The Signature
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TIDES ARE TURNING FOR MILITARY SPOUSE By Janine Scianna NAS Sigonella Public Affairs Fellow military spouses, no one
professional aspirations and have the
spouse counterparts) is at 31%. Here at
can truly understand the sacrifices we
credentials to pursue them if given the
Sigonella alone, I’ve met spouses that are
make personally and professionally
opportunity. Yet, the near-constant PCS
physical therapists, lawyers, marketing
unless you have been in our shoes. We
cycle means that we have limited means
specialists, engineers, and professors.
take our jobs seriously and know that
to do that. Military spouse unemployment
Anecdotally, we can all be categorized
ultimately, to support the mission,
is more than six times the national
as unemployed or underemployed.
we must be 100% supportive of our
rate at 24%, and underemployment
That’s just the way it goes sometimes.
service member husbands and wives.
(defined as working less hours or
But so many of us also have our own
earning less than our non-military
Thankfully, the tides are turning. Defense officials, policymakers, and the