Employment

Employment in the local area is oriented toward service, retail, medical and government.

Due to the mobile nature of the military lifestyle, individuals with education and/or experience in the health care and education fields often are more successful in finding employment upon relocation than are individuals in other career fields. Many spouses choose to improve their future employment prospects while at Tinker Air Force Base through training or education rather than seeking employment while their spouse is assigned here. There are good educational opportunities for nursing and education in the area.

Employment on base consists of government jobs, nonappropriated fund jobs and jobs with Army and Air Force Exchange Services and the Defense Commissary Agency. There are a number of contractors that work on base too. Family members should contact the Civilian Personnel Office as soon as possible after arrival to determine their eligibility for spouse preference. If currently working as a general schedule employee and are considering accepting a NAF position, be sure to ask how that will affect spouse preference. The DECA, AAFES and NAF each have their own personnel offices and should be contacted accordingly. Also family members are welcome to come to the Airman and Family Readiness Flight to also discuss employment with our career focus manager. We routinely offer workshops in resume writing, job interviewing skills and salary negotiation.

Be sure to hand carry and have a digital copy of all employment records and documents, resumes, passwords and user IDs for virtual websites, latest performance appraisals, transcripts, certificates and licenses and letters of recommendation.

The Military and Family Readiness Program offers a number of programs to all service members to assist with the transition from military life to civilian life through retirement or separation. At least 365 days prior to retirement or separation, every service member must attend a mandatory initial counseling & pre-separation counseling session. This is a group briefing to explain the rights and privileges earned while in uniform to advise on additional transition assistance and services available to them.

Members will continue with TAP Compliance by completing a 3-day TAP workshop and Capstone appointment. After the Capstone appointment members will receive a DD2648 which is filed in the service member's permanent file. Without this form the separation or retirement process cannot be completed. Commission Public Law 101-510 requires that Department of Defense in conjunction with the Department of Labor and Veterans Administration provides the Transition Assistance Program for members of the armed forces and their spouses.

The Air Force Aid Society General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program is available to dependent sons and daughters and spouses who meet the criteria listed below.

Dependent sons and daughters of Air Force members in one of the following categories are eligible:

• Active-duty, Title 10 Army Guard Reserve on extended active duty and Title 32 Army Guard Reserve performing full-time active duty. All members must be on active duty through December 1, 2016
• Retired due to length of active-duty service or disability or retired Army Guard Reserve with 20+ satisfactory service years creditable for retired pay. (All others are not eligible.)
• Deceased while on active duty or in retired status.

Spouses of active-duty members and Title 10 Army Guard Reserve on extended active duty are eligible if the spouse:

• Resides and attends school within the lower 48 contiguous states during the academic year. 
• Is legally married to military member (not separated or pending divorce) at time of application and disbursement of award.

Spouses of active-duty members residing overseas (including Alaska and Hawaii) during the academic year have access to a separate AFAS grant program called the Spouse Tuition Assistance Program. Therefore, they are not eligible under this grant program.

Visit the Air Force Aid Society website for more information or application procedures.

My Career Advancement Application

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

Unemployment compensation may be available for the spouse of a newly-assigned military member or civilian employee. For more information, contact the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission.

Upon arrival to Tinker Air Force Base, contact the Military and Family Readiness Center for assistance with your job search.  We offer classes or 1-on-1 consultations on subjects such as  Federal & Standard Resume 101, Resume review, Interviewing 101, and LinkedIn, Department of Defense job search, USAJOBS access, internet access and assistance. 

Employment

Tinker Air Force Base is Oklahoma's largest single-site employer. Employment in the local area is oriented toward service, retail and government positions. The unemployment rate in Oklahoma City Metro is 2.9%, The median household income is $56,956. Visit Tinker's Civilian Employment website.