There are many good resources that will not only help you with employment but with many of the other caregiver issues you’ll be addressing when your service member or veteran comes home.
Start by checking with your military installation’s support services. Depending on the service member or veteran’s service branch, your Fleet and Family Support Center, Marine Corps Community Services, Airman and Family Readiness Center, or Army Community Service Center can provide you with information and support.
Another good starting place is the National Resource Directory (NRD), which is a collaborative effort between the Departments of Defense, Labor, and Veterans Affairs. The NRD is a resource website that connects wounded warriors, service members, veterans, their families, and caregivers to programs and services that support them.
The Directory provides access to services and resources at the national, state, and local levels to support recovery, rehabilitation, and community reintegration. Visitors can find information on a variety of topics that supply an abundance of vetted resources. These topics include:
- Benefits and Compensation
- Community of Care
- Education and Training
- Employment
- Family and Caregiver Support
- Health
- Homeless Assistance
- Housing
- Military Adaptive Sports Program
- Transportation and Travel
- Other Services and Resources
The Directory offers more than 10,000 medical and non-medical services and resources to help service members and veterans achieve personal and professional goals along their journey from recovery through rehabilitation to community reintegration. It also provides helpful checklists, Frequently Asked Questions, and connections to peer support groups.
The Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Warrior Care Policy offers a number of good resources exclusively for military caregivers who assist wounded, ill, or injured service members, including:
- Military Caregiver PEER Forums – military family life counselors conduct forums that provide non-medical counseling
- Caregiver Resource Directory – information about national level resources and programs
- Monthly Military Caregiver Virtual Forums – online forum with others experiencing similar caregiver challenges
- Webinars and Events – topics of interest to caregivers
Military Spouse
The Military Spouse Resource Center is an online service provided by the DoD and the Department of Labor. It provides information about education, training, and employment, as well as childcare and transportation.
The Military Spouse Employment Partnership, a DoD program, connects military spouses of active duty service members with employers. It also partners with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in offering Hiring Fairs for veterans and military spouses.
Hiring Our Heroes is a nationwide initiative under the direction of the U.S. Chamber Foundation to help veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses find meaningful employment opportunities. Digital resources include distinct resume builders for veterans and transitioning service members as well as military spouses; a jobs portal; a 24/7 virtual career fair platform; and a virtual mentorship program that connects veterans and spouse protégés with experienced mentors.
The Military Spouse Job Search website is another great resource. It can help you find companies and organizations that are committed to hiring military spouses. It also allows you to search for jobs by the name of a military base.