VA military spouse employees retain employment through job transferability

For military spouses, the emotions, pressures and challenges of finding a new job, especially during a relocation, can feel overwhelming.

Megan Paone recalled the first Permanent Change of Station (PCS) she experienced as a military spouse, when she was faced with moving her family from Washington, D.C., to Fayetteville, North Carolina.

“I had been with my employer for over a year, but after personal reflection and conversations with the company, it was clear that I had to find new employment,” she said, “and prioritize finding an employer who understood and supported my life and experiences as a military spouse.”

To address military spouse employment challenges, VA is implementing key tenets across internal hiring and retention efforts as part of the historic 4+1 Commitment. These tenets position VA to attract, hire and retain military spouses, and one of the tenets is VA’s commitment to facilitate job transferability.

Through our Veteran and Military Spouse Talent Engagement Program (VMSTEP), and our participation in the 4+1 Commitment, we’re taking actionable steps to reduce military spouse unemployment and underemployment rates, thus contributing to the stability of military families.

Work at VA

Visit VA Careers now to learn more about how we’ve embraced the 4+1 Commitment, and job transferability is possible across our 1,300 facilities.