More global companies pledge to hire Army spouses

By Rob McIlvaineNovember 8, 2010

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Nov. 8, 2010) - The Army Spouse Employment Partnership signed up 16 more U.S. corporations who pledged to increase employment opportunities for Army spouses at the annual meeting and symposium of the Association of the U.S. Army.

A few months prior to the Oct. 25 signing, six of the companies, along with the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Woosong University in Taejon, South Korea, pledged their support to Army spouses stationed in Korea.

With the additional partners, the number of like-minded companies has increased to 58. Each partner has officially declared their willingness to provide Army spouses the opportunity to attain financial security and achieve employment goals through career mobility and enhanced employment options.

"ASEP is paramount in achieving our goal of taking care of Soldiers and their Families," said Thomas R. Lamont, assistant secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.

Also on hand at the AUSA signing was ASEP Chairman Anthony J. Stamilio, deputy assistant secretary of the Army (Civilian Personnel & Quality of Life).

"For the first time ever, we inducted eight new members overseas. This is just the beginning," said Stamilio, who recently returned from Korea.

In the future, ASEP members will travel to Germany and Japan to continue their global quest of providing employment for Army spouses.

Seven years ago, the Army formally signed a statement of support with 11 Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies and two military agencies who pledged to increase employment and career opportunities for spouses.

Over the last several years, ASEP partners have worked together to craft a single strategic focus for hiring Army spouse, which is made up of four facets or perspectives - imagine, build, solve and lead.

Their combined efforts have resulted in overarching, interrelated strategies which represent each partner's unique corporate structure while demonstrating their commitment to the common goal of better opportunities for the spouses of men and women in uniform.

"Army spouses are probably the most diverse in the world, with a variety of educational and professional backgrounds," said Dr. Lillie Cannon, ASEP program manager.

"Widely recognized for their strong work ethic, professionalism and corporate loyalty, Army spouses, who relocate with their military sponsors, prove advantageous in an increasingly mobile corporate environment," Cannon said.

Two-thirds of the more than 510,000 Army spouses are 32 years old or younger. About 81 percent are married to enlisted Soldiers and live in the continental U.S.

Nineteen percent of spouses are stationed overseas, including assignments in Alaska and Hawaii. For this reason, Army spouses bring the benefits of the ethnic diversity, native culture, and language background that are in great demand in the international business community.

While 70 percent of Army spouses have college, vocational or post-secondary education, they are hindered by limited job experience because of frequent relocations.

The 16 companies who joined ASEP at the AUSA included: Armed Forces Bank, Dish Network, Ltd., Bank of America, McKesson Corp., Amazon, Verizon, Hyatt, Synovus Bank, FIS, Inc., and Emergent Solutions. Also signing on were: Central Texas College, SAIC, 3M, CACI, Northrop Grumman and Booz Allen Hamilton.

(Rob McIlvaine serves with Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command public affairs.)