{"id":38890,"date":"2018-05-02T13:13:01","date_gmt":"2018-05-02T13:13:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/05\/02\/benefits-basics-spouse-support-services-and-military-child-care\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:22:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:22:15","slug":"benefits-basics-spouse-support-services-and-military-child-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/pay-benefits\/military-benefits\/2018\/05\/02\/benefits-basics-spouse-support-services-and-military-child-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Benefits basics: Spouse-support services and military child care"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Editor\u2019s note: <\/b>This is one in a series of pieces that make up the Military Times 2018 Benefits Guide. Read or download the entire e-book here<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defense Department programs designed to offer family support are wide ranging, encompassing financial readiness training, youth programs, child care, spouse employment and education programs, relocation assistance<\/a>, non-medical counseling, special needs programs, legal assistance, tax preparation<\/a> and many others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A bit about some of the offerings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spouse support: <\/b>In the 2017 Blue Star Families Military Family Lifestyle Survey<\/a>, 43 percent of military spouses cited spouse employment as one of their top concerns. While spouses can visit their installation\u2019s family center for employment and education assistance, they can also visit the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities<\/a> section at MilitaryOneSource.mil for information on scholarships and other education and employment needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Defense Department\u2019s My Career Advancement Account program<\/a> provides eligible military spouses with tuition assistance to pursue licenses, certifications or associate degrees needed for employment in high-demand, high-growth portable career fields and occupations. The maximum education benefit of $4,000, with an annual cap of $2,000, is available to spouses of active-duty service members in paygrades E-1 to E-5, W-1 and W-2, and O-1 and O-2. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spouses can search thousands of job opportunities on the Military Spouse Employment Partnership site<\/a>. Jobs are posted by companies that specifically want to hire spouses. Before an employer can participate in the partnership, DoD ensures it has career opportunities, financial stability and portable jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n