Bryant & Stratton College Online would like to take a moment to thank those in our student community that currently serve, have served, and those who support our military as the Memorial Day weekend comes to a close. We greatly appreciate the commitment, dedication and service of our military students, and we are proud to have them as part of the Bryant & Stratton College Online community.
The number of service members seriously injured in Iraq and Afghanistan climbs every day. With that count the number of military spouses who suddenly find themselves in the role of caregiver, single parent and primary breadwinner for the household also rises. There is often too much for one person to handle alone. For a spouse who also has to attend school or re-enter the workforce, the days can be overwhelming.
If the recent close call of a government shutdown didn’t scare you away from applying for a federal job and neither does the current hiring freeze, then now is as good a time as any to prepare yourself for the search. Just follow these seven easy steps to avoid being overwhelmed in the process.
I just returned from actively participating in Storm the Hill 2011: (www.stormthehill.org) which is sponsored by IAVA, a non-profit and non-partisan organization dedicated to improving the lives of today’s veterans, as part of an advocacy team focused on veterans’ employment issues. In 2010, the unemployment rate for veterans was 11.6 percent, compared to the national average of 9.7 percent.
Would your life story make millions of viewers cry?
Have you lead a life of extraordinary service? Is your house falling down around you? Do you know someone who deserves a major home makeover?
Nominate them for the ABC show, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” Producers are currently searching for deserving military families.
When it comes to scholarships, military families have a few more benefits than civilians. Several veterans’ organizations offer funding specifically to the children and spouses of military members.
Check out the following scholarships and apply before the deadline.
Marine Corps League:
Ann Marie is a proud Marine wife and mother to her five month old son, Connor. She currently resides in California with her family. Below she shares some of her experiences as a military spouse as well as advice to others new to the military lifestyle.
How long have you been married and how did you meet your spouse? Do you have children? If so, what ages? Tell us about your journey through military life.
Is your military spouse preparing to leave the rank behind and join the civilian job force? My husband only has a handful of years left until that transition to retirement and I am dreading it. I’m unsure of how our benefits might change, namely medical coverage. I fear losing that steady paycheck. And let’s be honest, tax free combat pay covered a lot of bills.
If your husband is anything like mine, he probably hasn’t brought much information home from his pre-retirement briefings, or even began looking seriously at some of the issues. I, on the other hand, need info!
For the first time ever, service members may transfer their unused GI Bill benefits to their family members. Though there are very specific eligibility requirements, the actual transfer process is easy.
Army wife Lynda Hilliard, of Fort Bragg, N.C., said she completed the process online in about 30 seconds.
“It was really easy,” she said.
Kimberly Joyner is a student at Bryant & Stratton College Online and a Salute to Spouses scholarship recipient. She is back in school to pursue a degree in business to better her family and to be a positive role model for her daughter. Kimberly has been the wife of a Marine for four years and currently resides in North Carolina with her husband and daughter.
Tell us about your family and journey through military life.
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