By Lindsey Davee, AFC® 
Military Spouse

Sometimes, military life comes your way as a surprise. For instance, I haven’t always been a military spouse. My husband had been in and out of the military a couple of times prior to our marriage and was not in the military when we first married. He kept feeling a calling to return, and we had some lengthy discussions about it — and I only knew the word ”no.”  I’d had family members who served on active duty or in the National Guard, but I had no clue what it meant to be a military spouse or the challenges my family would face. In the beginning, I was definitely against him going back on active duty, but I was open to him joining the reserves, which I thought was a nice compromise. 

How Our Military Life Began 

My husband and I had just achieved a few of our family milestones, built a house, and had a second child. I had progressed very well in my career at a large community bank over the last 10 years, and he had a stable career in law enforcement. I felt like we were in our prime; why would I agree to move my family every few years? That just seemed crazy. We had stability in all forms. But eventually, like many say, all good things must come to an end, which led him to complete his reserve time for a year before going back on active duty.  

A whirlwind of emotions ran through my head: excitement, fear, stress, and so many more. We didn’t make this decision lightly; we calculated his anticipated pay and ran our family budget against it. We knew we would be financially okay on his paycheck alone, and there was no need for me to work. Buckets of tears flowed as we said “see you later” to our family and friends that summer — it was just like a dramatic farewell scene from a movie, complete with slow-motion hugs and emotional soundtrack. 

Making the Most of the Journey 

When we arrived at our first duty station, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, a new adventure began. We chose to live on post to embrace our new military family lifestyle. Soon, the newness started to wear off, and homesickness set in. I unpacked all the moving boxes, hung up every curtain, and built storage shelving for this new home — all within weeks of getting there. 

I knew I didn’t need a job, but I felt empty, and I felt like I wasn’t pulling my weight in our financial plan even though we didn’t need the additional income. I started submitting applications to banks in the area, landed a couple of interviews, but received no callbacks. I wondered why they hadn’t seen all my qualifications and work experience and, as many new emotions set in that I had never faced before, I began to understand why military spouses have the highest rate of unemployment in the US.  

Military spouses often compete against each other in the limited job market at each new assignment, and jobs that match our qualifications and experience are not always available. Understanding this, my mental health began to suffer; I felt worthless, isolated, and hopeless. I even considered taking a minimum wage job just to have something to pass the time. 

Making a Career Move as a MilSpouse — and Lessons Learned 

It was almost six months to the day after arriving in Fort Campbell when I received a phone call for an interview at a local bank. I was thrilled beyond measure but knew I needed to keep myself in check because I didn’t want to face another disappointment of being overqualified for the job. A few days after the interview, I received that second call and landed the job. I had finally landed a job in my career field — and I happily worked at that job for about eight months before leaving after earning a military spouse fellowship to become a financial counselor for servicemembers and their families.  

I continued working as a contractor on post until it was time for us to PCS to our next adventure. “Here I go again,” I thought as I put in my notice of resignation for another job. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that change is the only constant in this wild ride we call military life! But I had learned so many other lessons from this duty station, as well, and I set my expectations for the next one more appropriately as I searched for a new position.  

Looking for Your Own Opportunity 

If you’re in the job market, here are a few things to consider during your job search: 

1. Do you need a job to keep your family financially stable?  
   • If yes, what is the minimum you need to make each month to keep your family’s budget in the positive? Make it a financial goal to adjust your family budget to live on just your servicemember’s paycheck by the end of that duty assignment tour. This will bring you so much peace and reduce the stress of trying to find that next job when the next PCS orders come up. 
   • If no, think of your paycheck as the extra whipped cream on an ice cream sundae; you can live without it in your budget and let it work towards your family’s financial goals. 
      
2. If you just gave your notice to your employer due to a PCS, you may qualify for unemployment insurance benefits. To meet the minimum criteria, you need to have worked full-time in the last 12 months and need to be actively looking for a job in the next duty assignment area. Check with your current state’s Workforce Commission to see their rules and guidelines before you file; not all states are the same. They can also provide additional resources for finding your next job. The benefit amount paid is usually 66% of your pay from the last full quarter you worked. The benefit is not paid in arrears (or back paid) from when you gave your notice; it starts when your claim has been approved. 
    
3. Always participate in your employer’s retirement savings program, such as a 401(k) or 403(b). Many offer matching funds to your contributions; if you don’t participate, you are leaving free money on the table for your future retirement. Contributing even the bare minimum you need to reap the rewards and receive their full matching benefits can be valuable to you. 
    
4. Look into whether your new state has a state income tax. As a military spouse, tax tips include being able to claim your servicemember’s home of record or the state you designate as your home of record. You want to ensure you have the correct state taxes taken out of each paycheck; otherwise, it can lead to a state tax filing nightmare later on. States that have a state income tax will have a form you can complete to file exempt as a military spouse from that state tax if you claim another state for tax purposes. Give your employer the state form you wish to have taxes taken out. 
    
5. Don’t be afraid to network! Attend any and all job fairs. Many installations have employment readiness departments that can help you, whether by reviewing your resume, conducting a mock interview, or hosting job fairs with local businesses that are hiring. Don’t forget that military spouses can receive one year of LinkedIn Premium for free; what a great tool to network with other military spouses and professionals in your career field.  

As you embark on your job search, remember that being a military spouse is like being a contestant on a reality show — there are unexpected twists, dramatic moments in military life, and sometimes you just want to throw your hands up and say, “What was I thinking?” Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, suddenly you’re back to square one. I’ve had my fair share of jobs since that first duty assignment — each one a new adventure. 

Whether you’re navigating the job market or unpacking boxes for the umpteenth time, keep your sense of humor intact. Embrace the chaos! Take your time, submit your applications, go through the interviews, and remember, your experiences will make you wiser, stronger and provide insights you can share with your peers. 

---

Throughout your military life, your finances will likely change, but you can keep your family's financial future secure. Consider your life insurance options with Armed Forces Mutual to ensure you have the coverage you need for every phase of your career.