(NAPSA)—A unique program is helping Army spouses deal with a difficult and all too common problem: unemployment. —— ~— 4 There are more than half a million Army spouses in the U.S. today. The Army says that 70 percent of them have postsecondary educations and are considered exceedingly well qualified for employment. Yet because of military families’ frequent relocations, many of these Army spouses havedifficulty finding or holding jobs and building careers. A national program is helping to change that. Called the Army Spouse Employment Partnership (ASEP), it links corporations and Army spouses, helping employers fill important positions and providing an easy way for spouses to find fulfilling careers. “Spouse employment is a major determining factor in soldier retention especially as the service strives to retain experienced soldiers,” says John P. McLaurin ITI, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, Human Resources. The program has more than 20 corporate sponsors, ranging from Dell and H&R Block to The Home Depot and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Each partner lists Army spouse job opportunities at www.myarmylifetoo.com. Additionally, local employment assistance representatives on Army installations work with corporate A national program links Army spouses with employment opportunities. partners to recruit spouses and to plan jobfairs. Spouses can also use the Web site militaryspousejobsearch.org to connect with a job skills center, information on the labor market, a set of career tools and more. Since the program’s inception, corporations have hired 16,000 Armyspouses. “Forward-thinking, innovative companies are recognizing the vast pool of talent that exists among military spouses,” says Isaac Templeton, Jr., Chief, Transition Support Services. “They represent one of the most diverse and talented workforces, with a wide range of educational and professional backgrounds, and are widely recognized for their work ethic, professionalism and corporateloyalty.” For more information about the ASEP and other programsoffered for soldiers and their spouses, visit www.myarmylifetoo.com.
