Career Advice, Education & Advancement
Dog Tag Fellowship – Entrepreneurship and business education program for military-connected individuals. https://www.dogtaginc.org/pages/our-program
FlexJobs Access – Free access to a curated database of remote, hybrid, and flexible job opportunities. https://spouseworks.militaryonesource.mil/portal/article/remote-flexible-jobs-for-millife-get-a-free-flexjobs-membership
Hiring Our Heroes AMPLIFY – A free career development program offering essential skills and resources for professional growth. https://www.hiringourheroes.org/career-services/education-networking/amplify/
Military Spouse Employer Partnership – A Department of War initiative connecting military spouses with partner employers committed to hiring and retaining military-connected talent. https://msepjobs.militaryonesource.mil/msep/
Onward to Opportunity (O2O) – Career training and certification program offered through IVMF. https://ivmf.syracuse.edu/succeeding-with-onward-to-opportunity/
SpouseWorks Career Coaching Support – Connect with a career coach for guidance, resources and support. Reach your education and career goals. Personalized guidance from career coaches is free for all military spouses. https://spouseworks.militaryonesource.mil/portal/article/spouseworks-career-coaching-services
SpouseWorks Fellowship – Provides paid fellowship opportunities and professional development experiences for military spouses entering or re-entering the workforce. https://spouseworks.militaryonesource.mil/portal/article/spouseworks-fellowship-military-spouse
SpouseWorks Find a Job – Find opportunities that match your goals. Explore open positions. https://spouseworks.militaryonesource.mil/portal/topic/find-a-job
SpouseWorks Get Career Advice – Find personalized support to help you move forward with confidence. Connect with expert career coaches. https://spouseworks.militaryonesource.mil/portal/topic/get-career-advice
SpouseWorks Grow Skills – Build in-demand skills and move your career forward. https://spouseworks.militaryonesource.mil/portal/topic/grow-skills
SpouseWorks Job Board – A structured job search tool that helps military spouses identify career paths, explore opportunities, and track applications. https://spouseworks.militaryonesource.mil/portal/msep/jobs
SpouseWorks Portal – Central hub for military spouse career exploration, job search tools, education guidance, and employment support services. https://spouseworks.militaryonesource.mil/portal/
SpouseWorks Scholarship – Tuition assistance for eligible military spouses pursuing certifications or degrees. https://spouseworks.militaryonesource.mil/portal/article/spouseworks-scholarship
T-Mobile TechX Returnship – Return-to-work program for professionals re-entering the tech workforce. https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/returnship-helps-veterans-reenter-workforce
Udemy Free Online Courses – Free access to online courses for skill-building and career advancement. https://spouseworks.militaryonesource.mil/portal/article/udemy-free-online-courses
Finding a Job & Hiring Events
Hiring Our Heroes (HOH) – National program offering hiring fairs, fellowships, and corporate partnerships. https://www.hiringourheroes.org/
Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce – Supports entrepreneurship, networking, and career development. https://milspousechamber.org/
Military Spouse Professional Network – Professional networking community under Hiring Our Heroes. https://www.hiringourheroes.org/career-services/education-networking/mspn/
RecruitMilitary – Job board and hiring event platform for military-connected job seekers. https://recruitmilitary.com/
SpouseWorks Event Portal – Calendar of virtual and in-person career events, workshops, and hiring fairs. https://spouseworks.militaryonesource.mil/portal/events
SpouseWorks Job Positions – Identify employment opportunities. https://spouseworks.militaryonesource.mil/portal/msep/jobs
Building a Business & Entrepreneurship
Association of Military Spouse Entrepreneurs (AMSE) – Entrepreneurial support network for military spouses. https://amseagency.com/
Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce (Certification) – Business certification and entrepreneurial support for military spouses. https://milspousechamber.org/certification/
Spouse-ly University – Business education platform for military spouse entrepreneurs. https://spouselyu.com/
The Rosie Network – Entrepreneurship training and mentorship for military families. https://www.therosienetwork.org/
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) – Federal agency supporting small business creation and growth. https://www.sba.gov/
U.S. SBA Business Guide – Step-by-step guidance for starting and managing a small business. https://www.sba.gov/business-guide
U.S. SBA Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) – Local support centers providing business advising and training. https://www.sba.gov/local-assistance/resource-partners/small-business-development-centers-sbdc
U.S. SBA Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC) – Training and counseling for veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs. https://www.sba.gov/local-assistance/resource-partners/veterans-business-outreach-centers-vboc
Mentorship & Community-Centered Resources
50Strong – Provides career coaching, employer connections, and professional development for military spouses. https://www.50-strong.us/
American Corporate Partners (ACP) – Mentorship program pairing military spouses and veterans with professionals for career guidance. https://www.acp-usa.org/
D’Aniello Institute for Veterans & Military Families (IVMF) – Provides research, training, and employment programs supporting military-connected individuals. https://ivmf.syracuse.edu/
Foreign Born Military Spouse Network (FMSN) – Support network for immigrant and foreign-born military spouses navigating employment and integration. https://fbmnetwork.com/
Leadership Institute for Military Spouses – Leadership development programs designed to strengthen career readiness and civic engagement. https://www.leadershipinstituteformilitaryspouses.org
Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN) – Research-based nonprofit focused on improving quality of life for military families. https://www.mfan.org/
Military Spouse Advocacy Network (MSAN) – Offers mentorship programs, leadership development, and peer-to-peer support. https://www.militaryspouseadvocacynetwork.org/
National Military Spouse Network – Professional networking organization supporting career advancement and community engagement. https://www.nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org/
National and Employer-Sponsored Affinity Groups
- Starbucks Armed Forces Network: https://about.starbucks.com/starbucks-commitment-to-the-military-community/
- Veteran Spouse Network Social Club: https://veteranspousenetwork.org/vsn-social-club/
- Society of Military Spouses in STEM: https://www.smsstem.org/
Additional National Resources
Blue Star Families – Advocacy and research organization supporting military families. https://bluestarfam.org/
Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) – Workforce and HR organization promoting employer best practices. https://www.shrm.org/
Policies
Defense-State Liaison Office Military State Policy Source – Information and resources on state-level policies affecting service members and military families, through policy insights, research, and legislative updates. https://statepolicy.militaryonesource.mil/
U.S. Department of Justice. 2025 update: Portability of professional licenses. https://www.justice.gov/servicemembers/2025-update-portability-professional-licenses
State-Level Program & Resource (Examples)
California:
USO California / Transitions Program: Connects with specialists for holistic support. https://california.uso.org/programs/uso-transitions
Work for Warriors (WFW): A CalVet program offering free job placement and support for veterans, National Guard, Reservists, spouses, and Gold Star families in California. https://www.calvet.ca.gov/VetServices/Pages/Work-for-Warriors-.aspx
Georgia:
Georgia VECTR Center: A state resource for veterans and families, offering training, education, and workforce re-entry into Georgia’s public system. https://www.gavectr.org/
WorkSource Coastal Georgia: Provides job training and employment assistance, offering priority service to veterans and eligible military spouses. https://worksourcecoastal.org/
North Carolina:
NC for Military Employment (NC4ME): A public-private partnership connecting military-connected individuals (including spouses) with employers through hiring events and resources, mentions NC State Human Resources and NC.gov. https://www.nc4me.org/
NCWorks Career Centers: Offer job seeker services, career advising, and training assistance, with specific resources for military families through local boards like Eastern Carolina Workforce Development Board. https://www.ncworks.gov/
Texas:
Texas Operation Welcome Home: Offers resources and employment opportunities for transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses in Texas. https://texasoperationwelcomehome.portal.texas.gov/
Texas Workforce Commission (TWC): Works with local workforce boards to provide career counseling, job market info, resume help, and connects spouses with job fairs and targeted recruitment events, often near military bases. https://www.twc.texas.gov/programs/veterans
Virginia:
Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program: Partners with businesses (V3 Certified Organizations) to create fellowships, career accelerators, and special hiring designations for military spouses. https://www.dvs.virginia.gov/employment-transition/virginia-values-veterans-v3-program/
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA): Eligible spouses can receive individualized career counseling, training, and small business development. https://vcwnorthern.com/wioa/
Washington State:
Washington State Military Spouse Initiative: Led by the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, they work to reduce employment barriers for military spouses and connect them with career, licensing, and workforce resources. The initiative is supported by a dedicated Military Spouse Liaison who provides outreach, advocacy, and direct assistance while also collaborating with employers and community partners to improve hiring opportunities and workforce access for military spouses across the state. https://www.dva.wa.gov/militaryspouseinitiative/
WorkSourceWA: WorkSource Washington is the state’s primary workforce development system. It provides military spouses with access to career counseling, job search assistance, resume development, training opportunities, and connections to local employers and hiring events through regional career centers across the state. https://www.worksourcewa.com/
Citations
Blue Star Families. (2024, June 14). The Home Depot’s transfer policy: Ensuring stability for military families. https://bluestarfam.org/2024/06/the-home-depots-transfer-policy-ensuring-stability-for-military-families/
Burke, J., & Miller, A. R. (2016). The effects of military change of station moves on spousal earnings (Working Paper WR-1170-OSD). RAND Corporation. www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/working_papers/WR1100/WR1170/RAND_WR1170.pdf
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (2024). Making ends meet in 2024: Insights from the Making Ends Meet survey (CFPB Office of Research Publication No. 2024-5). https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/cfpb_making-ends-meet_2024-11.pdf
Institute for Military and Veteran Family Wellness. (2024). Military & Veteran Spouse Wellness Survey. The University of Texas at Austin. https://imvfw.utexas.edu/mvsws/
Military Officers Association of America. (2026, April 10). Pentagon stresses use of spouse employment tools. MOAA. https://www.moaa.org/content/publications-and-media/news-articles/2026-news-articles/family/pentagon-memo-stresses-maximum-use-of-spouse-employment-tools/
Office of People Analytics. (2024). 2024 active-duty spouse well-being [Infographic]. https://download.militaryonesource.mil/12038/MOS/Infographic/2024-active-duty-spouse-well-being.pdf
Office of People Analytics. (2025). 2024 Active-Duty Spouse Survey [PDF]. https://download.militaryonesource.mil/12038/MOS/Presentations/2024-active-duty-spouse-survey-full-briefing.pdf
Office of People Analytics. (2025). The military spouse at a glance: 2024 survey of active-duty spouses [Infographic]. https://download.militaryonesource.mil/12038/MOS/Infographic/2024-the-military-spouse-at-a-glance-infographic.pdf
Roberts, T. G., et al. (2025). The land-grant university’s role in lifelong workforce development in food, agriculture, and natural resources: Leveraging the relationship between academic and extension programs. Journal of Extension, 63(4).
SHRM Foundation. (2024). Leveraging the potential of military spouse talent [Research report]. Society for Human Resource Management. https://shrm-res.cloudinary.com/image/upload/v1719327509/Foundation/CPR-240843_Research_Insight_to_Action-_Leveraging_the_Potential_of_Military_Spouse_Talent_R5-DIGITAL.pdf
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, September 26). Employee tenure in 2024. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/tenure.htm
U.S. Department of Defense. (2024). 2024 demographics profile: Active-duty families [Infographic]. Military OneSource. https://download.militaryonesource.mil/12038/MOS/Infographic/2024-demographics-active-duty-families.pdf
U.S. Department of Defense. (2024). 2024 demographics profile. Military OneSource. https://www.militaryonesource.mil/data-research-and-statistics/military-community-demographics/2024-demographics-profile/
U.S. Department of Defense. (2024). Chapter 5: Spouse demographics. Military OneSource. https://demographics.militaryonesource.mil/chapter-5-spouse-demographics/
U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy. (2025). 2024 active-duty spouse survey (ADSS): Key findings [Briefing]. Military OneSource. https://download.militaryonesource.mil/12038/MOS/Presentations/2024-active-duty-spouse-survey-key-findings.pdf
U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2024, February 8). Military spouse employment: Part-time workforce characteristics and perspectives (GAO-24-106263). https://www.gao.gov/assets/880/870622.pdf
White, S. W., & Ondo, A. A. (2020). Leveraging resources for workforce development: West Virginia’s industrial construction project management proposal. Journal of Extension, 58(1).
