Have you heard about the new Military Spouse Employment Partnership Program?

On June 29, 2011 the Military Spouse Employment Partnership was launched at the Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C.  The Military Spouse Employment Partnership program is an expansion of the Army Spouse Employment Partnership program and is focused on helping military spouses from all branches of the military attain financial security and achieve educational and employment goals. 

This portal which is located at OurMilitary.mil is designed to connect military spouses to careers by creating a gateway for military spouses and corporate and nonprofit organizations to interact. The Military Spouse Employment Partnership has been the latest development in an effort backed by President Barack Obama's administration to do more to help military families. I have been following this since the kick off of the Joining Forces and Hiring our Heroes initiative in April 2011.

After exploring the website, it is easy for military spouses an search for jobs which hosts a database drawn from the partnering employers.  There are over 70+ employers who have joined the partnership, including Microsoft, Amazon.com, Bank of America and Booz Allen Hamilton. In order to become a partner, these companies have to go through a process, which includes signing a statement of support, offering transferable career opportunities to relocating military spouses, and providing employment data on military spouses actually hired.

The Military Spouse Employment Partnership is a great resource that provides more publicity for those services such as Military OneSource who will help you edit your resume and tailor it to a specific job; many spouses don't know that this is available. I have seen a lot of military spouses who meet or exceed the qualifications, but are not given a chance to get their foot in the door.  Military spouses have wonderful attributes like being dependable, mature, flexible, and resilient; have awesome leadership skills, and the ability to work well under pressure, which we have all learned through deployments, trainings and separations.

As a military spouse, I know the difficulties of trying to find gainful employment or rather a career. It is quite refreshing to see the Department of Defense assisting military spouses and linking corporate America jobs, and federal agencies to military spouse employment. I am really excited about this program and I plan on using this website to help my resume building skills, and obtaining a career in which I can make a difference. I personally think that this is the first time that the military spouse has been recognized and it will make our lives much easier!