Employment

It’s likely that employment will change when a move occurs, especially for military spouses. The information below will provide you with employment assistance information and resources available such as SECO, MyCAA and MSEP Portals.

Fort Campbell, home to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), is a wonderful place for Soldiers and their families to live, work and enjoy recreational activities. The installation is located on the Kentucky-Tennessee border between the towns of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and Clarksville, Tennessee, and is 60 miles northwest of Nashville, Tennessee, on Interstate 24.

Fort Campbell employs about 4,000 civilians, making it the area’s largest employer. On-post employment opportunities are available at a variety of agencies:

• Appropriated fund/non-appropriated fund – Appropriated fund positions and non-appropriated fund positions are posted at USAJobs.GOV
• DoDEA -- The Fort Campbell Department of Defense Education Activity has seven schools on-post. Positions available are certified teaching staff and non-certified positions such as teacher's aids, clerical, cafeteria positions and custodial maintenance. For more information, access the DoDEA.GOV and USAJobs website.
• DECA– For positions at the Fort Campbell Commissary, go to the USAJobs website or contact the commissary at 270-798-3663.
• Army and Air Force exchange system – The AAFES has job opportunities in retail, food and service areas such as cashier/checker and sales associate. For more information and applications, go to the AAFES website. To apply for vacancies, you are required to fill out an online application. Call 270-439-1849 for more information.
• Contractors – Fort Campbell has several contractors who operate on the installation, but the military spouse preference program does not apply to contracting positions on-post.

Top sectors by employment in the surrounding areas are:

• Retail trade
• Manufacturing
• Education services
• Health care and social services
• Administrative, support and waste management
• Accommodations and food services

The unemployment rate for the area is currently 8%. The median household income for the area is $38,006-$55,528. Visit either of these chamber of commerce websites to view more demographics of the surrounding areas:

• Hopkinsville Chamber of Commerce
• Clarksville Chamber of Commerce

Career opportunities are also available on the Tennessee state government and Kentucky state government websites.

If you need assistance with finding the right job for your skill set, contact the Spouse Employment Center 270-412-1720 or one of the other employment services providers.

Employment Documentation

For job-hunting purposes, be sure to hand carry the following.

School transcripts

Updated resume

Information on previous employers and references

Certifications/Licensures

Letters of recommendation

Marriage certificate

DD214 (if prior military)

VA Disability Civil Service Preference Letter (Required for Disabled Veteran’s Status)

SF15 (Required for Disabled Veteran’s Status)

SF 50 (if prior federal employee)

DA form 3434 (if prior non-appropriated fund)

Copies of spouse permanent change of station orders

Volunteer career information

If you are a foreign-born spouse coming from an overseas location, and you have education transcripts not in English, it is advisable to contact Military OneSource for information on translating the document to English before you depart.  Call Military OneSource at 800-342-9647; they will translate your education documents for free. You must have a green card (resident alien card/green card) to obtain employment, as well as a driver's license and a Social Security card.

The Priority Placement Program (PPP) for Spouses: If you're eligible to claim spouse preference, you must provide copies of your marriage certificate and the soldiers permanent change of station (PCS) orders and PPP checklist.

FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM:

The Federal Government offers a variety of loans and grant programs to help Soldiers and their Family Members fund their education. See the Education Opportunity Center (EOC) at the Education Center for more information and application forms. The EOC provides information on financial aid for Education and "Opportunities for Military Spouses" Contact the Education Opportunity Center at 931-221-7481.

MyCAA

For information on MyCAA and Military Spouse Education and Career Opportunities, visit Military OneSource. 

AER Scholarship 
Army Emergency Relief (AER) provides scholarships for dependent children and Spouses of Active Duty, Retired, and deceased Army Soldiers. Applications and instructions are available on the AER website at www.AERHQ.ORG for the MG James Ursano and Spouses Education Assistance Scholarship Programs. Contact AER at Fort Campbell at 270-798-5518 for additional information.

There is no unemployment office on Fort Campbell. The Kentucky and Tennessee State Employment offices provide unemployment benefits information for Fort Campbell.

For Kentucky unemployment benefits, contact Kentucky Career Center unemployment services located at 110 Riverfront Drive. You can call 270-889-6509 or visit the Kentucky Career Center website.

For Tennessee, visit the Clarksville Montgomery County American Job Center located at 523 Madison St. Ste. B., Clarksville, TN 37040. Call 931-648-5530 or go online to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Employment Service Providers:

Fort Campbell’s Transition and Employment Services Campus, located at 5661, 5662 and 5663 Screaming Eagle Blvd., includes several programs that can assist spouses in connecting with a career and finding employment on and off the installation.

Fort Campbell Spouse Employment Center - 270-412-1720

• Career and employment skills classes
• Career coaching
• Job search assistance
• Federal employment assistance
• Resume reviews
• Interview techniques
• Connection to training and certification programs
• Hiring events and employer referrals
• Connection to partner services, including United Services Organizations (USO), and state Department of Labor representatives

For more information, visit the Spouse Employment Center on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SpouseEmploymentFortCampbell and on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/spouseemploymentfortcampbell.

Fort Campbell Employment Readiness Advisor - 270-798-4412

• Appropriated fund and non-appropriated fund employment opportunities
• Classes on federal resume writing, interviewing techniques and federal employment application process
• Federal resume critiques
• Career counseling and individual career assessments
• Hiring events
• Visit USAJOBS

United Services Organization - 270-449-0765 
Support from the USO doesn't end when you leave the military. USO Pathfinder helps you and your family create a plan for life after military service. Pathfinder scouts connect you to the services and resources in your community that will make your transition successful. They provide the following services:

• Employment
• Veterans benefits
• Education
• Financial readiness
• Mentorship 

Fort Campbell Career Skills Program - 270-798-3195/270-412-1128

The Army's Career Skills Program provides soldiers the opportunity to participate in internships, fellowships, on-the-job training and certification programs during the last six months of active duty service to improve their civilian employment options. While transitioning Soldiers are the primary audience for Career Skills Programs, a number of CSPs also welcome military spouses or have programs set up specifically for spouses.

Transition Assistance Program 
5661 Screaming Eagle Blvd. Fort Campbell, KY 42223 
270-798-5000/4163 

This program is set up with services designed for your successful transition into the civilian world no matter what your future goals may be. Here at TAP, we hope you take the time to figure out how to accomplish your transition goals and allow us to help you meet them. Throughout the TAP classes, you will have an abundance of information available to you, so if you have any questions, feel free to ask. They are geared to help you figure out the next steps of your transition in case you are not aware of them yet. This program is an investment in you and you can take as little or as much assistance as you need. 

When do I start TAP? 
1. Retiring – 24 months prior to retirement date 
2. ETS – 18 months prior to ETS 
3. Involuntary Separation – As soon as it is determined that the soldier will be a chapter (ASAP) 

The Process 
Register for TAP

• Step 1: Register on https://portal.armytap.army.mil 
• Step 2: Click ‘Complete Initial Assessment’ and answer ALL questions
• Step 3: Call 270-798-5000/270-798-4163 OR Stop by TAP Center (Mon-Fri 0800-1600) to schedule Initial Counseling

1. First appointment: During Initial Counseling appointment you will be assigned to a counselor that will certify your initial assessment, talk about your transition goals, counsel you about TAP and other transition programs and schedule your classes.

2. Attend the Pre Separation Brief: This briefing will introduce you to TAP and provide you and overview of the entire transition process to include activities at the Soldier Support Center.

3. Attend Classes: See next page for course description

• My Transition
• MOC Crosswalk
• Financial Planning
• VA Benefits and Services
• DOL One Day

4. Attend Two Day Track if required or as an elective

• DOL Employment: Employment Workshop 
• DOL Vocational: Career and Credential Exploration 
• SBA Entrepreneurship: Boots to Business 
• DoD Education: Managing Your Education

5. Attend One on One Spend Plan Clinic or One on One appointment (if required): A One-on-One Financial Counseling will allow you to discuss your personal financial fitness with the financial counselor.

6. Attend Capstone Event: You will meet with your counselor to assess your transition planning, provide you additional resources, register for elective classes, and complete your DD Form 2648 (TAP Completion Document). The DD Form 2648 resides on MilConnect at https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect/ and will be used during your out processing process.

7. Congratulations: You are now TAP Complete. However, this does not mean we “kick you to the curb.” We are available to continue to assist you with your transition goals all the way through your separation date. 

Class Summaries:

My Transition (60 minutes): This class will discuss transition overview, transition concerns, managing transition stress, examine military versus civilian culture, communication during transition, value of mentors, and show you available resources. 

MOC Crosswalk (2 hrs): This class will discuss the MOC crosswalk process, how to conduct a gap analysis, explore tools for transition, help you identify possible civilian careers, discuss civilian credentialing, and look at influences on career selection. 

Financial Planning (4 hrs): During this course, you will gain an understanding of how transition will impact your financial situation through discussion of income, expenses, and debt. At the end of this course, you should understand how transition can affect your finances, what to expect financially as you transition, and know the income required to maintain your current lifestyle. 

VA Benefits and Services (8 hrs): This block of instruction will:

• Describe how VA makes a difference to you and those in your life.
• Identify key VA resources available to support your transition.
• Describe how your character of discharge, type of service, and length of service impact eligibility for VA benefits.

DOL One Day (8 hrs): This block of instruction will:

• Identify your network contacts.
• Draft a headline and summary for your LinkedIn profile.
• Analyze a job vacancy posting.
• Connect your skills and abilities with the needs of an employer.
• Demonstrate appropriate verbal responses to interview questions.
• Identify the relevant factors in evaluating a job offer.
• Develop a plan of action to accomplish a specific career goal.

DOL Employment: Employment Workshop (two days): This block of instruction will:

• Identify and develop effective goals.
• Market yourself effectively to a future employer.
• Understand the three different methods of how hiring occurs.
• Connect your skills and abilities with the needs of an employer.
• Use the STAR method to write achievement statements.
• Create a professional introduction.
• Identify strategies to manage your online presence.
• Recognize the steps to set up an informational interview.
• Create a draft targeted resume.
• Strategize how to expand your network.
• Demonstrate appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication skills/techniques for an interview.
• Understand the difference between federal resumes and standard resumes.
• Identify the relevant factors in evaluating a job offer.
• Identify the basic do’s and don’ts in negotiating.

DOL Vocational: Career and Credential Exploration (two days): This block of instruction will:

• Define the concept of vocational training.
• Complete and review self-assessments on skills, knowledge, and values to make informed career decisions.
• Identify and explore career opportunities in each of the 16 nationally recognized career clusters.
• Identify the training requirements and types of credentials and qualifications needed for your occupations of interest.
• Identify the associated costs and potential benefits of various apprenticeship, credentialing, or licensing goals.
• Develop a plan of action by which you will accomplish a specific career goal.

SBA Entrepreneurship: Boots to Business (two days): The course provides an overview of entrepreneurship and applicable business ownership fundamentals. Participants are introduced to the skills, knowledge, and resources they need to launch a business.

DoD Education: Managing Your Education (two days): This course is designed to guide you through the variety of decisions involved in choosing a degree program, college institution, and funding considerations as well as completing the admissions process.