New Military Spouse Career Advancement Initiative

The Military Spouse Career Advancement Initiative is designed to advance military spouses into portable careers by providing funding for education and training in high-growth, high-demand occupations in Information Technology, Education, Health Services, Financial Services and the Construction Trades.

The funding will make it possible for eligible candidates to receive a Career Advancement Account in the amount of $4,000 over two years.

These are flexible education funding accounts to pay for expenses directly related to post-secondary education and training, including tuition, fees, books, equipment, credentialing and licensing fees.

The initiative targets military spouses with a GED, high-school diploma or some post-secondary education and who are married to active-duty service members in the grades of E1-E5, W1-W2 and O1-O2.

A military spouse can begin the application process at the military installation's Family Support Center or Voluntary Education Center.

Both departments will also work collaboratively with employers in the targeted industries to encourage military-friendly hiring and career advancement practices.

Questions?

You can call a CIE Guidance Counselor at (800) 243-6446 or e-mail them with any questions. You can also visit MilSpouse.org or read some of the frequently asked questions provided below.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The following are Frequently Asked Questions about the Military Spouse Career Advancement Initiative program.

How will military spouses benefit from Career Advancement

Education, training and certification/licensure in portable career fields will greatly increase military spouse employment opportunities and reduce the period of time spouses are unemployed between moves.

This funding will allow eligible military spouses to invest in education and training programs that can be completed in less than two years in programs that will enable them to obtain employment and advance in high-growth, high-demand, and nationally portable career fields.

Spouses can use their Career Advancement Accounts to pay for expenses directly related to post-secondary education and training, including tuition, fees, books, equipment necessary to complete the education or training, and credentialing and licensing fees.

Who is eligible for a Career Advancement Account

This demonstration is specifically targeted to military spouses with a high school diploma or GED and/or some level of post secondary education. To be eligible for a Career Advancement Account, spouses of military service members/sponsors must:

Be married to a service member/sponsor on active duty

Be married to a service member/sponsor at the E-1 through E-4 levels (junior enlisted service members), E-5 level (non-commissioned officers), or O-1 through O-3 levels (junior commissioned officers)

Be married to a service member/sponsor who is assigned to a demonstration site OR reside in the state at the time of eligibility determination when the service member/sponsor spouse is deployed or on an unaccompanied military tour from a demonstration site

Be married to a service member/sponsor with a minimum of one year remaining at the demonstration installation duty assignment; with the exception of duty assignments that will require relocation as part of the Base Realignment and Closure Act of 2005 (BRAC 05)

Have a high school diploma or GED

Not be receiving Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) or Workforce

How will military spouses apply for a Career Advancement

A military spouse can begin the application process at the military installation's Family Support Center or Voluntary Education Center.

Are Career Advancement Accounts limited to education

Due to their frequent moves, military spouses need access to education and training for careers that are portable and high-growth nationally. Therefore, accounts awarded under the demonstration will be targeted to nationally identified high-demand industry sectors that provide the greatest opportunity for career portability. Military spouses may use their Career Advancement Account to receive education or training in one of these fields:

Information Technology (CIE has courses that will train you for a career in this area. Jobs such as network analysts, database administrators and computer technicians.)
Health care (for jobs such as nurses, dental hygienists, and pharmacy technicians)
Education (for jobs such as teachers and teacher's assistants)
Financial services (for jobs such as claims adjusters, credit analysts and bank tellers)
Construction/skilled trades (for jobs such as carpenters and electricians)

What other services are available to recipients of

Participating military spouses may receive career counseling, interest and aptitude testing, skill assessments, and career guidance from One-Stop Career Centers and their military installation Voluntary Education Centers or Family Support Centers. Spouses may also receive referrals to supportive services, such as child care and transportation assistance, through these organizations.

Where are One-Stop Career Centers located?

There are over 3,000 One-Stop Career Centers located across the country. The One-Stop Career Centers near the participating military installations will be partnering directly with the installation Voluntary Education Centers and Family Support Centers. The One-Stop Career Center staff will be located on or near the installation. Interested spouses should contact their installation programs for information and referrals.

What is a Workforce Investment Board? Where are they ?

The Workforce Investment Boards - WIBs - are entities created to implement the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. For each local Workforce Investment Board, a chief elected official appoints community and business members as Workforce Investment Board members. There are also designated seats for representatives from labor unions and educational institutions, such as community colleges. The Workforce Investment Board's main role is to direct federal, state and local funding to workforce development programs. It also oversees the One-Stop Career Centers, where job seekers can get employment information, find out about career development training opportunities and connect to various programs in their area. One-Stop Career Centers also provide many no-cost services to employers as well.

Where can spouses who are not located at installations included in this demonstration project go to get employment support? Are there other programs available to them?

Employment support is available for military spouses at their installation's spouse employment program as well as through their local One-Stop Career Center. Spouses can visit MilSpouse.org to find out more information about how to locate these programs as well as find Internet-based career guidance and workforce information.

Where can spouses go for more information?

For information online, see MilSpouse.org. Military spouses are encouraged to visit their local One-Stop Career Centers and military installation Voluntary Education Centers or Family Support Centers for more information and career support.