Employment

Employment in the local area is available but may be limited. In addition to the jobs available on base, family members of command-sponsored personnel are allowed to work off base in accordance with the status of forces agreement as long as they have a visa or vignette in their passport and receive a national insurance number. There are limited appropriated funds civil service positions in the Royal Air Force Alconbury/Royal Air Force Molesworth area. Once in country, we highly suggest attending the Military & Family Readiness Center’s employment workshops to better understand employment options within the local area, and to get assistance on building your resume/CV, honing your interview skills, and updating your social media footprints. Please be mindful that some high-skilled positions you are qualified for stateside may require new licensure and/or certification. These may take a fair amount of time and money. It’s imperative prior to arriving in the United Kingdom, you and your family have a spending plan and prepare for the possibility of a wait of six months or longer to gain a job commensurate with your education and/or experience.

Local job and employment offices are located throughout the region. Be mindful, you will be responsible to pay U.K. taxes.

Job Centers – Job centers are located in the larger towns and cities. Like the employment offices in the United States, they are run by the government at no cost to those who use them. The jobs are advertised on boards in the centers.

Recruitment Agencies – One of the most common ways of locating temporary or permanent employment in the U.K. is through a recruitment or employment agency. These agencies offer free services for job seekers, as they collect their fees from the companies they represent. 

Programs and agencies available to command-sponsored members include:

Civilian Personnel RAF Mildenhall – Phone: 01638-82-3381; hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

All general schedule and non-appropriated funds positions are listed on the USAJobs website. For more information, contact M&FRC to better assist you with the USAJobs process as well as creating an effective federal resume.

Department of Defense Dependents Schools – Teachers and those interested in positions at DoDEA may review online resources at this website. For more information, call RAF Alconbury Middle/High School: 01480-844400. 

Defense Commissary Agency RAF Alconbury – Phone: 01480-84-3909 or DSN: 314-268-3909. Job announcements can be viewed and applications submitted via USAJobs online.

Non-Appropriated Funds RAF Alconbury – Phone: 01480-823065 or DSN: 314-268-3065. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. NAF offers temporary, part-time, flex-time and full-time positions. 

Army and Air Force Exchange Service Personnel Office Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Positions are advertised at the AAFES personnel office. Anyone interested in applying for a position should stop by the personnel office and fill out an application. Current vacancies can be browsed and applications can be submitted via the Air Force Exchange Service online.

Keesler Federal Credit Union – Phone: 01480-823861 or DSN: 314-268-3861. Hours are Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Community Bank – Phone: 01480-823160 or DSN: 314-268-3160. Hours are Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Applications can be picked up at the customer service desk.

SERCO – Contractor responsible for the Traffic Management Office at RAF Alconbury. Phone: 01480-823955 or DSN: 314-268-3955. Hours are Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Base Education Center – Phone: 01480-82-3306 or DSN: 314-268-3306. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Employs representatives for University of Maryland.

Volunteering – Phone: 01480-843557 or DSN: 314-268-3557. Hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Volunteering is an excellent way to gain additional experience and to “get your foot in the door” for potential job opportunities. However, many agencies on the installation recruit volunteers based on need. If you’re interested in volunteering at a particular agency, reach out to them individually.

Civilian Personnel Office – The CPO at RAF Mildenhall will answer career development and employment questions. However, they are unable to process applications. Vacancies are announced and ALL applications are submitted online through the USAJobs website. Telephone: 01638-543540 - 01144-1638-543540 (from outside the U.K.), or DSN: 314-238-3540. Eligibility: American citizens.

British Staff Office (Ministry of Defense) Non-U.S. Staffing Info – Local National Direct Hire Program. These positions are open to U.K. citizens, nationals of European community countries and commonwealth citizens, other foreign nationals. For position vacancies please check online at the RAF Mildenhall Civilian Personnel Office website.

Your main point of contact for general employment questions is the Employment Program at the Military & Family Readiness Center. The Employment Program is designed to assist military spouses and family members with obtaining and maintaining employment. The goal of the program is to  assist each client with the most current resources and information available. Achieving this goal means addressing these program objectives: assisting in career planning, helping family members learn job-search skills, and increasing opportunities for paid and volunteer employment. 

Seeking employment at Royal Air Force Alconbury/Molesworth can be challenging. However, M&FRC offers several classes that will guide you in the right direction for your next career move. We discuss military spouse and family member preference as well as how to obtain proper documentation for employment on the economy. We teach different resume types as well as the British equivalent known as a CV. In addition to our classes, M&FRC offers one-on-one resume and career coaching.

Military spouse preference provides priority in the employment selection process for military spouses who are relocating as a result of their military spouse’s permanent change of station for non-appropriated fund (NAF) and appropriated fund (GS) positions. You may apply for positions up to 30 days prior to the “report no later than” date on your sponsor’s PCS orders. However, you will not receive preference until arrival at the overseas location. The jobs which you apply for can be with any branch of the military, not just Air Force, and must be within the commuting area of your sponsor’s permanent duty station.

Be sure to hand-carry all employment records and information, resumes, SF-171s, transcripts, certificates, licenses and SF-50s.

The importance of having your personal information cannot be overstated. Once you have all your information, employers can then send the appropriate forms to the Internal Revenue Service. For job-hunting purposes, be sure to ask what documentation you need to bring with you. Documentation that will be needed include passport, birth certificate, identification card, letter from employer stating you work for them, copy of permanent change of station orders, marriage certificate, etc.

Royal Air Force Alconbury Military and Family Readiness Center

For information about the Military and Family Readiness Center, visit their website.

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

The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) offers classes for those separating or retiring.

This program provides all Active Duty service members who are separating or retiring with their congressionally mandated initial counseling and pre-separation counseling sessions. Retiring service members can receive these sessions 18 to 24 months prior to their potential date of retirement. It is highly recommended Service members begin at or around the 36 month marker. Separating members can receive the mandatory briefing 12 to 18 months prior to their date of separation. Additionally, we assist with career exploration and guidance for those contemplating leaving military or government service.

Through the Department of Labor, TAP provides a TAP Seminar which assists Active Duty members and/or Department of Defense civilians, and their spouses in planning a successful transition from military to civilian life. The seminar includes information on self-assessment, job search, financial planning, resume writing, interviewing and salary negotiation skills. We also offer individualized assistance with resume/curriculum vitae writing and reviews, federal resume assistance, interview skills, individual transition plans and career search tips and tools.

The TAP also serves as the point of contact, and as a liaison, for the Department of Veterans Affairs and benefits associated with the VA. The VA conducts briefings and individual appointments at Royal Air Force Alconbury/Molesworth, which are designed to assist military members in understanding their benefits before and after their military service. Topics include information on filing for service-connected disability compensation, education benefits, medical/dental care, VA Home Loan Guaranty Program, Veterans’ Group Life Insurance/ Disabled Veterans’ Life Insurance, veterans' benefits/educational benefits for surviving spouses and dependent children, final burial benefits and vocational rehabilitation and employment programs.

Spouses cannot collect unemployment benefits while overseas because one of the stipulations of all states is that the spouse is able to actually take a position in that state if hired/desired by a potential employer.