NW Navy News

Spouses looking for a career they can maintain during moves to duty stations around the country and the world can connect with resources to help them at an event near Tacoma next Wednesday, May 20.

The career fair, sponsored by the Washington-based nonprofit Hire America's Heroes, is open to the husbands and wives of service members in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy, National Guard or Reserves. It will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the American Lake Club at Fort Lewis.

The emphasis will be on the portable career fields identified as part of the Military Spouse Career Advancement Account program. Known as MyCAA, the program provides up to $6,000 for eligible spouses toward certified schools and career training.

Organizers expect about 500 spouses to attend Wednesday's career fair. Registration is required by e-mail only for businesses and colleges that want to host booths at the event. Spouses don't need to register.

The day's agenda includes a fashion show and classes on resume development.

Part of the challenge service members and their families face in finding jobs outside the military is translating their skills and experience from acronym-heavy military jargon, said Hire America's Heroes President Marjorie James.

"Those of us in the corporate world are like a deer in headlights when we hear those terms," she said.

Her group is committed to bringing corporations and people from military backgrounds together through events like the career fair. The organization started in Washington state and plans to expand its reach throughout the Northwest and the rest of the country, James said.

Jimmy Collins, one of the group's founding board members and a retired Army general, said the military represents "a rich source of quality employees" for companies. Hire America's Heroes maintains a military advisory board with representatives from each service branch in the area.

Learn more about future events and sign up for the group's mailing list at www.hireamericasheroes.org.