Military Spouse Appreciation Day, celebrated the Friday before Mother’s Day, offers an opportunity to honor the unsung heroes who hold down the homefront, volunteer in numerous ways, and make sacrifices in support of national security.

One of those sacrifices is often their career.

[ACT NOW: Urge Lawmakers to Co-Sponsor the Military Spouse Hiring Act]

Countless articles, surveys, and research studies highlight the crucial role spouse employment plays in the well-being of military families. Challenges in establishing and maintaining a career not only affect the financial stability of military families, but also contribute to feelings of isolation and frustration among spouses.

It’s time to go beyond words and provide meaningful opportunities for military spouses to find career success and fulfillment.

A recent report from the House Armed Service Committee’s Quality of Life (QoL) Panel includes several recommendations geared toward enhancing employment opportunities for military spouses.

• Expanding the Military Spouse Career Accelerator Pilot (MSCAP): This pilot program provides paid fellowships for spouses and allows employers to see firsthand the skills and abilities military spouses bring to the workplace. The panel recommends making it permanent.
  
  
• Supporting Interstate Licensure Compacts: DoD, in cooperative agreements with the Council of State Governments, has helped create seven such compacts to ease the burden for spouses relocating across state lines. This recommendation would ensure continued funding for the development of additional compacts for the 31% of spouses in licensed or credentialed fields.
  
  
• Expanding Child Care Access to Spouses Seeking Employment: Military spouses take 19 weeks, on average, to find employment after a PCS move, according to the most recent Active Duty Spouse Survey. Spouses seeking employment are allowed 90 days of child care, either through enrollment in a child development center or via fee assistance. The panel recommends increasing this to 180 days.

[READ MORE: Quality of Life Panel Report (PDF)]

Beyond the work of the QoL Panel, MOAA supports two legislative proposals that will improve the landscape of military spouse employment: the Military Spouse Hiring Act and the READINESS Act. There’s no silver bullet to solve this long-standing issue: These two bills are part of a multipronged approach and would incentivize businesses to hire spouses by providing a tax credit and requiring federal agencies to use existing authorities and policies to retain spouses employed in government positions, respectively.

[ACT NOW: Ask Your Lawmakers to Support the READINESS Act]

This Military Spouse Appreciation Day, let’s not only express gratitude for the sacrifice and resilience of military spouses, but also commit to tangible actions that support their professional aspirations. By implementing the recommendations put forth by the QoL Panel and advocating for policies that prioritize spouse employment, we can empower military families and strengthen the fabric of our armed forces.

Join MOAA’s Legislative Action Center add your voice to solve the military spouse employment crisis.