{"id":7578,"date":"2024-03-06T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-06T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7578"},"modified":"2024-03-06T16:00:00","modified_gmt":"2024-03-06T16:00:00","slug":"va-makes-historic-commitments-to-hire-and-support-military-spouses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7578","title":{"rendered":"VA makes historic commitments to hire and support military spouses"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally published:<\/strong> 2024-03-06T16:00:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n

WASHINGTON \u2013<\/strong> Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs signed the 4+1 Commitment<\/a> \u2013 a partnership between government and private employers developed by Blue Star Families, Hiring Our Heroes, and Department of Defense\u2019s Military Spouse Employment Partnership to hire and support military spouses.<\/p>\n

This commitment, championed by Dr. Jill Biden<\/a>, is a voluntary commitment by employers to adopt at least one of the following military spouse employment policies that could expand employment and career opportunities for military spouses: 1) facilitate job transferability; 2) offer remote or telework; 3) offer flexible work hours; 4) provide paid or permissive Permanent Change of Station (PCS) leave. VA has committed to all four of those policies, as well as extending Leave Without Pay status to military spouses whose active-duty military members receive PCS orders.<\/p>\n

This effort is part of President Biden\u2019s Executive Order 14100<\/a>, \u201cAdvancing Economic Security for Military and Veteran Spouses, Military Caregivers, and Survivors,\u201d a plan to address unemployment for the 16,000+ military-connected spouses in the federal workforce.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo build the strongest possible workforce to serve our nation\u2019s heroes, we need to hire and support military spouses \u2013 many of whom are Veterans themselves,\u201d said VA Secretary Denis McDonough<\/strong>. \u201cWe at VA are proud to make these commitments and support our nation\u2019s military spouses every way we can.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a military spouse, I know firsthand that these commitments will make a real difference,\u201d said VA Chief of Staff Kimberly Jackson.<\/strong> \u201cMilitary spouses are some of the most talented and dedicated professionals in the public and private sector, and by making these commitments, VA will be better positioned to recruit and retain these public servants as we execute our nation\u2019s most sacred obligation: caring for Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors.\u201d<\/p>\n

While VA will continue to work to fulfill the 4+1 commitments, VA already supports military spouses in many ways, including:<\/p>\n