If you are a military spouse or if you are considering marrying someone in the military and you have plans for a career, you may have to think about creative ways to be successful regarding your goals.
Being a military spouse involves many moves (to include overseas), being alone due to deployments, and juggling children without your spouse's assistance (due to deployment, Temporary Duty Assignment…), which means that being in a military marriage and having a professional or paraprofessional career will require some careful thought.
If you are a nurse, doctor, lawyer, business executive, real estate agent… and a military spouse your career goals may need to be adjusted or your situation may need to be altered to meet your professional goals. For many professionals a state license is required to practice a trade. Each time a military move is required you may lose practicing privileges, especially if you are moving out of state or country. Practicing in a new state would require passing professional tests, taking more classes, seeking an internship…, which would eventually allow for practice in your new state of residence. You might also seek out a grandfather clause for your profession to help determine if you are exempt from having to take further tests, in your new state of residence, due to having previously held a license.
A few tips when trying to balance career and military marriage are: get an early start on your job search, research the licensing requirements for the state you will be moving to, and consider alternative employment opportunities within your new community.
Know that having a career, while being in a military marriage can be difficult. However, being flexible, creative, and patient are all key to finding balance between your career and military marriage. If you need support with your professional goals there are people such as, military family life consultants and career counselors that you can speak with. For instance, Military One Source (www.militaryonesource.com) is a service provided by the Department of Defense for military families to help with education, relocation, parenting, career support….
Many military bases also have counselors available to help with career goals, employment searches…. For instance, Camp Pendleton has the Marine and Family Career Center to help with your career concerns, see:
http://www.mccscp.com/home/Family-Services/marine_family_services_home.aspx. Marine Corps Air Station Miramar also has a Career Resource Center, see: http://www.mccsmiramar.com/career_resource_center.html. Many of the bases in San Diego and all over the world have career centers. Use the career centers to help adjust to your new community and meet your career goals.
You can find balance when married to a military member and being a career spouse. It will take some research, creativity, and support by both people in the marriage to meet each other's professional goals. Be realistic and know that being in a military marriage comes much change. Be prepared for the changes and do not be caught off-guard when it comes to your professional goals.
Take my military marriage and career poll, go to: http://www.qwanz.com/newresults/2425/code//
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