Blue Star Families 2012 Lifestyle Survey found that 67 percent of unemployed military spouses who wanted to work, cited child care issues as a barrier to employment. And military families aren’t alone in their struggle to find affordable child care.

Today, MSNBC reported how child care costs are derailing women’s careers. State budgets are being slashed and recovery money is drying up, affecting thousands of families. According to the story:

Many of the cutbacks by states are a result of federal dollars drying up from the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, said Blank.  [Helen Blank, director of leadership and public policy at the National Women’s Law Center] While President Barack Obama’s fiscal 2013 budget proposes $825 million to help states, many working family advocates expect a shortfall.

“The problem we continually face is as a country we’re not willing to put the resources into child care to make that available,” said Blank. “Families can’t afford it, and it’s an endless struggle for providers, families and policymakers.”

How much does childcare cost where you live? Does this affect your ability to find work?

Pamela spoke at MOAA’s 2012 April spouse career event. We followed up to learn more.

What’s led Booz Allen Hamilton to focus on military spouses?
Hiring military spouses has really been a deliberate effort. We’ve repeatedly been cited for doing an exceptional job hiring veterans, and two years ago several of the firm’s leaders asked us to take a holistic look within this space to determine what we want to focus on and to ensure we are really maximizing what’s being done.

We spent some time with spouses who were already employed with us and held a focus group.

We heard them loud and clear – they wanted remote delivery, pathway to full time, and full time with options to go to school.

So we’ve tried to employ those three methods in addition to the other outreach we do – resume workshops, coaching, and leveraging our employee forum groups.

How has Booz changed in its approach to hiring spouses?
On the recruiting side, we identified opportunities for military spouses and caregivers to work remotely. In fact, we realized we could add people to a remote recruiting team.

We hired a military spouse in a new role called the Candidate Engagement Specialist. Her role is to interface with candidates as they come into our pipeline. She can work from home, we can leverage her military background and her experiences as someone who has moved around and has had a lot of other corporate experiences. She is a jewel. That’s an instance where we creatively came together and said we have this staffing need but how can we leverage spouses and caregivers to work with us.

What other efforts has Booz made to support military spouses?
We had several executives who participated in onsite mentoring with the US Chamber of Commerce Hiring our Heroes military spouse career fairs. Also, 40 military spouses from Booz signed up to be mentors on the eMentoring initiative with Academy Women.

How do you track hiring and career progression of military spouses at Booz?
Self identification makes tracking a challenge. We can only report what we know, and right now those are people who have come forward, and said “I am a military spouse.”  We do recognize that some don’t self identify. But we also don’t want to report just to report; we want to make it meaningful.

What advice can you offer to military spouses?
Be deliberate in their job search. Look for organizations that have demonstrated that they understand the military, are military friendly and have a robust talent program whether its flex time, apprenticeships or internship programs. Target organizations that “get it”.

Not everyone is going to have access to those organizations.

Be sure you’re leveraging the right network and right resources and don’t be afraid to educate individuals who don’t get it.

You as a military spouse have to have the confidence to know you bring so much to the table. Multitasking, handling change and adapting quickly – these are all essential skills that top organizations value.
Also, leverage your advocates. There are many organizations that have military recruiting staff who are dedicated to understanding the military spouse population.

Lastly, follow up, either with an email or a phone call.

Offering to discuss your background, rather than a specific position is key. That will allow job-seekers to broaden the conversation.

What are the qualities organizations are looking for today?
Adaptability, flexibility, strong communications skills, the ability to pick up new skills quickly. For a military spouse or non-military spouse those are the foundations for a great employee.

I do think there is value to spouses who have had a number of different work experiences. They bring that diversity of experiences that really will allow them to enter different situations and apply those experiences. I know some military spouses are fearful of that, they see it as a bad thing. But I see it as a strength.

What is a mistake you see military spouse making in their job search?
Not having confidence. Go into that interview with a real sense of confidence and learn how to articulate what you bring to the table. Own it!

About Pamela

Based in Virginia, Pamela is a member of Booz Allen Hamilton’s People Services Team. Pamela leads the firm’s diversity recruiting team, which is responsible for attracting top talent from diverse sources and strengthening the Firm’s brand as an employer of choice. Prior to joining Booz Allen Hamilton, Pamela worked in recruiting and consulting roles within the consulting industry. As a consultant, Pamela has partnered with organizations to develop leadership programs, succession planning workshops and diversity recruiting strategies and techniques. Pamela is a member of the NextGen Network, an affiliate of the Executive Leadership Council, the nation’s premier leadership network of the most senior African American corporate executives in Fortune 500 companies. Pamela holds a Masters in Human Resources from Marymount University and a Bachelors degree in English from Virginia Union University. Pamela enjoys cooking, reading and enjoying time with family and friends.

According to a National Park Service news release:

“Military members and their dependents can pick up a pass at any national park or wildlife refuge that charges an entrance fee or other selected sites. Members must show a current, valid military identification card to obtain their pass. The pass is also available to dependents of active duty personnel. A list of participating sites is available here.”

What’s your favorite National Park?

On May 7th, Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval signed Executive Order (E.O.) 2012-11 providing reciprocity for military spouses seeking licensure in Nevada.

According to a press release:

Effective immediately, every professional licensing board organized pursuant to the Nevada Revised Statues is ordered to:

• Facilitate endorsement of a current license from another state as long as the requirements for licensure in that jurisdiction are substantially equivalent to the requirements in Nevada; and
• Where possible, provide for a temporary or provisional license allowing a military spouse to practice while fulfilling requirements needed to qualify for endorsement in this state, or while awaiting verification of documentation supporting such an endorsement; and
• Expedite application procedures for a military spouse, including where possible the approval of a license based on an affidavit from the applicant that the information provided on the application is true and that verifying documentation has been requested.
• In the case that statutory requirements prohibit any of the actions above, the executive director or chairman of a professional licensing board shall inform the Governor’s office in writing of the suggested statutory changes to make reciprocity for military spouse licensure an efficient and practical reality.

We applaud  the Nevada Governor for signing this executive order. By 2014, First Lady Michelle Obama and The Joining Forces Initiative want legislation passed in all 50 states that support license portability for military spouses. Read what she has proposed and which states have already passed legislation.

MOAA is working hard to make that happen.  We work closely with the Department of Defense State Liaison office to find and promote solutions at the state level. MOAA Councils and Chapters have been successful advocates on the state level for military spouse license portability.

Stay with MOAA Spouse as we track this important issue.  Be sure and sign up for our Spouse E-Newsletter and “like” us on Facebook.

Read Barbara Brown Saks’ incredible journey  from  code breaker in a secret unit that helped win the war to military spouse and mother.  She stays connected with her military family at the local MOAA chapter in Pikes Peak Colorado.

Check back each week for more stories of amazing military spouses as MOAA celebrates Military Spouse Appreciation Day 2012.

Read the full article, “War was stage for English veteran, code breaker”.

Follow us in May to read profiles of military spouses who are Keeping a Career on the Move™

From our home to yours, Happy Mother’s Day and Happy Military Spouse Appreciation day. Thanks for all you do for your families and the country.

President Barack Obama signed an Executive Order improving protections for all students that use the GI Bill, Tuition Assistance benefits, and Military Spouse Career Advancement Account Program (MyCAA).

According to the White House, the Executive Order, which incorporates several MOAA recommendations, will help ensure that all servicemembers, veterans, spouses, and family members have the information needed to make informed educational decisions and protect them from aggressive and misleading marketing practices. 

The Executive Order will:

• Help ensure military and veteran students have the information they need
• Keep bad actors off military installations
• Crack down on improper online recruiting practices
• Provide veterans with a complaint system
• Improve support services for service members and veterans
• Provide students with better data on educational institutions
• Strengthen enforcement of student protections

In addition to the Executive Order, members of Congress have introduced legislation to address these issues.

From the MOAA press release:

“Hundreds of thousands of returning veterans are taking advantage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which pays the full cost of education at any public college or university, a housing allowance and book stipend.  However, some schools see only dollar signs on the backs of our veterans,” Vice Adm. Norb Ryan, Jr., President of MOAA said. “Any college – public, private or For Profit that unfairly preys on student veterans through false or misleading promises and poor quality programs should no longer get GI Bill or military tuition assistance funding.”

“MOAA worked closely with education experts, service groups and members of Congress to craft a set of recommendations to strengthen oversight of the new GI Bill.  We applaud the Administration’s announcement today of an Executive Order that incorporates several MOAA recommendations that will enable veterans to make wise choices, improve government oversight of the program and help stop predatory practices.” Ryan concluded.

Storming the Hill was an insightful and meaningful experience for me. It was a day to “talk shop” about our state and meet so many people with so many common interests. It was a day to talk about the military, and observe our politicians in action and their resolve to keep all promises made to military service members. It was also a day to remind myself of the blessings we have by living in the United States, and for this one day, being privileged to be a part of the wheels of democracy. – Shelley Bianca (USMC Spouse)

Leona (left) and Shelley (right) enjoy a break during “Storming”

How exciting it was to be part of the MOAA group storming this April! I was honored to have the opportunity to be one of a few voices representing all active duty and retired military and their families. Additionally, the whole experience was personally empowering. Members of Congress we spoke to seemed eager to hear what we had to say and I left hopeful that our message stuck with at least a few. – Marta McClintock (Navy Spouse)

I am a DC resident now, but I was born and raised in the NY-23rd District of Representative Bill Owens, so I was placed on the New York team. Our team leader, the president of MOAA’s New York Council, made all of the preparations for our visits and served as our team’s main speaker, as he was the only one of us registered to vote in New York State. We were joined by Long Island-native, Col. Dan Koslov (USAF-Ret.,) Deputy Director of Officer Transition Services. I don’t think our day could have gone any better. Every congressional member and staffer with whom we met was receptive to our message. My two counterparts have been storming with MOAA for years and said that this was the best year that they have ever had. -Kate Costa Leming (Army Spouse)

Kate strategizes with her NY “Storming” partner.

Monique (left) and Karen (right)- Team “MOAA Spouse.”

They came from all over our great nation: The currently serving and retirees; veterans that served our nation in times of war and peace; Gold Star Wives that have borne the loss of a spouse; and military spouses of our active duty. They came and they “stormed” because they care. They care about our nation’s military families across the entire spectrum of life. Being in the midst of such a passionate, knowledgeable, and engaged group (over 150 strong) is energizing.

I “Stormed” my home state, Illinois. My Storming Partner, Col Dale Yonker, USAF-Ret., is the President of the Illinois Council of Chapters. With true military precision, Dale and I covered the offices of eight congressional districts and both senators.

Col. Dale Yonker, USAF-Ret. “Storms” Illinois

What impressed me most? Truly, it was my “Storming” partner. He brought knowledge, insight and passion to every meeting. He beautifully articulated the challenges facing our entire military community and the need for congressional support. After a lifetime of service to our nation, Dale continues to serve; he continues to lead.

I am honored to be part of the MOAA team. Each and every day I work with men and women, like Dale, who continue to serve and continue to lead on behalf of our entire military community.-Karen Golden, Deputy Director of Government Relations-Military Family Issues (USMC Spouse)

The “Storm” will continue, next year. Come join us! In June, we will be accepting applications for the 2012-2013 MOAA Spouse Advisory Council. Sign up for MOAA Spouse E-News to get all the information.

Capitol Hill photo shoot

Today, follow three MOAA Spouse Advisory Council Members as they “Storm” Maryland, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

Storming the Hill was a great opportunity to be a part of the legislative process. By informing our members of Congress of the key issues that impact our service members and their families, we are helping to ensure that we protect the benefits that were earned and were promised. I was fortunate to be part of an experienced Team MD working with Bob Norton and John Whitman. We spoke with staffers in the offices of Congressmen Ruppersberger, Bartlett, Hoyer and Harris. Congressman Bartlett even stepped out of a committee meeting to speak with us & voiced his continuing support of MOAA & his commitment to all our servicemen. He even personally thanked me for my family’s service. Given his busy schedule, we were grateful that he spent so much time with us.

We had a nice lunch at the Capitol Hill Club and met up with others stormers from around the country and compared notes.

In the afternoon, we teamed up with the rest of Team MD and met with staffers in the offices of Senators Mikulski & Cardin who also shared their strong support of our armed forces, veterans and protecting military benefits. As one senate staffer said, “a promise made is a promise kept” and we hope our storming efforts ensure that Congress remembers to keep their promises to our military & their families.

This experience gave me an even greater appreciation of all MOAA’s hard work, and I am fortunate to be part of such an amazing group and an opportunity such this one to make a difference as a member of the MOAA Spouse Council. ~Barbara Salazar Torreon (Naval Reserve Spouse)

Col. Bob Norton (MOAA, Deputy Director of Government Relations) storming for Maryland

The Hon. Erin Wirth

I worked with the Wisconsin team while “Storming the Hill”. Major Strong (Wisconsin Council) and Kathy Partain (MOAA staff) and I met with the offices of all 8 congressional districts and both senators. Everyone was very responsive and concerned about supporting military families. I talked about the strain on military families after a decade of armed conflict, which has been going on for my third grader’s entire life. They clearly valued our comments and input. It was a wonderful experience to meet personally with people who have such an impact on all of our lives. ~Hon. Erin Wirth (Coast Guard Spouse)

Hon. Erin Wirth and “Team Wisconsin”"

The Minnesota contingent may not have been big, but we were mighty! At most of the stops, we met with amazingly committed and knowledgeable aides with questions. After the first meeting we hit a routine, handing off to each other perfectly. Until Rep Tim Walz, that is. We went into his office to meet with the former SGM of the Red Bulls, Minnesota National Guard, sat down and didn’t say a word. Rep. Walz knew all our points, agreed with us, and is a passionate defender of the issues we were there to discuss. He is, however, a pragmatist, and realizes that no matter how right it is, we may have an uphill battle ahead of us. We ended our discussion with him asking if we could just take him along to the rest of the meetings, he knew it all, and his dedication to the military and veterans was palpable!

Rep. Keith Ellison was on his way out the door for one of the multitude of votes being held on that busy, busy day, but stopped and listened with great interest to a short version of our session. That was a great addition to the day.

The next day, two members of the group met with Senator Klobuchar herself, and I’ve been told it was a great meeting.~Karen Santiano Francis (Army Spouse)

Rep. Tim Waltz (D-MN),Karen Francis and the Minnesota Storming Team.

 

Where will the “Storm” take us next?  Who will we meet?  Come back tomorrow to find out!

MOAA Spouse Council prepares to “Storm the Hill”

On April 18^th MOAA Stormed Capitol Hill!

In the course of one single day, MOAA Council and Chapter Presidents, members of the national Board of Directors and headquarters staff, plus members of MOAA’s active duty, Guard, Reserve, spouse and auxiliary advisory committees had visited almost all 535 representatives and senators.

MOAA Spouse (Monique and Karen) and the MOAA Spouse Advisory Council (eight strong) were out in force representing you and our military community.

Here are our impressions of this unique opportunity:

Storming the Hill was an amazing experience. I was really nervous at first – I’m a stay at home mom, not a professional lobbyist! MOAA prepared us well and by the end of the first day I could speak knowledgeably on all three points, mainly because they really do matter directly to my family. It was wonderful to speak to my congressmen and women. They actually listened to what my team (a MOAA chapter president- a retired Army officer, a MOAA staff member – another military spouse, and myself) had to say about these important issues. It was great to have our voice heard and know that each state was hearing what is critical to the military. I was honored to be part of advocating for military families.

Additionally, I grew even more respect for MOAA as a military support organization (something I didn’t think possible – they’re awesome!). Each person from MOAA is passionate about supporting the military as a whole but also individuals and families. Every person that I met within MOAA took a genuine interest in me and what issues are important to our family. I’m so grateful for their attention to the WHOLE military family! ~Julie Ann Thomas, Coast Guard Spouse