Established in 2011, the MSEP connects military spouses to partner organizations and businesses – including many major corporations – which have made a commitment to recruit, hire, promote, and retain military spouses in portable careers.

The more than 300 different employers which currently participate in MSEP include Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, non-profit organizations, hospitals, colleges and universities, and the federal government.

In order to participate in MSEP, employers must have at least five years of business experience, charge no fees or others costs in association with employment opportunities for military spouses, and demonstrate sound business practice, financial stability, and a commitment to diversity. They must apply to the MSEP program and interview with a Department of Defense representative before they will be formally approved.

Due to the frequency with which service members relocate from place to place, their spouses often struggle to keep their jobs. More than half of all service members are married, and their spouses average an unemployment rate of 25% (as well as an underemployment rate of 25%).

The Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO) program run by the United States Department of Defense offers many electronic resources devoted to the spouses of service members.

The webpage is an excellent starting point for any military spouse who would like to learn more. It contains links to sections on:

• Career Exploration
• Education, Training, & Licensing
• Employment Readiness
• Career Connections
• Managing Your Career
• Career Coaching