Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. (December 29, 2023): In the above photo, Air Force Airman 1st Class Amanda Garcia, left, performs aerial refueling while a military spouse looks on. These spouse incentive flights are one of many efforts by the Air Force to strengthen military families. The Air Force recognizes the key role spouses play in the success of the mission and works hard to “keep it in the family” for its members.

America asks a lot of its 710,000 military families.

According to a recent DOD survey, 74% of active-duty spouses have experienced their spouses being deployed for longer than 30 days. These constant relocations and long deployments are the reason military families have the highest divorce rate of any career field, according to U.S. Census Bureau. Military spouses are also far less likely to participate in the labor market than the general working age population, 57 percent compared to 76 percent, according to a survey by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Military spouses suffer three times the national unemployment rate even though most (89 percent) have at least some college and 15 percent have advanced degrees.

Relocations mean military spouses cannot commit to any job for very long and employers are less likely to hire them. The result is many military spouses are underemployed (only able to find part-time work) and unable to obtain professional credentials to bring to the workplace. The military is addressing this problem through its Spouse Employment Partnership Program that connects spouses with hundreds of partner employers who have pledged to recruit, promote, and retain military spouses.

The Air Force will continue to feature military spouses whose loyalty and dedication are just as important as the servicemembers flying the mission.