The Signature | August 23, 2019

Page 6

The Signature

6

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


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