Second lady Karen Pence joined Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia to launch the Department of Labor’s new Transition Employment Assistance for Military Spouses (TEAMS) Program. The event took place last week at Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Florida.
Scalia introduced the program as a DOL initiative that offers curriculum to assist military spouses in their career endeavors and providing tailored training to their unique circumstances.
Read: Military spouses can build a PCS-proof, professional career
This program is a result of a recent Veteran’s Employment and Training Support (VETS) survey that indicated approximately 44% of spouses stated they would benefit from the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) that is provided for active-duty service members. Scalia and Mrs. Pence attribute the development of the program as a credit to the current administration’s commitment to improving the quality of life for the nation’s military families.
During the event, Scalia praised the second lady for traveling to various military installations around the world over the course of 2019 to meet with military spouses in order to assess the needs of the community.
“Military spouses make great sacrifices for our country. As a nation, we should lessen those burdens when we can, including in the workplace,” Scalia said.
“The TEAMS initiative will equip military spouses with skills they can use to participate more fully in our nation’s economy even as they shoulder the challenges of life in a military family,” he said.
Scalia also directed those in attendance to the DOL website for Military Spouse Interstate License Recognition Options. The map on the website shows which states offer reciprocal license agreements for military spouses and at what level.
As the program continued, Mrs. Pence took the stage and began by thanking the crowd of spouses, including recognizing a Gold Star spouse who works closely with the Department of Labor for the state of Florida. Mrs. Pence noted that military spouses are some of the most dedicated, hardest-working employees she has ever encountered.
Read: Second lady focuses on new campaign for military spouses
“Military spouses sacrifice so much for the strength and readiness of our Armed Forces and it is our duty to come alongside them and support them as they find meaningful employment opportunities,” Mrs. Pence said. “TEAMS will directly assist military spouses as they find a rewarding job and fulfill their own career dreams.”
ABOUT TEAMS
TEAMS was developed by the Veterans Employment and Training Services, a division of the Department of Labor, in an effort to help the reported 7% of spouses that currently attend TAP.
The program will include presentations that are specific to a spouse’s employment situation.
The programming will be included in virtual and in-person settings. They will include the following four initial offerings:
- Marketing Me: A Job Search Approach for Military Spouses
- Your Next Move
- Mastering Resume Essentials
- Career Credentials: How Important are They?
The first TEAMS presentations will be piloted in classrooms at Fort Hood, Texas and Fort Gordon, Georgia later this month. They will be available virtually from October 26, 2020 – October 30, 2020
Register here for virtual sessions
Utilizing feedback from military spouses who participate, a refined course should be made available throughout the military spouse community in 2021. To learn more about this program and other DOL initiatives visit www.veterans.gov/MilSpouses
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