Unemployment by State

Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (CAA)

CAA is a limited time program to assist military spouses get the training/education they need to improve their careers. The program is a result of the collaboration of Department of Labor (DOL) and Department of Defense (DoD).

The CAA can be used to pay for tuition and education and credential-related expenses
of up to $3,000 per year. The CAA might be renewable for a second year.

For Spouses to be eligible the of active duty service member/sponsor must be assigned to one the following military installations:

• California: Camp Pendleton (Marine Corps); Naval Base San Diego Metro (Navy)
• Colorado: Fort Carson (Army); Peterson AFB (Air Force)
• Florida: Eglin AFB (Air Force); Hurlburt Field (Air Force); NAS Jacksonville (Navy)
• Georgia: Fort Benning (Army)
• Hawaii: Hickam AFB (Air Force); Kaneohe Bay (Marine Corps); Pearl Harbor (Navy); Schofield Barracks (Army)
• Maine: NAS Brunswick (Navy)
• North Carolina: Fort Bragg (Army); Pope AFB (Air Force)
• Washington: McChord AFB (Air Force); Fort Lewis (Army); Naval Base Kitsap (Navy)
  

For more information please visit the following link:
http://caa.milspouse.org/

Military Spouse Preference

The purpose of the spouse preference program is to to reduce the impact of frequent relocations on spouses careers. It applies to those military spouses who relocate to accompany their sponsor on a permanent change of station (PCS) move to an ACTIVE duty location. Section 806 of Public Law 99-145, "Department of Defense (DoD) Authorization Act of 1986," directed DoD to increase employment opportunities for spouses of active duty Armed Forces personnel.
Eligibility: Spouses of active duty military members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including the U.S. Coast Guard and full time National Guard .
The military spouse claiming the preference may register 30 days prior to the sponsor’s reporting.

Please visit the following links for additional information:

http://www.defenselink.mil/mapsite/spousepref.html
http://www.cpol.army.mil/library/permiss/6314.html

Military Spouse Portable Careers

In the video bar below the header of this blog you can find portable careers information for Military Spouses.
These videos offer important information for those of you who are interested in a work at home position. Now, keep in mind a working at home is not for everyone and it might be very challeging.
But I do believe is a great opportunity!

Check it out!!!

Employment Assistance

Did you know there is assistance to promote Military Spouses Employment Readiness in all Military branches? Well there is! You can access most of them by just going to the nearest Military Base (except the coast guard which is a web based assistance).

Army: Employment Readiness Program

Navy: Spouse Employment Assistance Program

Air Force: Career Focus Program

Marine Corps: Family Member Employment Assistance Program

Coast Guard: Access the Work Life Employment Assistance Program at
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-w/g-wk/wkw/work-life_programs/Spouse_employment_assistance.htm

All these programs can assist you in your search for employment and other services to promote Employment Readiness.

Of Course we do not want to forget the State Department of Labor Regional Offices (commonly and mistakenly known as the Unemployment Office) which are a great employment resource.

What's my goal?

My goal is to assist those military wives looking for employment opportunities, to realize they are not alone on their search. I understand first hand how hard it is to look for a job, take care of the children as a "single mother" married to a Soldier who is deployed, in training or just not there for many plausible reasons.

I now is hard but not impossible! So lets do this together!!!

What happened? Sexual Harassment & Retaliation

Its been a LONG week since I was "suspended" from the company I used work (I think). I still can't believe this happened to me. The reason I say "suspended" is because I truly believe I'm fired, the reason being, after I got "suspended" the representatives of the company I work for came and did a site visit met with the BIG BOSSES in the location I provide services and never EVER contacted me to provide my side of the events. And now the Director who sexually harassed and retaliated against me is making plans with other people (volunteers and employees) to cover my participation in major events for the next 2 months. So.. I guess I'm fired... What d yo think?
Having a job (career) you love and feel passionate about and loose it for an unfair reason, feels like you are missing a limb.
Let me tell you a little about me... I am a military wife who used to provide family readiness services to military families. This is something that I feel so passionate about, not only because I'm one of those families but because I see the change in peoples lives once they know what to expect from the military mission and are prepare to embrace this amazing & challenging way of life.
Just one month after I started working the Office Director where I provide services started showing special interest in me, (VERY Special interest!!!!)... Did I mention the director is s FEMALE & me too!!!!
At the beginning it was very confusing.. maybe I was wrong and she was just SUPER nice, but I didn't think so!!!! With time the sexual harassment continue to worsen and I try to nicely and carefully to let her know that I wasn't into that type of relationship, that I like men (a lot) specially my man!!!
SHE DIDN'T GET IT!!!!