As a military spouse, you’re qualified, educated and ready to serve. You have a unique perspective and understanding of what it means to care for our nation’s heroes. Here at VA, we value this experience.
We also know you bring so much more to the table.
That’s why we’ve partnered with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) program. The career program connects military spouses with more than 390 affiliated employers who have committed to recruit, hire, promote and retain military spouses in jobs everywhere.
“VA is thrilled to help DOD and military installations engage military spouses in conversations about career opportunities caring for our nation’s Veterans,” said Tracey Therit, Chief Human Capital Officer at the Office of Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security and Preparedness. “We are using every method — communications, job feeds, social networking and more — to provide information on the federal hiring process and links to real opportunities at VA.”
Finding opportunities to grow
There are over 600,000 active duty military spouses worldwide. Of those actively seeking employment, 30% are unemployed and 56% underemployed.
How are MSEP and VA making sure you get the chance to apply for a meaningful and rewarding career? Quite a bit, in fact.
On USAJobs, we tag VA jobs ideal for military spouses. We highlight key information — remote work opportunities, flexible work schedules, child care and health benefits — on our job announcements.
For positions covered under Title 5 hiring authority, we use noncompetitive procedures approved by the Office of Personnel Management. That means when you apply to become a VA accountant, police officer or human resource specialist and meet the minimum qualifications, you’re hired.
We also work with DoD to identify spouses with health care experience or training as a physician, nurse, social worker or occupational therapist. These VHA-administered positions do not require application through USAJobs.
Choose VA today
A career with VA is meaningful and mission-driven — and our total rewards benefits package consistently edges out those offered by the private sector. Keep an eye on this space for more on how military spouses can benefit from choosing a VA career.
- SEARCH for open positions using “military spouses” as a keyword.
- WATCH Tracey Therit discuss VA’s commitment to hiring military spouses.
- EXPLORE the benefits of a VA career.
- REACH a recruiter at VAcareers@va.gov.
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I am the spouse of a 100% service-connected disabled veteran and I have been applying for a federal position, including roles at the VA, for years. I would appreciate it if someone could provide more information or assistance in obtaining a job. Our savings is running out and we have a son in college.
I have been applying for years to be employed at the VA center and I’m a veteran. So it upsets me to read how the V A hires spouses of veterans but us veterans themselves. I think this article is geared more towards veterans in a specialty career field like a Doctor or Nurse. Try reading and understanding the ads submitted on USAjobs. That a farce. Unless you have special skills, you won’t get hired. I have worked the SPD,(Supply,Processing,Distribution) in 2 hospitals but be famed if I can even go through an agency to get my foot in the door.
Something like this would be great if it was open to “Veteran Spouses” as well, I know I had to work my butt off after my husband left the service, because I was one of the wives who stood by my husband while he was deployed and put my career on hold. By the time he got out of the service and our son was older well so was I and all I saw was looks from people and people telling me I have no work experience. Even though I was in the medical field as an EMT and CNA prior to meeting my husband, but when your out of the field almost 20 years people don’t seem to care. I finally had to take a cashing job at Home Depot because they hire “Military Spouses” and that is what got my foot in the door for jobs. Since my time at Home Depot I have gone back to school and got my AS in Medical Assisting and my BS in Public Health and I have a great job at out school district in the nursing department as a school Heath Technician.
The VA needs to remember the Veteran spouses too, we have allot to offer just as much as the AD spouses, we have been in their shoes, we do know how to care for our countries Veterans just as much, I serve my time monthly in the CLC’s caring for the men or women who live in them when no one else comes to visit them. I do thank you for employing more AD spouses if this was around when my husband was AD maybe it wouldn’t of been so hard for me to find work.
Is this open to Veteran spouse’s as well or just active duty military?
Thanks
We are both age 55 and have various disabilities. I am a veteran, my spouse has been an instructor of English at the college/University level for about 30 years. When the most recent college she worked for closed its doors nearly 5 years ago, she has found that her age, experience and disability have gotten in the way of finding another teaching position. I would like to know if these things would prevent her from getting hired through this program, and whether or not teachers qualify?
Yeah hire spouses of active duty in place of career professional federal workers looking for something better or the veteran who by nature of being a military person, especially men who want and need to be the primary bread winner and head of the house hold. Bullshit that 99 percent the reason would be she or he is the spouse of a active duty military member, you say you’ll hired and then even train them. What about spouses of retired military members and more-so spouse of a disabled vet such as myself at 100 percent rated total and permanent and service connected. We sure could use the bump living on a fixed income. What insensitive asshole came up with this turd. Thank you VA once again you’ve proved your incompetence and stupidity. VA means looking out for VETERIANS, not active duty.
As a military spouse for 23 years, I did face many employers who refused to hire me and stating that was the reason. As you age, it gets even worse. Now, the service member is a retired disabled veteran and I am a 20/20/20 spouse. I do not fit in any category as military spouse although I was and still am part of the military community (with ID). I have a few university degrees and have managed to find managerial work in manufacturing but I would prefer to work with veterans or in a capacity to serve our community. Do you think the spouses of veterans could be recognized since we too have been in that group of unemployed and underemployed for most of our careers while the soldier was deployed multiple times and we took care of children? I wish we could be allowed to be considered and not be lumped in with the general public.
I, was, put through, “The same at the “D.A.V.”, “20 year’s”.
This is bullsht. What about the veteran. Give spouses security so they can sht on the veteran. Nice job
Sure, they’ll hire anybody BUT A QUALIFIED VETERAN. I am and was VRA eligible which meant I should have been a “direct” hire and hired under the noncompetitive procedures. I was made to interview COMPETITIVELY even though I met the qualifications for the jobs and then I wasn’t hired BECAUSE OF MY AGE. Less qualified and YOUNGER people who interviewed were hired. I went to mediation and GOT NOTHING. I was LIED TO by the person who set up the meeting. To date I still HAVE NOT RECEIVED official notification I wasn’t hired, ie, a LETTER FROM HR. Nope, I was pulled aside by the guy who interviewed me and told he hired the STORE CLERK who did not have my years of experience doing office work nor background working with the state police.
Sounds EXACTLY like what I’m going through with another agency. I wish I knew how this “appointment” crap works, I was told the same thing by OPM, that I actually had to interview, even though I had been at the job for five years and have been gone only two months, they still made me interview, and then more openings appeared but they said I didn’t have enough experience, oh yea, and that was after I had mentioned I had been suicidal in the past, under “paperwork submitted with your resume” it said, “pending retrieval” Does that mean they didn’t even look at it? But yea, I emailed the EEO for the Department of the Army person and got no response, so I notified a congressman, but she made it sound like there was no hope, she even stated that were an At-Will state, um, I’m applying for the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, not sure if I’m getting bogus information, but I think all of this is just a lost cause.
Hello,
I am an 85 year old Navy veteran with 50% disability. My health is declining consistently. My wife, who is 62, works full time but is my care taker. Would VA train and hire her to be my full time caretaker?
Please advise.
[Editor: NEVER EVER PUBLISH YOUR SSN OR OTHER PII ON THE INTERNET! If you have a question that requires a VA response, please call 800-827-1000.]
Mr. Morgan,
Unfortunately, the Aid & Attendance, Housebound, and Basic Pensions offered by the VA cannot be used to pay a husband or wife to provide care for their spouse.
However, VA provides several other benefits to caregivers through the VA Family Caregiver Program for some severely injured Veterans.
A caregiver can be a parent, spouse, child, step-family member, extended family member, or an individual who lives with the Veteran, but is not a family member who provides support to the veteran.
Caregivers must be providing in-home care for Veterans who:
• Have a serious injury – including traumatic brain injury, psychological trauma or other mental disorder.
• Need of personal care services because of an inability to perform one or more activities of daily living and/or need supervision or protection based on symptoms or residuals of neurological impairment or injury.
• The veteran must be enrolled in the VA healthcare program, and the injury must be service-connected.
Caregivers of eligible Veterans can receive:
• Monthly stipend
• Travel expenses (including lodging and per diem while accompanying veterans undergoing care)
• Access to health care insurance (if the caregiver is not already entitled to care or services under a health care plan)
• Mental health services and counseling
• Comprehensive VA Caregiver training provided by Easter Seals
• Respite care (not less than 30 days per year)
You can visit the VA’s caregiver page for more information, and to apply for these services.
http://www.caregiver.va.gov/support/support_benefits.asp or call the VA Caregiver Support Line at
1-855-260-3274