JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. - Military spouses face unique challenges their civilian counterparts do not. One of those is finding a career in a lifestyle that is mostly transient.
The Employment Readiness Program at Joint Base Lewis-McChord helps spouses find work and continuity in careers that suit them. ERP achieves this through a relationship it has with the Army Spouse Employment Partnership, a nationwide program committed to connecting Army spouses with prospective employers.
"In 2002, Congress told (the Department of Defense) to set up a private partnership with corporate America to enhance employability for military spouses and to help military spouses realize their career aspirations," said Dr. Lillie Cannon, ASEP program manager.
ASEP is a result of that initiative. Since its establishment, ASEP has been credited with employing more than 72,000 Army spouses nationwide. It currently has a partnership with 39 employers, all of which are reputable companies seeking to hire military spouses.
The ERP at JBLM works with ASEP to find jobs for interested spouses.
"Basically, the mission of the Employment Readiness Program is to provide information to military families, spouses and retirees so they can develop a career or get employment information," said Carolyn Bennett, ERP manager.
The program isn't limited to connecting spouses with local employers. ERP also helps those facing a permanent change of station. ERP managers know the specifics of who is hiring and who is not.
"Spouses know that when they go down to Fort Polk (La.), Boise Cascade is hiring, and that they pay very well," Bennett said. "Spouses wouldn't know that if they hadn't gotten in touch with an ERP manager."
Bennett also helps spouses realize their earning potential.
"Many times a military spouse has to start at an entry-level job, unless she connects with an ERP and learns how to overcome that on a resume," Bennett said.
"If you've already learned and performed all the steps for entry-level employment in that field, you're ready to move on to the next level," she said. "Otherwise, you might be stuck with an employer trying to convince you to start at a lower rate of pay."
Bennett assists spouses with everything from job interview skills to making direct contact between a spouse and employer.
"It's a process that military spouses benefit from, because a major factor in the process is the coordination of the Army Spouse Employment Partnership that works with the ERP to link spouses to jobs," Bennett said.
Military spouses bring desirable traits to the workforce such as diversity, education and experience.
"If you take an Army spouse, his or her equivalent in education and age compared to a civilian spouse, the maturity and level and the work ethic is totally different," Cannon said. "Employers want to hire military spouses."
One key to the success of ASEP and ERP is their annual conference.
It's an opportunity for ERP managers to meet with employers, while being trained on the latest and best practices for hiring and referring military spouses.
This year's conference will be held at JBLM, June 7 to 11. Not only will it mark the first time it is held at a joint base, but it is also the first time ASEP will officially extend its services to the Air Force.
"We're really excited about this year's conference being at JBLM," Cannon said. "Our partners love that they're being afforded this opportunity."
In the end, Bennett said the result will be more employment for more spouses.
"The more employers we have nationwide, the easier it is for a military spouse to find an employer that will receive them and put them into a job knowing that they have a good track record and can do the job," Bennett said.
Laura M. Levering is a reporter with Joint Base Lewis-McChord's weekly newspaper, the Northwest Guardian.
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