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OPA News Release: [07/14/2003]
Contact Name: Elissa
Pruett
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676
Department of Defense and Department of Labor Partner to
Support Military Families
WASHINGTON—Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld and
Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU)
Friday, July 11, at a ceremony at the Pentagon to promote cooperative efforts
between the departments to improve the quality of life of servicemembers and
their families, and to contribute to the quality of the American labor
force.
The MOU provides a framework for a broad range of continuing efforts
between the departments including three important areas: connections to the job
markets in America’s communities, involvement with labor laws that affect
reemployment (i.e., training, unemployment compensation), and interest in
states’ reciprocal licensing and certification requirements needed to
qualify for employment.
“All of our people who serve are volunteers and we owe them a great
debt of gratitude,” said Rumsfeld. “If there’s anything we can
do to improve their lives and create a circumstance that’s better for them
is just enormously important… and this is one of them.”
The agreement will help military spouses establish careers despite
having to transition among job markets due to frequent relocations. It will
also strengthen the DoL’s efforts to support returning reservists’
job searches, employ America’s Job Bank to recruit for military jobs,
expand DoL’s employment infra-structure to support military spouse
employment, and encourage corporate America to hire returning reservists and
military spouses.
“We are so proud of our men and women in uniform,” said Chao.
“Now it’s our turn to support them by providing separating
servicemembers, military spouses and veterans with the help they need to
succeed in the workforce. We are committed to connecting these men and women
with employers eager to tap their dedication, talent and skills.”
Examples of the collaboration between DoD and DoL include: establishing
One Stop Career Centers near major military installations (Norfolk, Va.; San
Diego, Calif.; Fort Campbell, Ky.), expanding opportunities for reservists and
military spouses to access training and education grants, exploring options
with states to offer unemployment compensation to military spouses, working
across states to improve reciprocity for state certifications and licensing
requirements to reduce employment lags, and targeting unemployment by
establishing a military spouse unemployment index.
For further information please contact Lt. Col. Cynthia Colin, at (703)
697-5134 or Elissa Pruett, (202) 693-4681.
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