Virtual Veterans Communities joins a partnership with the Defense Department
On October 18, 2023, Virtual Veterans Communities (VVC) will join the Defense Department Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program and Military Spouse Employment Partnership for an induction ceremony and annual event in Alexandria, Virginia. VVC joins more than 70 new partners to MSEP — bringing the number of employers to more than 700.
Military spouses have long struggled with maintaining employment due to PCS moves and other challenges associated with military life. Unemployment among military spouses stood at 21%, according to the 2021 Survey of Active Duty Spouses. The same year, overall civilian unemployment was 5.3%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
VVC's Team Connection to the Military
MSEP connects military spouses with hundreds of partner employers who commit to recruiting, hiring, promoting and retaining military spouses. Since its inception in 2011, MSEP employers have hired more than 275,000 military spouses.
Providing opportunities to spouses for meaningful employment strengthens financial stability among military families, which promotes force retention and military readiness, which are essential to national security.
"We are fully dedicated to supporting military spouses, and our commitment to them remains steadfast," CEO Chris Tilghman proudly stated. "We understand the unique challenges military spouses face in maintaining consistent employment. As a part of the Military Spouse Employment Partnership, we pledge to provide job opportunities and create a supportive work environment that respects and adapts to their unique needs. This is not just about hiring; it's about fostering growth, promoting resilience, and helping military spouses thrive in their careers while supporting their families and serving our country."
Currently, the team composition of Virtual Veterans Communities consists of 33% military spouses.
Tune in!
For those interested in viewing VVC’s induction into the partnership, the DOD will livestream the Welcome Remarks and Induction Ceremony on the Military OneSource and Spouse Education and Career Opportunities Facebook pages and the Military OneSource YouTube channel at 2:30 p.m. EDT. The replays will also be available on the pages linked here.
For those interested in viewing VVC’s induction into the partnership, the DOD will livestream the Welcome Remarks and Induction Ceremony on the Military OneSource and Spouse Education and Career Opportunities Facebook pages and the Military OneSource YouTube channel at 2:30 p.m. EDT.
About Virtual Veterans Communities
Virtual Veterans Communities (VVC) is a mission-driven organization dedicated to improving higher education outcomes for military-connected students. We partner with colleges, universities, foundations and others to increase enrollment, completion and career readiness of students who are active-duty military, veterans, or military family members. Our approach combines best practices in marketing, enrollment and persistence for military-connected students with digital communities, one-on-one student coaching and institutional capacity building. The result is a scalable, cost-effective approach to meeting the unique needs of this important and high-potential student population. Learn how VVC can help your institution enroll and retain high-quality military-connected students.
About Spouse Education and Career Opportunities
The Defense Department established the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program to provide education and career assistance to military spouses worldwide, offering free comprehensive resources and tools designed to help spouses meet their career and education goals. Resources include free career coaching services, the My Career Advancement Account Scholarship, the Military Spouse Career Accelerator Pilot and the Military Spouse Transition Program.
