CAA Overview

Former Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao has commented, “America’s military spouses quietly and courageously bear the sacrifices required of them and their families as their loved ones are serving our country.”  It has been an unfortunate consequence of military life that while service members can take advantage of numerous opportunities to advance their own careers, military spouses are often left behind with little chance to pursue careers of their own.  A commitment to the armed forces causes service members and their families to relocate to various places around the United States and the world.  As a result, military spouses do not have the ability to advance within a single company or organization or to improve their skills and education within a single career specialty.  Many military spouses are thus underemployed, hopping from one low-wage, low-skilled job to another in their unwavering support for those who fight for freedom and security.

Fortunately, the Departments of Defense and Labor have combined to create opportunities for military spouses to pursue “portable careers:” certain high-skilled, high-demand professions such as education, health care, and finance.  These and other fields are very accommodating to those who must move frequently.  The required training and education would be recognized virtually nationwide, and the high-growth nature of these industries ensures that no matter where a service member’s family is relocated, the spouse is certain to find a position comparable to the one he/she left behind with no interruption in career progress.

The Departments of Defense and Labor are making this possible with the Military Spouse Career Advancement Initiative, which allows for the creation of Career Advancement Accounts for qualified candidates.  An eligible military spouse can receive up to $6000 to be used toward expenses directly related to postsecondary education and training, including tuition, books, necessary equipment, and credentialing and licensing fees in nationally identified high-growth, portable career fields such as education, health care, information technology, construction trades and financial services.