What year is this again?

Spouse Program Takes Off in Florida



Northwest Florida Daily News

November 17, 2007 EGLIN AFB -- Helping spouses of U.S. troops get education, training or equipment for "portable careers" is the purpose of a $4.4 million federal grant to three Florida military installations, including Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field.

The multi-million dollar grant is part of a U.S. Departments of Defense and Labor pilot program dubbed Military Spouse Career Advancement Initiative.

Money will be disbursed in January based on the number of eligible spouses and applicants at the bases. Airmen and Family Readiness Centers, which will administer the initiative at Eglin and Hurlburt, are already preparing for what they expect would be a popular opportunity.

"I think there's absolutely a need for this program," said Jiri Crowder, director of the Eglin readiness center. "This is the most phenomenal program that I've seen ... in family support."

Naval Air Station Jacksonville is the third installation in Florida that will share the grant.

The program works by establishing accounts of $3,000 a year for eligible military spouses. An account could be renewed for a second year depending on the need.

Rank is one of the selection criteria. Spouses of troops in E1 to E5 and in O1 to O3 pay grades -- which is airman to staff sergeant and second lieutenant to captain in the Air Force -- can participate.

Eligible career fields are education, health care, information technology, construction trades, and financial services.

In announcing the program earlier this week, Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao said, "America's military spouses quietly and courageously bear the sacrifices required of them and their families as their loved ones are serving our country. The (program) provides financial resources to help spouses develop their career goals and dreams."

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So much to say, so little time...

A) This is only one step above the articles advising military spouses to look into careers as medical transcriptionists from home b/c it is so fun and PORTABLE.

B) $3,000 a YEAR. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

C) Let me translate for you: education (elementary school teacher), health care (nurse), IT (telemarketer), construction trades (wtf?), and financial services (bank teller). You can't go to school online for $3,000 a year, much less get the education you need to be a teacher or nurse.

D) "America's military spouses quietly and courageously bear the sacrifices required of them and their families as their loved ones are serving our country. The (program) provides financial resources to help spouses develop their career goals and dreams."

Wow. That was profound. She really understands and appreciates what we are going through... so they are giving us THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR to pursue pink ghetto jobs that perpetuate gender role stereotypes.

Sweet.