as long as it doesn't interfere with business.
As an Army brat, Army surgeon and coming from five generations of Army surgeons, my ancestors always had jobs when they got back from wars. Then again, this was a time when physicians were valued more than they are today. And it's much harder if you have no commercial value to a prospective employer. But in the d.c. area, there are thousands of jobs every day for the taking for former artillery officers, sergeants who worked in airstrike control, etc.
You expect us to go and serve and possibly not come back and when we do, you say 'sorry, charlie, we can't use you'. May you get what you so richly deserve.
Yes we do but unfortunately many could care less about these poor vets, it was THEIR asses on the line NOT the owners of, or stockholders of, any of these rich companies that WILL NOT HIRE the very people that MAKE THEIR FREEDOM AND PROSPERITY A REALITY, that's what really sucks today.
Since we are allowing the Chinese to buy or lease huge tracts of land throughout our country we might as well let Americans use land too. "The Chinese Communist Party is the majority owner of Sinomach, so the 10,000 to 30,000 acre "self-sustaining city" that is being planned would essentially belong to the Chinese government. The planned "self-sustaining city" in Idaho would include manufacturing facilities, warehouses, retail centers and large numbers of homes for Chinese workers. Basically it would be a slice of communist China dropped right into the middle of the United States.
According to the Idaho Statesman, the idea would be to build a self-contained city with all services included. It would be modeled after the "special economic zones" that currently exist in China. " http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/china-wants-to-construct-a-50-square-mile-self-sustaining-city-south-of-boise-idaho
YES YES YES You are right, but! it will NEVER HAPPEN, because the CONS will consider it an 'ENTITLEMENT" and WE ALL know how THEY HATE that word, so unfortunately many many VETS are suffering, their families are suffering, but very few care. It is the same old b/s "HEY I GOT MINE, SCREW YOU" ATTITUDE!. Let SOMEONE ELSE FIGHT FOR MY GREAT LIFE THAT I HAVE, is the attitude of the POLS (not all but many, few have ever served)
Perhaps it is time to extend Veterans Preference to civilian jobs? Just a thought. If not; maybe some form of financial support pool, with employers who contribute being posted in the mainstream media on a daily basis through a highly-noticeable link? Dunno - some kind of effort must be made.