Military Spouse Employment Partnership
What is the Military Spouse Employment Partnership?
Established in 2011, the MSEP connects military spouses to partner organizations and businesses – including many major corporations – which have made a commitment to recruit, hire, promote, and retain military spouses in portable careers.
What sorts of employers participate in MSEP?
The more than 300 different employers which currently participate in MSEP include Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, non-profit organizations, hospitals, colleges and universities, and the federal government.
In order to participate in MSEP, employers must have at least five years of business experience, charge no fees or others costs in association with employment opportunities for military spouses, and demonstrate sound business practice, financial stability, and a commitment to diversity. They must apply to the MSEP program and interview with a Department of Defense representative before they will be formally approved.
How does the MSEP help military spouses?
Due to the frequency with which service members relocate from place to place, their spouses often struggle to keep their jobs. More than half of all service members are married, and their spouses average an unemployment rate of 25% (as well as an underemployment rate of 25%).
Unemployment and underemployment add to many challenges that military families already face, which is why the MSEP is designed to help military spouses develop and maintain portable job skills and portable and rewarding careers.
Where are MSEP jobs posted?
Jobs are posted on the online Military Spouse Employment Partnership Career Portal, which is accessible 24/7. Since 2011, when the Military Spouse Employment Partnership Career Portal was launched, more than 5 million jobs have been posted and more than 100,000 military spouses have been hired.
What kinds of positions are posted?
Where may I learn more about the MSEP?
The Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO) program run by the United States Department of Defense offers many electronic resources devoted to the spouses of service members.
The webpage is an excellent starting point for any military spouse who would like to learn more. It contains links to sections on:
- Career Exploration
- Education, Training, & Licensing
- Employment Readiness
- Career Connections
- Managing Your Career
- Career Coaching
Resources and Further Reading
Military Spouse Employment Partnership – “About Us”
United States Department of Defense – “For Spouses”
United States Department of Defense – “DoD Military Spouse Employment Partnership Celebrates Five-Year Anniversary”