Summary

Military Spouse Employment Seminar

Hosted By

COL Cynthia Murphy, United States Army

Recap

Spouses looking for a career they can maintain during moves to duty stations around the country and the world were able to connect with resources to help them at a Military Spouse Career Fair held Wednesday, May 20, 2009.

The career fair, sponsored by the Washington-based nonprofit Hire America's Heroes, was open to the husbands and wives of service members in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy, National Guard or Reserves. It was held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the American Lake Club at Fort Lewis.

The emphasis at the event was on the portable career fields identified as part of the Military Spouse Career Advancement Account program.  Hire America’s Heroes serves the entire military family and recognizes the challenges spouses face as they follow their service member from one duty assignment to another.  The Department of Defense reports that military wives on average earn $3 less per hour and experience, unemployment rate three times that of their civilian counterparts.  Further, military spouse demographics show a motivated workforce in which 97% of active duty members have a high school diploma.

More than 50 Exhibitors were featured at the event and attendees came from Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard and Coast Guard. The field of greatest interest to attendees was Healthcare with Business Management and Human Resources also of high interest. Many attendees expressed interest in attending future events sponsored by Hire America’s Heroes and the Fort Lewis Garrison expressed interest in repeating this event in 2010.

Event Handouts

Military Spouse Career Fair Event Guide - Front Military Spouse Career Fair Event Guide - Inside