Defense, Labor Partner in Quality of Life Initiatives
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, July 15, 2003 - The Defense and Labor departments are combining
forces to improve the lives of service members, their families and veterans re-
entering the civilian workforce by sharing of information on job training and
employment programs.
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao signed a
memorandum of understanding outlining the new collaboration at a July 11
Pentagon ceremony.
People, Rumsfeld noted at the signing ceremony, "are the most important thing
that we have as a resource and we value them greatly."
The DoD-DoL agreement is equally important, the defense secretary asserted,
because "it can help (military) spouses get steered toward careers that are
compatible with frequent relocations."
The partnership, he added, also provides "access to national and local
employers, both of which, of course, can help the Department of Defense in that
it improves its retention and recruiting as well as quality of life."
It's recognized, according to DoD surveys, that frequent family moves that are
part of military life can put a damper on the job and career aspirations of
service members' spouses. This, in turn, can have an adverse impact on military
recruitment and retention.
And DoD surveys show that 45 percent of military spouses say frequent moves have
hurt their job advancement prospects.
There are about 700,000 military spouses across the services, according to DoD,
and 93 percent are women. The employment issue is an especially important to the
340,000 spouses married to enlisted members in the pay grade of E-5 or below,
according to DoD surveys - a group that makes less than $20,000 yearly in basic
pay.
The memo of understanding cites a number of initiatives to address this
situation, to include sharing information on job training programs and
employment centers.
Also, the MOU targets military members returning to the civilian job market,
noting that DoD and DoL will share job training and employment search
information in that realm as well.
Initiatives under the agreement include "expanding the services available to
veterans and military spouses through America's Job Bank and through our
nationwide network of more than 3,900 one-stop career resource centers," Chao
pointed out.
Another resource available to military spouses, she added, is the http://www.milspouse.org Web site, "which
provides all sorts of information about employment and training opportunities
for military spouses."
Chao saluted service members' efforts in the war against global terrorism,
noting, "it is our turn to support them by providing separating service members,
military spouses and veterans with the help that they need to succeed in the
21st century workforce."
DoD is obligated to improve the quality of life for its people, Rumsfeld
reiterated, noting that without service members' skills, courage, training and
dedication, "this department wouldn't be able to do anything approximating of
what we are capable of doing."
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