Military Spouse Employment: 5 Recommendations for Removing Barriers to Entrepreneurship
Abstract: In recent years, a growing number of military spouses have begun leveraging advances in technology to transition away from traditional employment to operating their own businesses or engaging in contract work. In 2014, 28 percent of military spouses reported that they had either been self-employed or operated their own businesses, and 34 percent indicated they had an interest in online or work-from-home opportunities, according to a survey administered by Blue Star Families. 1 Maintaining traditional employment and advancing in careers while relocating every few years —and taking care of children, oftentimes on their own—has historically been a hardship military spouses have found extremely difficult, if not impossible, to overcome. In 2016, 50 percent of female military spouses cited family obligations as a top career obstacle, which should come 2 as no surprise considering the long-term effects frequent relocations have on career advancement, seniority accrual, and earnings growth. In the same survey referenced above, 77 percent of military spouse respondents reported that being a military spouse had negatively impacted their careers. Choosing the life of a military spouse has, in turn, generally meant that the spouse must give up career aspirations of their own in lieu of their servicemember’s. For many, however, those days may be numbered.
Abstract: Introduction: Persistent inequities exist in obstetric and neonatal outcomes in military families despite universal health care coverage. Though the exact underlying cause has not been identified, social determinants of health may uniquely impact military families. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively investigate the potential impact of social determinants of health and the lived experiences of military individuals seeking maternity care in the Military Health System. Materials and methods: This was an Institutional Review Board-approved protocol. Nine providers conducted 31 semi-structured interviews with individuals who delivered within the last 5 years in the direct or purchased care market. Participants were recruited through social media blasts and clinic flyers with both maximum variation and homogenous sampling to ensure participation of diverse individuals. Data were coded and themes were identified using inductive qualitative research methods. Results: Three main themes were identified: Requirements of Military Life (with subthemes of pregnancy notification and privacy during care, role of pregnancy instructions and policies, and role of command support), Sociocultural Aspects of the Military Experience (with subthemes of pregnancy as a burden on colleagues and a career detractor, postpartum adjustment, balancing personal and professional requirements, pregnancy timing and parenting challenges, and importance of friendship and camaraderie in pregnancy), and Navigating the Healthcare Experience (including subthemes of transfer between military and civilian care and TRICARE challenges, perception of military care as inferior to civilian, and remote duty stations and international care). Conclusions: The unique stressors of military life act synergistically with the existing health care challenges, presenting opportunities for improvements in care. Such opportunities may include increased consistency of policies across services and commands. Increased access to group prenatal care and support groups, and increased assistance with navigating the health care system to improve care transitions were frequently requested changes by participants.