Fort Polk  Military and Family Support Center

The majority of employment opportunities available to Fort Polk family members can be found through the Louisiana Department of Labor Career Solutions, under Vernon and Beauregard parishes on the Career Solutions websites. Army Community Service’s Employment Readiness Program, and ACS’s Army volunteer corps coordinator may be located on the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk homepage, under the ACS title.

The most prevalent jobs that stay open in the private sector are in the retail trade, $7.23-$8.50 an hour; finance, insurance and commodities services, (budgeting; accounting; selling life, property, casualty, health, automotive or other types of insurance; and personnel work), $12.50-$20.79 an hour; real estate and rental/leasing, $9.50-$17.80 an hour; food services, $6.50-$18 an hour; professional health care and technical services, $6.23-$35.00 an hour; warehousing, $6.50-$10 an hour; child and adult care, $6.50-12.50 an hour; merchandise retail salespersons (furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, apparel), $8.75-$12.50 an hour; direct home selling (cosmetics, in-home services, kitchen and household items), as the economy supports; and consultation services (bridal, home renovation and decor, yard and grounds renewal and decoration), $7.50-$15.50 an hour. These amounts are based on the Louisiana Occupational Employment and Wage Scale for Vernon, Beauregard, Allen and Rapides parishes.

For more information, contact the ACS ERP, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday, at 337-531-6922 or
DSN 312-863-6922.

Employment Resources

The Directorate of Civilian Personnel, Fort Polk, welcomes you and your family to Louisiana. The DCP offers a job information center to provide information on employment in the federal and private sectors within the commuting area. A recording of job listings of external recruitment at Fort Polk is available by calling 337-531-6414 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Due to military downsizing, appropriated and non-appropriated fund jobs at Fort Polk are minimal; however, many jobs are available on the installation with the local contracting agencies. More information may be gained by contacting our ACS ERP manager, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., at 337-531-6922 or DSN 312-863-6922.

Fort Polk ERP

Workshops are offered in self-assessment, resume writing, interviewing techniques, job search strategies, tips on completing an application and image for success. These services are available to all military identification cardholders, Department of Defense civilians and their family members. Also offered are ERP websites for job searches.

Many occupations are filled through contractors and non-appropriated fund job listings and referrals. The NAF workforce at Fort Polk is 350 employees strong and provides service to military and civilian patrons. NAF employees work at different Morale, Welfare and Recreation activities to include clubs, the golf course, outdoor recreation, the sports and athletic branch, a bowling center, lodging, arts and crafts, auto crafts, a library, child development services and youth services, administration/support and administrative offices that support these activities. Contact the NAF personnel office at 337-531-6631 for additional information.

For anyone desiring re-occurring temporary work, the ERP keeps listings for all local contractors. For more information, call 337-531-6922 or DSN 312-863-6922.

State and Parish Employment Programs

The Louisiana Department of Labor is the most widely used web page for state and parish employment listings.

Louisiana Workforce Commission

The Louisiana Workforce Commission’s business and career solutions centers have three locations offering Job search/job listings, career planning, resume development and critique, occupational skills training, employer-based training, youth drop-out recovery programs, business services and labor market information.

Remember, Louisiana has parishes instead of counties when you access the Louisiana Workforce home page. Vernon and Beauregard parishes are nearer to Fort Polk than Allen Parish; however, you will find all three centers listed below.

• Vernon Career Solutions Center, Vernon Parish – 337-238-4179, TDD and fax 337-238-0066
• Beauregard Career Solutions, Beauregard Parish – 337-462-5838, TDD and
  fax 337-462-6115
• Allen Career Solutions, Allen Parish – 337-639-2175, TDD and fax 337-639-2560

Many occupations are filled through on-post services and contractors. Your local on-post ERP offers an aid to reducing the stresses associated in obtaining employment (paid and non-paid) and pursuing educational and training opportunities. Spouses are offered assistance in acquiring skills, networks and resources that will allow them to participate in the workforce and to develop a career or work plan. In order to accomplish this mission, various services and workshops are offered, as follows: referrals – job bank of local employment opportunities, resume assistance, application assistance, career counseling and guidance, computer (available by appointment only), resource materials and volunteer and educational opportunities.

Employment documentation for job hunting is often a major issue for the soon-to-be relocating Service and/or Family member. Employers value the skills; leadership and experience that the military families offer to the job market so you will want to hand carry your employment information. Remember when you get ready to transition to your new military installation to pack your employment portfolio separately so you will have access to it when you arrive at your new destination.

You will want to have your past employment records and documents to include any/all copies of your SF 171, SF 50, school and/or college transcripts, certificates of evaluation and awards for your many skills, verification of your security clearance if required in your former job, letters of recommendation, cover letters and resumes, course certificates, and verification of your successful projects. Remember, you will want to have your Employment Portfolio with you when you get to your new home so pack it where you can easily get to it when you go to your interview for your new job.

The Ft Polk Army Career and Alumni Program (ACAP) is a tool to enable a smooth transition from the Army to civilian workforce. Whatever your plans are for the future, preparation is the key.  

ACAP can assist in the full spectrum of transition planning: Job and Skills Analysis, Resume Writing, Interviewing, VA Benefits, Disability Compensation and Programs, and Service Provider Referrals. The best part of the service is the Individualized Assistance. The Ft Polk ACAP staff consists of the Transition Services Manager, the Contract Installation Manager, 3 Transition/Outplacement Counselors and an Automations Specialist.

Pre-separation Briefings are conducted every Monday and Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. at the Ft Polk ACAP Center. Please call 337-531-1591 for more information.

The ACAP Express website is your speedy access to the Army's transition program (ACAP). ACAP Express provides immediate access to services via a high speed portal for those considering transition and those in the process of transition. Anywhere you have Internet access; you can use ACAP Express, even in remote locations; in the comfort of your own home, convenience of your office, and /or in the field or motor pool. You may register for Mandated Preseparation Counseling; Schedule Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Employment Workshops; Schedule Veterans Administration (VA) Briefings; Schedule other Employment Assistance Training; Use ACAP tools to write resumes and cover letters; Connect with ACAP employment professionals for advice and support and Learn How to Find a Job in the civilian sector.

You are eligible to begin the ACAP process up to 1 year (2 years, if retiring) prior to your scheduled separation.

Spouse tuition assistance has been greatly enhanced under the provisions of the Wounded Warrior Spouse Scholarship Program. Created in the spirit of the Army Family Covenant, spouses of Purple Heart recipients are eligible for up to 30 semester hours within a one-year period that began Aug. 1. Spouses interested in the program must present a marriage license, Department of Defense identification card and their spouse's DD Form 214 or Purple Heart award orders. Only spouses of those Soldiers who earned the Purple Heart after September 2001 are eligible. For more information you may call 337-531-2362/7270, DSN 312-863-2362/7270.

Another program, Grantham, is offering scholarships to the family members of United States Military Service Members. The Family Scholarship program is an expansion of the Military Scholarship program initiated in September 2001.

Eligibility: Applicants must provide proof of dependent status. Children and spouses of active duty, guard, reserve personnel and veterans (honorably or medically discharged) may be eligible for the Grantham Military Family Scholarship Program. Eligibility must be determined upon re-enrollment each semester. The scholarship includes a special tuition rate of $250 per credit hour and all required textbooks and software. If you have additional questions, call 1-800-955-2527.

The Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program (SEAP) is a need-based education assistance program designed to provide spouses of active duty and retired Army Soldiers, and widows(ers) of Army Soldiers who died either on active duty or in a retired status, and residing in the United States, with financial assistance in pursuing educational goals. The purpose of the program is to assist spouses/widows(ers) in gaining the education required to allow them to qualify for increased occupational opportunities. Individuals who receive free tuition as a result of their employment will not receive tuition assistance from Army emergency Relief (AER). However, they may apply for assistance for fees, supplies or books (no duplicates) for classes in which they are enrolled. "Active Duty" military personnel are not eligible. The Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program scholarships are awarded annually for up to four academic years to attend post secondary school full time as undergraduate level students. All students must complete an application and mail all supporting documentation each year. Stateside financial assistance is awarded based on financial need, as evidenced by income, assets, family size, special financial obligations and circumstances with a $2700 maximum per academic year. For more information you may call the ACS Financial Readiness Program, 337-531-1957/1958, DSN, 312-863-1957/1958.

For more in-depth information you may contact the Fort Polk Education Center, 337-531-1537; DSN:312-863-1537.

MyCAA

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

To receive unemployment benefits:

• To receive unemployment benefits through the state of Louisiana, you must make a weekly claim for benefits through the Easy Call system or the Louisiana Workforce Commission online. You must claim your first week of benefits during the week following the week you filed your claim. Continue to file each week for as long as you are unemployed and wish to claim benefits. You should make your calls on Sunday or Monday of each week. You will be claiming benefits for the prior week. If you forget to file on Sunday or Monday, you may file on any other day of that week. However, in no case should you make your weekly call later than Friday at 5 p.m. Central Time. The Easy Call numbers are listed in the Easy Call instructions found on the LAWorks website.
• You must report all earnings during the week when earned, even if you are not paid during that week. Report the amount before deductions. Include all wages, commissions, tips and gratuities.
• You must make at least one active work search during each week that you claim benefits. You must register for work through your local career solutions center (job center) within 14 days of filing an initial claim for benefits. You will receive a separate mailer advising you of the location of the nearest center. Union members and those on temporary layoff with a definite date of return may be exempt from these requirements.
• If you move, you must report your new address as soon as possible.
• In most cases, benefits will be paid through a debit card or through a direct deposit into your personal bank account. Activate the debit card as soon as you receive it. Any payments you received or expect to receive from your employer must be reported. If you fail to report a payment or were not aware of a payment at the time you filed your claim, and you receive it at a later date, you must contact the unemployment insurance call center at 866-783-5567. Failure to report deductible income can result in a disqualification or an overpayment on your claim. Reportable payments that may be deductible from your benefits include severance, vacation pay, holiday pay, bonus pay, Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, wages in lieu of notice, separation or dismissal, tips and gratuity, worker's compensation, military retirement pay and any other periodic payment based on previous work.

Remember, if you have any questions about deductible income, contact the UI call center immediately at 866-783-5567.

The majority of employment opportunities available to Fort Polk family members can be found through the Louisiana Department of Labor Career Solutions, under Vernon and Beauregard Parish on the Career Solutions websites.