Partnerships empower military spouses with successful careers

The role of a military spouse comes with many challenges. Despite possessing valuable skills, they often face limited employment opportunities. 

That’s where VA’s National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships (HAP) comes in, working collaboratively to bring partnerships and health care innovations to Veterans and their spouses. HAP facilitates the partnership between VHA and Salesforce, which offers free training, exams, certifications and career opportunities for high-paying tech jobs.

“By partnering with other organizations, VA can better support Veterans and their families with an extensive range of resources and support services, including resources to support fulfilling careers and financial stability,” said Christine Eickhoff, HAP health system specialist. “Partnerships can help reach those who may not already be engaged with VA and provide more holistic support that truly meets the needs of Veterans and their families.”

Becka Miller, a military spouse who gained certification through Salesforce and became a senior consultant at an IT consulting company, shares her experiences and insights into the unique challenges military spouses face.

“I married Mark almost a year after he went into the Air Force. We were based in Germany and Turkey for my first three years as a military spouse. I couldn’t work off base, so I had to take whatever job was available and wait for something better to open up when another spouse moved,” she shared.

“I was in a dead-end job, but I didn’t have a four-year degree.”

Miller worked at a construction company as the office manager until she had kids, and then stayed home for 11 years with her three girls. When her youngest went to preschool, she started working as a school secretary. “I knew I was in a dead-end job, but I didn’t have a four-year degree and my available hours matched those of my girls,” she said.

When her husband had a massive heart attack, Miller started looking for other ways to help support her family. “My husband heard about Salesforce Military, and I signed up to take the Admin 201 class in 2015, even though I was scheduled to have major back surgery. I studied what I could on YouTube on my spring break, had the surgery at the end of April and then drove—in my back brace—two hours to take the week-long course. It was a long week, but I was hooked.” 

Miller’s Salesforce training not only significantly improved her financial situation, but it also empowered her to step out of her comfort zone and become an active contributor in her field.

“Besides multiplying my secretary’s salary by a factor of six—middle school secretaries don’t earn much—Salesforce has made such a difference in my life. I have presented at Dreamforce, Texas Dreaming and online events, and I will be presenting at Witness Success for the first time this year.”

In recognition of her achievements, Miller was named a Salesforce MVP in 2018 and subsequently inducted into the MVP Hall of Fame. She was also named #MarketingChampion.

Miller’s advice to other military spouses echoes her own journey: “Don’t wait. If you are willing to put in the time to learn Salesforce, you will get back out of it what you put into it. My only regret is not learning Salesforce sooner.”

Salesforce career and education resources

The VA-Salesforce partnership supports the needs of service members, Veterans and their families as they transition out of active duty and into the civilian workforce. The partnership helps connect Veterans and their spouses with career and employment resources, such as training, networking events, job boards and educational opportunities.

• Through Trailhead Military spouses have access to free training, education and job placement.
• The Salesforce Fellowship Program, a collaborative partnership between Salesforce and Hiring Our Heroes, allows military spouses to enroll in a 12-week fellowship to become certified Salesforce professionals.

Since its launch in 2014, the VA-Salesforce partnership has connected 3,150 Veterans, spouses and other eligible enrollees to Salesforce Military’s free resources and provided training to more than 30,000 military trailblazers.

VA career and education resources

VA offers a variety of resources to support military spouses and help them find meaningful careers. VA programs and partnerships connect spouses to employers committed to hiring and helping them pursue additional training or education.

• The VA Veterans and Military Spouse Talent Engagement Program (VMSTEP) offers employment readiness support and outreach to transitioning service members, Veterans and eligible military spouses. The program also advocates for the use of special hiring authorities, employment programs and Veteran retention strategies with the aim of making VA the preferred employer for Veterans and military spouses.

• The VA Caregiver Support Program (CSP) provides clinical services to caregivers of eligible and covered Veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system. The program is committed to improving the health and well-being of family caregivers by providing them with education, resources and support. There is a CSP team locator available at all VA facilities to assist caregivers.

Other partnership career and education resources

HAP values military spouses and facilitates partnerships with different organizations to make recruiting and hiring a priority.

• Onward Ops, a program powered by the Expiration Term of Service Sponsorship Program (ETS-SP), supports service members, Veterans and their families as they integrate into civilian life and search for employment. The partnership between VA and ETS-SP helps connect Veterans with VA-trained peer sponsors for support during the 12 months between leaving the military and reintegrating into civilian life.

• The Daniel and Salvador Montoya Heroes Foundation helps Veterans and their spouses transition into fulfilling careers at companies that fully support Veterans and their families.

Find more information about Salesforce.

Find more information about HAP.