The Department of Defense is celebrating a decade of connecting employers with career-ready military spouses. The DoD will host the 2021 Military Spouse Employment Partnership New Partner Induction Ceremony and Annual Meeting on October 26-27. This year's theme is Driving Employment Opportunities Through Partnership.
The virtual event for new and enduring MSEP partners will feature special presentations, sessions and networking opportunities. MSEP will induct 45 new employers into the partnership on the first day of the event, bringing the number of partners to 544. Since 2011, MSEP companies and organizations have hired more than 200,000 military spouses.
"These 10 years of success illustrate the steadfast dedication of hundreds of companies and their unwavering commitment to recruit, hire, promote and retain talented military spouses," said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy Patricia "Patty" Montes Barron. They are making a significant difference in the lives of military families, which in turn strengthens our country."
MSEP, part of the DoD's Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program, is a targeted recruitment and employment initiative, creating employment connections that provide companies with direct access to military spouses seeking career opportunities, and spouses with direct access to employers who are actively recruiting.
The second day of the event will feature breakout sessions where new and enduring MSEP partners will learn about military lingo and culture, developing relationships with military installations, entrepreneurship as a hiring strategy, creating local communities of support for military spouses, winning ways to retain and train top talent, effective remote management and more.
"Military spouses bring a high level of education, adaptability and a strong work ethic to their organizations, and they face higher unemployment than the general population because of the frequent moves that are part of military life," said Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Gilbert R. Cisneros Jr. "We applaud our MSEP partners for recognizing the value of spouses to their organizations and investing in their success. Service members who know their spouses are secure in their careers are able to better focus on their mission, making military spouse employment a national security imperative."
