November is declared as National Veterans and Military Families Month. With Veterans Day observed every November 11, it is the perfect time to celebrate those who have served in the U.S. armed forces and their families who support them.

At FlexJobs, we believe veterans and their families are an important part of the workforce. Let’s take a look at what the month celebrates and how flexible work can support the military community.

What Is National Veterans and Military Families Month?

Established in 1996 by the Armed Services YMCA, National Veterans and Military Families Month is a time to recognize and show appreciation for those who have sacrificed to serve our country. Each year the President signs a proclamation that officially declares the month of November as Military Families Month.

Supporting the military community can be done in a variety of ways during November. Here are a few suggested by MilitaryBenefits.info:

• Donate a Thanksgiving gift to junior-enlisted members and their families through the USO-Metro’s Turkeys for Troops.
• Create a spouse or service member care package with items that would help ease stress during a deployment.
• Adopt a soldier for the holidays.
• Create a spouse care package for them to enjoy and help reduce stress.
• Thank an active-duty member, veteran, military spouse, or military child for their service.
• Fly the U.S. flag.
• Offer a military neighbor a bit of respite with volunteer child care to get errands accomplished or to even enjoy a few hours to recharge.

How FlexJobs Supports the Military Community

FlexJobs has long been a supporter of the military community, helping them meet their unique needs when it comes to employment. In 2019 alone, FlexJobs had three initiatives to support military spouses and veterans.

In August, we partnered with the Department of Defense as an official Military Spouse Employment Partner (MSEP). With a 24% unemployment rate and a 25% wage gap compared to their civilian counterparts, military spouses are a segment of the population that struggle to find work. This partnership means we have committed to recruit, hire, promote, and retain military spouses.

Along the same lines, FlexJobs also joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring our Heroes campaign. The Hiring 100K Military Spouses campaign is an employer-led initiative that seeks to highlight the issues military spouses face as they search for meaningful employment. FlexJobs pledged to hire military spouses to fill 5% of our open vacancies.

FlexJobs also donated to Blue Star Families this year, a nonprofit that seeks to provide community, education, and job resources to military families.

Flexible Work Success Stories from Military Spouses and Veterans

When it comes to finding work for the military community, they face many obstacles. Frequent moves and deployments can make it difficult to maintain stability and longevity in their careers. Flexible work can be a solution to this problem, allowing workers to take their jobs with them, no matter where they relocate.

FlexJobs has heard from many military spouses and veterans who successfully found a flexible job using our services. Their stories are a testament to how flexible and remote work can increase their viability in the workplace.

Jessica T. needed to find a work-from-home job, but thought she might only find small part-time opportunities. Instead, she found the perfect job:

“We are a military family in the process of moving (again) and one of my children is homeschooled. My husband is active in the Army, and I am an Air Force reservist. I needed a position that would let me stay relevant in the civilian workplace while allowing me to be at home as much as possible for my family. I never in a million years thought I would find a full-time position in the exact industry I wanted.”

Danielle V. is a military spouse who needed a job that could move with her:

“I wanted to find a more flexible job because my husband is in the Air Force. With the unpredictable nature of his job, I wanted something of my own that I could do that wasn’t tied to a specific location. I wasn’t aware that there were some companies that are 100% remote (like mine). Now I know that there are many other opportunities I can take advantage of in the future that fit my needs better than a traditional position.”

Linda B. discovered how a remote job could help her and her veteran husband:

“I’m disabled and my spouse is a 100% disabled veteran, so I needed a job that would keep me home. Since we live on a fixed income, this extra income will definitely help out. I don’t have to worry about my spouse being home alone, and the flexibility will help us take care of anything we need to do.”

Finding Flexible Work During Military Families Month

If you’re a military veteran, spouse, or family member looking for a flexible job, FlexJobs is here to help. We feature thousands of jobs that can be done remotely—ideal for handling the ups and downs of the military lifestyle.

Our blog also features great articles and resources to help you navigate finding work and all the steps in between.

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