4 Military Spouse Facts Worth Sharing

Being a military spouse means starting a journey that requires resilience, flexibility and strength. From navigating frequent relocations to embracing the difficulties of solo parenting during deployments, you take on these challenges with grace and determination. This article will provide four eye-opening military spouse facts, highlighting the joys and struggles of this lifestyle.

Employment Challenges

Maintaining steady employment is an ongoing challenge as you navigate the unpredictable terrain of military spouse life. The frequent relocations resulting from your partner's service commitments can disrupt your career's continuity.

Adding to the complexity are licensing hurdles. According to the U.S. Department of Labor military spouses statistics, about 34% of employed military spouses work in professions that need occupational licenses. However, transferring these licenses between states can take time and effort, resulting in extended periods of unemployment.

Moreover, the looming uncertainty of future reassignments may result in employer bias, as they are concerned about your long-term career commitments. Consequently, stats reveal that 31.6% of military spouses are employed part-time despite desiring full-time positions.

To overcome employment hurdles, military spouses can explore remote career opportunities, such as IT roles, which offer flexibility and portability. You can pursue online IT training at MedCerts to gain the skills and certification required to work remotely.

Impact on Children

Military life impacts your children's educational journey and emotional well-being. With an average of six to nine school changes during their K-12 years, military children face three times more school transitions than kids in civilian families. The academic instability among military-dependent students increases the chances of lower standardized test scores and school dropouts.

In addition, the emotional toll from separations and parental deployments can lead to depression and behavioral challenges among military children. According to a 2022 survey on military families, about 28% of military teens report experiencing symptoms of psychological distress. To minimize the negative effects of military life on your children's development, you can help them cultivate resilience by encouraging them to build connections with peers and seek professional help.

Health and Well-Being

The unique challenges of military life may significantly affect your mental and emotional well-being. Studies indicate that combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder can contribute to psychological distress among military spouses. This condition is described as secondary traumatic stress. Frequent relocations may worsen the condition by disrupting access to regular healthcare services and follow-up.

The burden of solo parenting during deployments further compounds the situation, increasing emotional strain. Luckily, you can utilize various healthcare resources to navigate these obstacles. For instance, TRICARE, a healthcare program for service members and kin, provides extensive mental health resource coverage. Managing your overall well-being is crucial to face the demands of military life.

Educational Opportunities

Among the military spouse benefits, you can access various educational opportunities to advance your career. Tuition assistance programs like MyCAA (Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts) and DEA (Dependents’ Educational Assistance) enable you to acquire and upgrade skills affordably.

These educational assistance programs have contributed to 89% of military spouses having higher education. Investing in education can enhance your career prospects, allowing you to live a more fulfilling military life.

MedCerts Empowers Military Spouses

From overcoming employment hurdles to managing the complexities of raising children amid frequent moves, military spouses demonstrate remarkable strength. To address some of these challenges, military spouses can leverage remote learning and career opportunities available at MedCerts.

We are a MyCAA-approved school providing affordable advanced education in high-demand fields. With our support networks and career mentorship programs, you can embark on a journey of growth and empowerment.