Working around the military : challenges to military spouse employment and education

This research confirms that, while many spouses of military service members work and seek education similar to their "look-alike" civilian counterparts, they often lag these equals in terms of finding jobs and receiving comparable pay. Based on the input of more than 1,100 military spouses concerning their employment and educational pursuits as well as other data analysis, the RAND researchers offer recommendations for the Department of Defense to improve quality-of-life issues for its members and spouses, which in the long run will help the department retain the qualified personnel it needs. In the all-volunteer military force, successful recruiting and retention of the active duty force relies on the ability of the military to afford both service members' and their spouses' job satisfaction and contentment with all facets of life.