Unemployment to Enterprise: Resources for the Military Spouse.

Career impact and unemployment have long been a conversation concerning the military spouse. With frequent moves and increased military deployments, it's easy to see why military spouse unemployment rates remain higher than the national average. And yet, the conversation doesn't always end there. The positive side of this conversation, is that you should never underestimate the resourcefulness of a military spouse!

According to a 2022 Blue Star Family Survey, over 21% of military spouses are primarily self-employed, business owners. That number indicates that there are a lot of military spouses who have taken to enterprise. In a culture where job stability feels as unpredictable as ever, military wives (and husbands) are doing what we do best - making the most of an undesirable situation.

enterprise /ĕn′tər-prīz″/

noun

*An undertaking, especially one of some scope, complication, and risk.

*Industrious, systematic activity, especially when directed toward profit.

*Willingness to undertake new ventures; initiative.

*That which is undertaken; something attempted to be performed; a work projected which involves activity, courage, energy, and the like; a bold, arduous, or hazardous attempt; an undertaking.

"a manly enterprise; a warlike enterprise." Similar: undertaking

*Willingness or eagerness to engage in labor which requires boldness, promptness, energy, and like qualities.

"a man of great enterprise"

Taking on a business or enterprise is no small task. It shows that one has a level of creativity, ingenuity, and an ability to take risks that not everyone can or will do. And while being an entrepreneur or business owner can be very rewarding, that never comes without experiencing the hard stuff. And the hard stuff is why you should never do any business enterprise alone. Does that mean you can't be a solopreneur? Absolutely not. But it does mean that like any other area of life, you need battle buddies in your corner.

So where do military spouses go to find their enterprise battle buddies? Our first suggestion, (and yes it is self promoting!) is to get signed up on the Warrior Wives Unite platform.

The Unite platform is a first of it's kind. It helps military wives connect with others by allowing a search by geographical location, group type or personal interest. The platform is a resource that grows and evolves as more military wives take advantage of it and use the interest options to connect with others. You've got nothing to lose by creating your profile and looking for a group that piques your interest, so we definitely suggest starting here!

Next, find others in your niche or those who are looking to do what you're doing. If you're a newbie, find a mentor or at the very least a collaborative partner to have along on the journey. Are you an expert? Why not mentor someone who is where you used to be? One thing is for sure, we need others alongside us in this journey we call life and especially when we're taking on a new enterprise.

We love it when we come across resources we can share with other military wives and here are just a few enterprise resources for military spouses that we have found useful. We hope you find one or more in this list that is helpful for you.

Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce. The Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit that provides free membership and verified certification for military spouse entrepreneurs. They also have a mentorship program for members.

Military Spouse Employment Partnerships. The Department of Defense Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) connects military spouses with hundreds of partner employers who have committed to recruit, hire, promote and retain military spouses.

MyCAA (Career Advancement Account) The MyCAA scholarship is a workforce development program that provides up to $4,000 in financial assistance to eligible military spouses for the pursuit or maintenance (including continuing education courses) of a license, certification, or associate's degree necessary to gain employment in an occupation or career field.

SECO (Spouse Education and Career Opportunities) SECO is known for connecting military spouses with a career coach. They have an entrepreneur specific resource page that covers topics from 'How to Become an Entrepreneur' to topics such as Marketing, Laws and Regulations, Finances and Taxes, Contracting and more.

The Rosie Network. The Rosie Network's mission is to build stronger military families through entrepreneurial programs and support services, including an ongoing mentorship program.

We hope we've provided you a good place to start and that whether your enterprise is still in the idea phase or fully implemented, you've got some extra tools to add to your belt.

Ultimately, remember that life (and enterprise) is a journey. Our hope is that you will keep things in perspective as you hit the daily grind. And when you lay your head down on your pillow each night, may you be in peace knowing that you are not in this alone.

"But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth" ~Deuteronomy 8:18 NIV