Military Spouse Resources

MyCAA (Military Spouse Career Advancement Account)

The MyCAA program provides up to $4,000 in financial assistance for education and training in portable career fields. Eligible spouses are those married to active duty service members in pay grades E-1 through E-5, W-1 through W-2, and O-1 through O-2.

• ●Up to $4,000 total ($2,000 annual fiscal year cap)
• ●Covers tuition, fees, books, credentialing exams, and equipment
• ●Must pursue a portable career field (healthcare, IT, education, finance)

MSEP (Military Spouse Employment Partnership)

MSEP connects military spouses with over 950 partner employers who have committed to recruiting, hiring, and retaining military spouses. The program includes a job search portal with positions specifically targeted at military spouse applicants.

Hiring Our Heroes Military Spouse Fellowship

This 12-week fellowship program from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation provides professional training, hands-on experience with host companies, and a pathway to meaningful employment. The program is available at military installations across the country.

Portable Career Paths

Careers that travel well with frequent PCS moves include:

• ✓Remote work (tech, writing, virtual assistance, project management)
• ✓Healthcare (nursing, dental hygiene, medical coding)
• ✓Information technology (cybersecurity, software development, cloud computing)
• ✓Teaching and education (many states offer expedited licensure for military spouses)
• ✓Real estate (license reciprocity expanding across states)

SCRA Protections for Spouses

The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) extends certain protections to military spouses, including the ability to terminate residential leases without penalty during PCS orders, interest rate caps on pre-service debts, and protection from default judgments in civil proceedings.

Spouse Education Benefits

• ●Transferred GI Bill: Service members can transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to a spouse, covering tuition, housing allowance, and a book stipend.
• ●Fry Scholarship: Surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001 may receive up to 36 months of full education benefits.

Military Spouse Tax Tips

Under the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act (MSRRA), military spouses may keep the same state of legal residence as their service member for tax purposes, even when living in a different state due to military orders. This can significantly reduce state income tax obligations.

Emergency Financial Assistance

Branch-specific relief societies provide interest-free loans and grants for urgent financial needs:

• ●Air Force Aid Society (AFAS)
• ●Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
• ●Army Emergency Relief

Federal Hiring Preference (E.O. 13473)

Executive Order 13473 established a noncompetitive hiring authority for military spouses, allowing federal agencies to appoint eligible military spouses to competitive service positions without going through the full competitive hiring process. This applies to spouses of active duty members, spouses of service members with 100% disability, and un-remarried widows/widowers of service members killed on duty.

Licensure Portability

A growing number of states have enacted laws allowing military spouses to transfer professional licenses when relocating due to PCS orders. Many states now offer expedited licensing, temporary practice permits, or full reciprocity for military spouse license holders in fields such as nursing, teaching, law, cosmetology, and real estate.

Unemployment Compensation for PCS Moves

Military spouses who must leave their jobs due to a PCS relocation may qualify for unemployment compensation. Most states now recognize a military PCS move as "good cause" for voluntarily leaving employment, making spouses eligible for unemployment benefits during the job search at the new duty station.

Military Child Care (MCC) Fee Assistance

The Military Child Care program helps military families reduce out-of-pocket childcare costs by providing fee assistance for civilian childcare providers when on-installation care is unavailable. This program covers a portion of childcare expenses based on total family income.

Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)

EFMP is a mandatory enrollment program for military family members with special medical or educational needs. It ensures that families are assigned to locations where necessary services are available, and connects families with local support resources, respite care, and community programs.

School Liaison Officers

Every military installation has a School Liaison Officer (SLO) who assists families navigating school transitions during PCS moves. SLOs help with enrollment, records transfers, special education coordination, and connecting families with local school resources to minimize disruption to children's education.

• Blue Star Families

  The largest military family support organization in the country, offering career development programs, neighborhood connections, and a nationwide community of military families.

• National Military Family Association

  Advocates for military families on issues including healthcare, education, spouse employment, and quality of life. Also offers scholarships and Operation Purple camps for military children.

• USO Programs for Families

  The USO provides family-focused programs including deployment support, family events, PCS resources, and virtual programming to help military families stay connected.

• Spouse Resilience & Mental Health Resources

  Military OneSource provides free, confidential non-medical counseling (up to 12 sessions per issue), stress management resources, and 24/7 support for military spouses dealing with deployment stress, relationship challenges, or other mental health concerns.

If your service member died in the line of duty or from a service-connected condition, you may be eligible for the following benefits:

• ●Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC): A tax-free monthly payment to eligible surviving spouses, children, and parents of service members who died in the line of duty or from a service-connected disability.
• ●Fry Scholarship: Up to 36 months of Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits for surviving spouses and children of service members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001.
• ●CHAMPVA Healthcare: The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs provides healthcare coverage for survivors and dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled or who died from a service-connected condition.
• ●Survivor Housing Assistance: Surviving spouses may qualify for VA home loan benefits, Specially Adapted Housing grants, and HUD-VASH housing vouchers depending on eligibility.