Employment

Family Employment Readiness Program

The Family Employment Readiness Program (FERP) provides no cost consultations, programs and services to help families in the job search process. Consultants are available to guide spouses and family members on career planning, job seeking and resume writing, as well as to help them prepare for interviews and negotiate offers. FERP can assist with the following:

• Beginning Your Search: Career Exploration

• Resumes

• Interviews
• Federal Employment
• Self-Employment

Resources

• Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO) consultants provide professional guidance to military spouses on careers, education and training, employment readiness and career connections.
• Search for jobs online using the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) which connects military spouse-friendly companies with jobs to military spouses seeking employment.
• Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) provides financial assistance to eligible spouses pursuing licensure, certification or an associate degree.
• Military Spouse Preference Program: As you search for federal positions, don't forget about the Priority Placement Program for military spouse preference. The program gives preferences to military spouses applying for certain Department of Defense position on USAJOBS.gov  by using the checklist form.
• Military spouses are invited to apply to the new Military Spouse Career Accelerator Pilot Program, a competitive multi-year program that provides spouses with paid 12-week fellowships at employers across various industries and locations.
• Free Flexjobs Membership: Military spouses have access to thousands of flexible and remote job openings through a free one-year membership to FlexJobs, a leading specialty online job search site.
• LinkedIn Premium Upgrade: Military spouses are eligible for a free year of LinkedIn Premium to help with job searches, networking and more.
• Licensure Reimbursement When You PCS: If your career requires a professional license or certification, your service branch can help reimburse costs that come up when you PCS. The military services continue to support military spouse employment by offering up to $1,000 in licensure and certification costs resulting from relocations or military moves within the United States or OCONUS to stateside.

The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) prepares eligible Service members and their families to face the many challenges of transitioning from active duty back to civilian life. TAP enables Service members to fulfill the requirements of the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) to Hire Heroes Act of 2012 and meet their Career Readiness Standards (CRS) as mandated by the TAP for Military Personnel Department of Defense Instruction 1332.35.

Effective 1 Oct 2019, all transitioning Service members must attend Initial Self-Assessment Counseling (IC) no less than 365 days prior to official separation, which prepare them for their TAP Workshop that compass 3-days of core mandate curriculum and selected career tracks that focuses either on Employment, Entrepreneurship Education or Vocational training. Training is in a classroom setting, but is available on Joint Knowledge Online (JKO) for Service members deployed or stationed in isolated areas. Military spouses are highly encouraged to attend TAP with their transitioning Service member.

While participating in TAP Workshops, Service members and their families are encouraged to take advantage of the additional training that best suits their career path from the military into civilian life. 

MANDATED INITIAL SELF-ASSESSMENT & PRE-SEPARATION COUNSELING

Effective 1 Oct 2019, all Service members transitioning from the military must complete a Congressionally Mandated Initial Self-Assessment within two years of retiring, within 18 months of separating, and not less than 365-days prior of official retirement or separation date; pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 1142. Service members are to contact a Career Command Counselor (CCC) or Transition Counselor for guidance and to learn about the Career Readiness Standards requirements of the transition process and completion of the DD 2648.

Contact 831-656-3060 for more information

Dependents of active-duty U.S. military personnel assigned to California may be exempt from non-resident tuition costs upon completion of the appropriate Form DVS-40. The registration form must be completed each semester/session until the student declares California residency after two years.

My Career Advancement Account Scholarship Application

For information on My Career Advancement Account Scholarship Application and Military Spouse Education and Career Opportunities, visit Military OneSource or get in contact with the local Fleet and Family Support Center by calling 831-656-3060, 831-656-3528 , Angelica Felix-Sagastume

If you are considering applying for unemployment benefits, contact your state's local unemployment benefits representative to complete the appropriate paperwork. When you resign your position, include a statement to the effect that you are resigning to accompany your military spouse on his/her permanent change of station and have a copy of the service members orders.

Before you leave your current home/job, make sure you read the employment checklist. If you have any questions, contact the Fleet and Family Support Center in your area. 831-656-3060